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1998 Mercedes Benz ML320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most ML320 years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

43 reports with mileage · 90 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Interior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 6, 2006
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN AT NIGHT INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL OR EXCEEDING THE SAFE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORST WITH TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND DEALERS BLAME …

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INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN AT NIGHT INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL OR EXCEEDING THE SAFE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORST WITH TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND DEALERS BLAME THE PROBLEM ON LIGHT BULB PROBLEMS. SOMETIME RAPPING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON INDICATING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTION AND NOT THE BULBS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE BULB CONNECTIONS AS THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING AND THE DEALERS ARE NOT TRULY FIXING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156906

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineInterior LightingVisibility

GAS GAUGE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607090

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.