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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
133Owner complaints

Model-year median: 28

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Mercedes Benz ML320

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 133 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 31 reports
  • Electrical System: 21 reports
  • Visibility: 17 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 15 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    133
    1998    125
    1999    166
    2000    136
    2001
    Compare all ML320 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    31    Electrical System
    21    Visibility
    17    Fuel System, Gasoline
    15    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    13
    All reported categories
    Structure
    12    Power Train
    10    Seat Belts
    8    Air Bags
    7    Vehicle Speed Control
    7    Steering
    6    Equipment
    5    Exterior Lighting
    5    Fuel System, Other
    5    Suspension
    5    Unknown Or Other
    5    Seats
    4    Latches/locks/linkages
    3    Service Brakes
    3    Wheels
    3    Interior Lighting
    2    Engine
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    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

    Steering complaints

    6 reports
    Clear category filter
    139,000 miles · Feb 22, 2006
    Steering

    THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A CLUNK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. I THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. THE CAR WANDERS OVER THE ROAD AND SOMETIMES STARTS PULLING ITSELF INTO ONE LANE AND THEN TRIES TO GO TO THE OTHER LANE ALMOST CAUSING ME ON ONE OCCASION TO RUN OVER A KIA RIO. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE TO…

    Read full complaint

    THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A CLUNK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. I THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. THE CAR WANDERS OVER THE ROAD AND SOMETIMES STARTS PULLING ITSELF INTO ONE LANE AND THEN TRIES TO GO TO THE OTHER LANE ALMOST CAUSING ME ON ONE OCCASION TO RUN OVER A KIA RIO. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR FOR FREE. *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10150914

    Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
    Steering

    ALARM SYSTEM, ALARM CONTROL COMPUTER.

    NHTSA ODI #609501

    Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1999
    SteeringStructureVisibility

    REAR WINDOWS GOE DOWN ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE ALL THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND THE ALARM SYSTEM WILL GO OFF. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #844560

    Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
    Steering

    ALARM SENSOR FAILED. YH

    NHTSA ODI #609899

    Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
    Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

    BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *YC

    NHTSA ODI #606183

    Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
    Steering

    ALARM MALFUNCTION, FALSE ALARM AT ANY TIME. YH

    NHTSA ODI #606011

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.