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

Suspension complaints

5 reports

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97,615 miles · May 2, 2004

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineInjury

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LAUNDRY LIST OF FAILURES. JACK HAS ALMOST KILLED ME WHILE CHANGING TIRE. VEHICLE FELL, ALMOST HITTING ME BUT CATCHING SIDE OF VEHICLE BEFORE LANDING ON ME! HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED ON A FEW OCCASIONS, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AIR MASS METER FAILED. HAS REQUIRED 5 (FIVE!) ALIGNMENTS IN TWO YEARS. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A MONTH LATER REQUIRES ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES, WHICH HAS CAUSED HYDROPLANING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWERVES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN HITS ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLAT ROAD. TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FIXED BY DEALER WITHOUT CONSULTING. AFTER REPAIR, TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FAILED. DEALER STATES OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS. HAS HAD REPAIR OF HARMONIC BALANCER ON FRONT OF ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP LEADING TO OIL LEAK AND FAILURE OF BELT TENSIONER. WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE FAILED TWICE AND FIXED AT EXPENSE OF OWNER. SIX DIFFERENT KEYS HAVE FAILED @ THE COST OF $220/KEY. REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSES LOSS OF STEREO RECEPTION. REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED. FRONT END MAKES NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068171

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED AND TOOK TWO WEEKS TO HAVE REPAIRED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #553863

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2000

Suspension

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I PURCHASED A MERCEDES SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLE IN 1998 (ML320). THE DRIVER-SIDE, SIDE-VIEW MIRROR IS A "MAJOR-LEAGUE" DRIVING HAZARD. THE MIRROR DOES NOT ADJUST SUFFICIENTLY, LEAVING A HUGE BLIND SPOT. EVERY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED ALLOWED THE MIRRORS TO BE ADJUSTED SO THAT A CAR PASSING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COULD BE TRACKED FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, TO THE SIDE MIRROR, TO THE DRIVERS PERIPHERAL VISION. WITH THE ML320 A PASSING CAR GETS LOST IN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE SIDE-VIEW MIRROR AND THE DRIVER'S PERIPHERAL VISION. THE MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED FAR ENOUGH OUTWARD TO COVER THIS BLIND SPOT. THIS PROBLEM IS EXCASCERBATED BY THE POSITION OF THE WIDE ROOF-SUPPORT COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726199

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Suspension

FRONT TORSION BAR MAKING NOISE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #605968

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainStructure

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/MOTOR/ POWER WINDOWS/ DOOR HANDLES AND PANELS, AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS EVER SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831300

Official recalls

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

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.