IllustrationVEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. THROTTLE DOESN'T ACTUATE PROPERLY OR SMOOTHLY. TRYING TO GO AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND THROTTLE GIVES A RESISTANTCE TO CERTAIN SPEED. PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO REMEDEY THE PROBLEM, BUT THUS FAR IT HASN'T BEEN DONE SO.*AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all ML320 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
625–50K
1150–75K
1275–100K
8100–150K
4150K+
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
What owners actually said
133 reportsHAD TWO (2) FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. SUV STOPS RUNNING, GOT OFF ROAD SAFELY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WILL SUDDENLY AND TOTALLY FOG IN CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING A WARMED UP VEHICLE AT VARIOUS TRAFFIC SPEEDS. THE DEFROSTER IS UNABLE TO CLEAR THIS EVEN WHEN IT IS ANTICIPATED AND HAS FORCED US TO ROLL SIDE WINDOWS DOWN AND PULL TO THE RO…
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WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WILL SUDDENLY AND TOTALLY FOG IN CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING A WARMED UP VEHICLE AT VARIOUS TRAFFIC SPEEDS. THE DEFROSTER IS UNABLE TO CLEAR THIS EVEN WHEN IT IS ANTICIPATED AND HAS FORCED US TO ROLL SIDE WINDOWS DOWN AND PULL TO THE ROADSIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DEFROSTER BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE AT TIMES 10 MINUTES TO CLEAR AND IT WON'T STOP THE PROCESS ONCE IT IS STARTED EVEN WHEN RUN AT FULL FORCE.
APPARENTLY, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ON THE 1998 ML320 FAILS QUITE OFTEN....EVEN ON TRUCKS WITH LOW MILEAGE. *AK *JB ***** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****731049.
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED AND TOOK TWO WEEKS TO HAVE REPAIRED. NLM
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 T…
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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
SEAT BELT LATCHING MECHANISM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE # 99V328 RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES TO CONSUMER DURING ACCIDENT. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) *ET
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
KEY LOCK PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START DUE TO KEY PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES, WOULD NOT START DUE TO GAS TANK PROBLEMS, DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES MOVE UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES, LATCH ON HATCH DOOR RATTLED, REAR SEAT BELTS RATTLE, OIL OUT LIGHT CAME ON AT RANDOM TIMES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, LAST THE FLY-BY …
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KEY LOCK PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START DUE TO KEY PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES, WOULD NOT START DUE TO GAS TANK PROBLEMS, DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES MOVE UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES, LATCH ON HATCH DOOR RATTLED, REAR SEAT BELTS RATTLE, OIL OUT LIGHT CAME ON AT RANDOM TIMES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, LAST THE FLY-BY WIRE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OF THE VEHICLE WITH $14,000 DAMAGE. *AK
IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FREEZES UP, EVEN WITH DE-ICER ADDITIVE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. WHEN DIRT IS KICKED UP FROM A PRECEDING AUTOMOBILE, YOU CANNOT CLEAN OFF THE WINDOWS, THIS LEADS TO IMPOSSIBLE VISIBILITY. PULLING OFF THE ROAD EVERY 5 MINUTES TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO.…
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IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FREEZES UP, EVEN WITH DE-ICER ADDITIVE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. WHEN DIRT IS KICKED UP FROM A PRECEDING AUTOMOBILE, YOU CANNOT CLEAN OFF THE WINDOWS, THIS LEADS TO IMPOSSIBLE VISIBILITY. PULLING OFF THE ROAD EVERY 5 MINUTES TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO. I'M 5FT. AND ITS ALSO HARD TO REACH THE WINDOW TO CLEAN IT OFF. SEVERAL CALLS WERE PLACED FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOZZLES ARE NOT HEATED AND NOT PROTECTED TO KEEP THE COMPONENT PARTS FROM FREEZING. I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN SINCE IT WAS HARD TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOW. DRIVING LIKE THIS ALL WINTER WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE03058 · 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.