IllustrationGAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE MERCEDES ML320 AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR (NO BRAKES) UNTIL A SECOND AND THIRD TRY. *TR
1999 Mercedes Benz ML320
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most ML320 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
50–25K
725–50K
2950–75K
1375–100K
12100–150K
6150K+
72 reports with mileage · 53 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
11 reportsTHE COMPUTER LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT ON A TEST DRIVE CALIPER LOCKED UP. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING VEHICLE WAS STARTING IN THIRD GEAR, INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT IN TRAFFIC. DEALER/MECHANIC EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP…
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THE COMPUTER LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT ON A TEST DRIVE CALIPER LOCKED UP. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING VEHICLE WAS STARTING IN THIRD GEAR, INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT IN TRAFFIC. DEALER/MECHANIC EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL LINE.*AK
VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *JB *NLM
BASED ON A DEALER RECCOMENDATION, I HAVE BECOME AWARE THE MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AND UNPUBLICISED "CAMPAIGN" TO ADVISE OWNERS OF CERTIAN OF THE ML SERIES SUVS OF THE DESIREABILITY OF "UPGRADING", AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING FILTERS AND LINES. THIS IS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF FUEL FIL…
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BASED ON A DEALER RECCOMENDATION, I HAVE BECOME AWARE THE MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AND UNPUBLICISED "CAMPAIGN" TO ADVISE OWNERS OF CERTIAN OF THE ML SERIES SUVS OF THE DESIREABILITY OF "UPGRADING", AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING FILTERS AND LINES. THIS IS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP FAILURES, ASCRIBED BY MERCEDES TO "POOR QUALITY U.S. FUEL" THESE FAILURES HAVE THE EFFECT OF IMMOBILIZING THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THESE UNEXPECTED STOPPAGES CN HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY IMPLICATIONS IF THEY OCCUR IN A MOVING TRAFFIC FLOW SITUATION. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DIRECTLY INFORMED OWNERS AND TAKES THE POSITION THAT IT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, ASCRIBABLE TO FAULTY DESIGN OR MATERIALS THAT CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
1.) BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACING AFTER 10,000 MILES. 2.) FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT REQUIRES NEWLY DESIGNED PART AND ADDITIONAL HOSES, CLAMPS ETC TOTALING OVER $300. BECAUSE PREVIOUS PART CAUSES FUEL LEAKS(?) AND NOT AVAILABLE. SHOULDN'T MB PAY FOR PART OF THIS?? *NLM
THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
CONSUMER STATES FUEL PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES.*YH
VEHICLE WAS SHUTTING OFF AND BURNING A LOT OF GAS. CONSUMER WAS GOING ON A TRIP, AND DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE THE ROAD TRIP. CONSUMER WAS 100 MILES AWAY, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. CAUSE STILL CANNOT BE FOUND.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. *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
2PE03058 · 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.
PE03006 · Power Steering Hose Assembly Leakage
Opened Feb 13, 2003 · Closed Apr 4, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.