IllustrationFUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY/RUN OUT OF FUEL/ENGINE QUITS LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING MAY LEAD TO CRASH/DEFECT *LA
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
What owners actually said
125 reportsWINDSHIELD TANK CRACKED/DEFECTIVE PART/NO CLEANING OF WINDSHIELD IN WINTER/REPLACED TANK. *LA
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
UPON PULLING ONTO THE INTERSTATE VEHICLE JERKED THEN STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
RIGHT REAR STRUT AND SPRING ON MY 1999 MERCEDES ML 320 IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED AFTER ONLY 53,000 MILES, NONE OF WHICH ARE"OFF-ROAD" MILES. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED ~$750 TO REPLACE JUST THE STRUT. *LA
TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH UP A STEEP GRADE ON CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE 5 ON THE SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY KNOWN AS "THE GRAPE VINE" ELEVATION OF 3000-4000 FEET, HEADED NORTH KEEPING PACE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE (FAR LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE FREEWAY HIGHWAY ), IN THE AFTERNOON OF 2/16/04 AT 2 PM WITH CRUISE CONTROL…
Read full complaint
TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH UP A STEEP GRADE ON CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE 5 ON THE SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY KNOWN AS "THE GRAPE VINE" ELEVATION OF 3000-4000 FEET, HEADED NORTH KEEPING PACE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE (FAR LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE FREEWAY HIGHWAY ), IN THE AFTERNOON OF 2/16/04 AT 2 PM WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR ( 1999 MERZ, CLASS HD,, BODY TYPE UT [XXX]) AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR SENDING THE RPMS FROM 2500 TO 3000-4000, THIS NORMAL AUTOMATIC ACTION CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP ALL FORWARD MOTION REDUCING BOTH CAR SPEED AND RPMS TO ZERO IN THE FAST LANE, THE IMPACT A "FULL ENGINE SHUT DOWN" A HIGHLY DANGEROUS ACTION IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WITH A SHORT HAZARDOUS SIGNALING NOTICE. THE CAR IN JULY OF 2003 PERFORMED IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE SAME SECTION OF "THE GRAPE VINE" HEADED SOUTH IN THE FAST LANE WITH A DIFFERENT DRIVER, NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE STOPPED ALL FORWARD MOTION. SHORTLY ARRIVING IN PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA ON THE SAME DAY, THE CAR AGAIN PERFORMED IN THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE PALM SPRINGS MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND PRESUMABLY RESOLVED. THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED AS STATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER. IT HAS OCCURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS IS A CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION THAT DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RECTIFICATION. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY DETERIORATED ON MY MERCEDES ML320. IF IT HAD GOTTEN WORSE, I'M AFRAID IT WOULD HAVE DISINTEGRATED AND DONE MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND/OR CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STERRING.
MERCEDES BENZ, ML320,1999, HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE. DESTROYS THE WHOLE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE ENGINE INCLUDING MAKING POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. MAY CAUSE A REAL BAD ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A 2000 C280 WITH 47,500 MILES WHICH LOOKS LIKE CARRIES THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME POSSIBLE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE. THE CLAMP HOSES LOOSENED, ALLOWING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. *AK
I HAD TO REPLACE THE HARMONIC BALANCER, AND THE MAIN DRIVE SHAFT BEARING ON A 1999 ML MERCEDES WITH THE V-6 MOTOR VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.