1999 Mercedes Benz M CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
100,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 38.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
Steering: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
2000: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007841 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMPS. BASED ON PUBLISHED COMMENTS BY INDIVIDUALS ON VARIOUS INTERNET CHAT GROUPS FOR THIS TRUCK REGARDING HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS AND FAILURES OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE, I CHECK MY HOSES AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER HOSE WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF. THE CLAMP, WHICH WAS LOOSE, WAS RETIGHTENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007936 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
FIRST OCCURANCE WAS LEAKAGE 2 MONTHS PRIOR, CLAMP TIGHTENED BY DEALER. 2ND OCCURENCE ON REPORTED DATE, STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF, LOST ALL FLUID AND POWER STEERING ASSIST.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069784 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM AND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR, THE CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN I HAD A HOSE DISCONNECT AND LOST POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE RECALL ON THE HOSE CLOAMP AND I PAID THE TOWING AND REPAIRS MYSELF. NOW I HAVE HAD A MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND ON AUGUST 5TH, MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITIONING, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. APPARENTLY THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND IT SHREDDED ONE OF THE MAJOR BELTS, WHICH DAMAGED THE OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424020 · 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)
DRIVING ON TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEAR NYC AND SLOWED DOWN TO APPROX 15 MPH FOR TOLL BOOTH AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE TOLLS. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LOUD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND I ALMOST CRASHED TRYING TO PULL OVER AS THE EZ-PASS IS ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER I GOT OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER ROTOR/CALIPER WAS ALMOST GLOWING AND ERUPTING WITH SMOKE, THE 3 OTHER BRAKES LOOKED FINE. THE SMOKE DID NOT STOP FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES AND IT SMELLED ABSOLUTELY TERR…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139067 · 2005-10-07 (October 7, 2005)
MY 1999 ML 320'S ENGINE RECENTLY (27 AND 29 SEPT 05) INSTANTANEOUSLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING-NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!. GOOD WX, NO RAIN, DRY, DAYTIME. IT RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINS. TRAFFIC WENT AROUND ME. ML IS WELL MAINTAINED,VEHICLE HAS 117K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE (NO CODES). FUEL PUMP CHECKED OK. AT MY REQUEST, THE MECH CHANGED OUT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) ON 30 SEPT. COST TO REPAIR $251.96. ML320 HAS RUN FINE SO FAR (7OCT). I FEEL THAT THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE (CP…
Owner-reported narrative. 117,574 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360111 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH SHOWED A MARGINAL PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANAGER THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" WAS ILLUMINATED. HE SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME PLUGS MISFIRING, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE CAR STALLING. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SAY IT RUNS LIKE A TOP. WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134187 · 2005-08-25 (August 25, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING ACROSS THE VERRAZANO NARROWS BRIDGE FROM BROOKLYN TO STATEN ISLAND. JUST PAST THE TOLLS, MY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED, CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SIZES AND STOPPING THE ENGINE. CONSEQUENTLY, I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING BECAME VERY HARD. I WAS MORE-OR-LESS POINTING TO AN SHOULDER/EMBANKMENT BETWEEN THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND THE EXIT IMMEDIATELY PAST THE TOLLS. I COASTED TO THAT EMBANKMENT AND USED ITS SLOPE IN PART TO HELP STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO RAY CATENA MERCEDES IN EDISON, NJ. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9001677 · 2000-07-10 (July 10, 2000)
TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BATTERY FAILED, REPLACED, OZ SENSOR FAILED REPLACE 3 TIMES, FUEL SYSTEM PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9001677 at NHTSA ↗