1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
118 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
71,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 118 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 34 | 28.8% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 15.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 9.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 12 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 6 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 12; Steering: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 6; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 46 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 | 14 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 32 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 14; 2001: 6; 2002: 7; 2003: 32; 2004: 18; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 9; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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 10000322 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 SUV. ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" FAILED (BECAME DETACHED), CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A DISABLED VEHICLE AND LEAVING MY WIFE AND FAMILY STRANDED. THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS THE MAIN PULLEY WHEEL WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS PULLEY WHEEL IN TURN DRIVES ALL OTHER BELT-DRIVEN ITEMS, SUCH AS POWER STEERING PUMP, AC, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, ETC. FIRST, THIS ITEM SHOULD BE SO RESILIENT THAT FAILURE IS NE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002400 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN OR JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT STEERING WHEEL STUCK UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONSUMER HAS HIT A WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS.....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007435 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
THE FAILURE OF THE CENTER PULLEY RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BELT COMING LOOSE. IT RESULTED IN ALL POWER MECHANISMS (POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES FAILING). THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THE BELT GOT RIPPED BY THE FAN WHILE IT WAS WORKING. THE FAN ALSO STOPPED WORKING AND ELEVATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF THIS ON THE DASH PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE METAL PULLEY WAS SITTING LOOSE AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. IF THE PULLEY HAD FALLEN DOWN OR HIT THE FUEL LINE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MERCEDES DEALERSH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010610 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014715 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATIC IN COLD WEATHER. *JB DURING THE FIRST 5-6 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR IN COLD WEATHER. ABLE TO SHIFT AFTER WARM START (ABOUT 5 MINUTES). *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023724 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
CAR WAS IN PARK AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE TO STOP. THE CAR MAKER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT (AFTER A MONTH) WHO DETERMINED IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. (I AM AWAITING THEIR REPORT TO ME) CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030378 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
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 I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048186 · 2003-11-10 (November 10, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121194 · 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)
DT: INTERMITTENT DELAY OF 7 SECONDS WHEN GIVEN GAS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT. THE CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. THE CAR IS WORSE WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE AND WHEN THE CONSUMER IS PULLING OUT. THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT'S COOLER OUTSIDE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED OUT THE PEDAL VALUE SENSOR, A SLIDE MECHANISM FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, A WIRING HARNESS AND FAN FOR THE ECM, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER WITH UPGRADES, THE ECM, AND NOW THE WIRING …
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121194 at NHTSA ↗