2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
136 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
87,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 108 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 136 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 74 | 54.4% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 18.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 33 |
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 33; Service Brakes: 26; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Steering: 10; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 10; Electrical System: 9; Air Bags: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 23
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 26; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 10; 2010: 10; 2011: 9; 2012: 11; 2013: 10; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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 10004756 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES' SPEED WILL DECREASE INTERMITTENTLY TO 20 MPH WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED. VEHICLE WILL STAY AT 20 MPH FOR 10-15 SECONDS, THEN SPEED WILL INCREASE. PROBLEM HAS WORSENED AS TIME PROGRESSED. ONCE WHEN SPEED DECREASED SOS MALFUNCTIONED, AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004808 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 70 MPH. MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE HELPED CONSUMER RESET OVER THE PHONE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000961 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE CAME LOOSE DURING OPERATION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CLAMP HOLDING THE HOSE IN PLACE IS DEFECTIVE; HOWEVER, MERCEDES HAS NOT HAD A RECALL TO FIX THE ITEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN A TURN WHEN THIS OCCURRED AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST LIKELY RESULT. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A CAR COMPANY WOULD NOT RECALL AND RESOLVE A KNOWN ISSUE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 36,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002870 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CATR STARTED STALLING. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT TURN AT ALL BECASUSE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT TURN. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. I CALLED THE MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE UNSNAPPED, AS A RESULT, HE HAD TO GO TO A LOCAL TRACK AUTO STORE TO BUY A TEMPORARY PART TO REPLACE IT. THIS WAS A SCARY AND CLOSE CALL AS I SAW A METRO BUS ALMOST RUN INTO ME AS I WAS TRYING TO MANEAVOR THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,137 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004806 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AT 40 MPH, DEALER DETERMINED AC FUSE HAD BLOWN. DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND HOSE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022912 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 03 V 121 000 FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AND FLASHED AND BEEPED, LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS/GAS TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO SECOND GEAR AND DID COME OUT FOR SOME TIME(DISCOVERED IT WAS IN LIMP-HOME MODE). THE SERVICE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE GEAR SELECTOR. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF, EXCEPT FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047184 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
I OWN A MERCEDES ML 320, 2001 MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. THE VEHICLE IS NOW THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 5700-0 MILES ON IT. THE MOST SERIOUS FAILURES INVOLVE THE FUEL PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE, WITH THE MOST RECENT FAILURE BEING 11/13/03. LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS FUMES FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND A SERIOUS DANGER OF EXPLOSION EXIST. THE FUEL PUMP LOCATION FOR THIS MODEL IS UNDERNEATH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE MY CHILDREN SIT. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072260 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353216 · 2010-08-31 (August 31, 2010)
MERCEDES BENZ HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN AND QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILS CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACCELERATE. THE MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE MANAGER AND LEAD MECHANIC BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED AND EXPLAINED THIS PROBLEM TO ME NOTING THAT CURRENT MODELS COULD SUFFER FROM THE SAME DESIGN AND THEY'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VENDOR PROVIDING FAULTY BRAKE SWITCHES. I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 ML320 WITH CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH. I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CAR BEGAN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353216 at NHTSA ↗