2002 Mercedes Benz ML500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
98,863 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 27 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 33.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 29.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 18.5% |
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 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Steering: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 7; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10057273 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
WARRANTY ISSUES AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. *PH AT THE FIRST 10,000 MILES, THE CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE TRAVEL WAS TOO LONG AND WAS ADVISED BY AN SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER AT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES, THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT ADEQUATE AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN BRAKING. THIS TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE GONE AND THE ROTORS WERE SCORED DUE TO TOO MUCH CITY DRIVING AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR WOULD NOT HONOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096242 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)
WARRANTY ISSUES AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. ON OCTOBER. 21, 2003 TOOK MY ML500 YEAR 2002 TO DEALER FOR SQUEALING AND SCRAPING BRAKES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THE SQUEALING AND SCRAPING AND TOLD ME THAT BRAKE DISC AND PADS LOOKS FINE. HOWEVER THEY ADVISED ME TO BUY NEWER VERSION OF BRAKE PADS, WHICH WOULD NOT SQUEAL. I REFUSED TO BUY BRAKE PADS, AS THEY SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOT SATISFIED, THEREFORE TOOK THE VEHICLE AGAIN NEXT DAY (OCTOBER 22,2003) AND TALKED TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,014 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024830 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
THE GEARS JAMMED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM'S OR MOR BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE. THE DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE CONSUMED ALOT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK PROPERLY. STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION AND EXCESSIVE REFLECTION FROM GLARE SHIELD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249894 · 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN SACRAMENTO CA IN AUG OF 06, AT THIS TIME WE ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 2 YEAR WARRANTY WHICH WE UNDERSTOOD TO BE EXPIRING IN AUG OF 08. THE CAR WORKED FINE WITH NO ISSUES UNTIL SEPT OF 07. I STARTED THE CAR AT 4 AM TO HEAD TO WORK AND IT MAKE A REALLY LOUD NOISE, IT GOT WORSE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONTACTED THE MB DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT NOT WANTING TO DRIVE THE CAR MAKING THAT SOUND, HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS FINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10249894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150037 · 2006-02-11 (February 11, 2006)
I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. A WEEK AGO I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. AS I WAS ACCELERATING THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR) AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR DESPITE FULLY DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL. THE CAR REACHED 80+ MPH AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT (I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT TO ABOUT 50 MPH BY FULLY DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL). I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL (IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHEN I SHIFTED T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188707 · 2007-04-24 (April 24, 2007)
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. IT STARTED THEN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. UPON THE 4TH ATTEMPT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I LOOKED AT THE DASH LIGHTS THE COMPUTER WAS SHOWING ERROR START. I PROCEEDED TO JIGGLE THE KEY AND EVEN USED THE SECOND MASTER KEY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I TALKED WITH MB ROADSIDE SERVICE THEY SUGGESTED CLEANING THE KEY, JIGGLING THE RING AROUND THE IGNITION KEY AREA. NOTHING WORKED. AFTER 2 HOURS OF ATTEMPTS, I HAD THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 51 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188707 at NHTSA ↗