Mercedes Benz ML55 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,918 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 46.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Service Brakes: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Steering: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10370718 · 2010-12-15 (December 15, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEN RELEASED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND HAD TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER AND WHEELS TO LOCK. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $3400 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HE HAD TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER IN HIS AREA AND OFFERED…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439053 · 2011-12-08 (December 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING BRAKING ISSUES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SOME HUGE BOULDER ROCKS AND WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED HARD ON GROUND, TIRES FIRST. . THE CONTACT WAS REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186579 · 2007-03-30 (March 30, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TAKING THE 2001 MERCEDES ML55 WITH 72029 CURRENT MILEAGE FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 72,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854402 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD NUMEROUS LEAKS AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V121000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854402 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 1; 2003: 0