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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior7454.4%
Steering behavior2518.4%
Electrical and battery issues1511.0%
Engine operation64.4%
Fuel system concerns53.7%
Transmission and shifting10.7%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)33
Service Brakes26
Vehicle Speed Control14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12
Steering10
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections10
Electrical System9
Air Bags7

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,99919
75,000 to 99,99920
100,000 to 149,99922
150,000 and above23

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20015
20021
200326
20045
20051
20067
20073
20086
200910
201010
20119
201211
201310
20145
20155
20168
20172
20181
20194
20204
20211
20241
20261

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10003560 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE ML320 AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ROADSIDE ASSIST INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ML320 BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND DEVELOP A PERMENANT FIX ASAP.

Owner-reported narrative. 26,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003560 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 10004807 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED HARNESS IN STEERING COLUMN. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004807 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 10005254 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)

POWER STEERING FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005254 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.