MERCEDES-BENZ 320 · model year

2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320

25 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000MERCEDES-BENZ320 carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 320 is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by air bags (2) and steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion) (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2000 320. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

25
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS2
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER1
TIRES1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recent Complaints

20140327STEERING

WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE MAIN STREET SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO THE HOUSE. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

20130828FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WE BOUGHT OUR ML 320 NEW. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 13 YEARS. NO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. A WEEK AGO I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT & SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE INTERIOR WAS IN FLAMES & THE HENDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY CAR WAS BURNED & COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MY ML & WAS GOING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER UNTIL MY CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST WEEK. I AM NOW HEARING STORIES FROM OTHER ACQUAINTANCES THAT THEY TOO EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. NOW, I SEE THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THEIR VEHICLE DEFECTS AND HAS NOT HAD A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED THIS LONG & VERY BLESSED MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TT

Mileage: 167,000

20091128AIR BAGS

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON , DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20081212SUSPENSION:FRONT

IN NOVEMBER 2008 I HEARD A BANG AND MY FRONT END DROPPED, I PULLED OVER AND DROVE HOME SLOWLY AND THEN HEARD ANOTHER BANG AS I PULLED INTO DRIVE WAY. THE TWO FRONT PERCHES THAT HOLD THE SPRINGS IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO MFG DEFECT. I DID RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO E320 SINCE 1999. DEALERS SAID THEY ARE FIXING IT FOR 8 YEARS AND THEN FOUND OUT 8 YEARS FROM MFG DATE NOT MODEL YEAR. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND NO DATE WOULD BE USED. MFG WON'T PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20080812SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE CARS BRAKE SYSTEM WENT ON WITH ANY COMMAND. THE YAW SENSOR ON THE BRAKES SYSTEM ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REPLACE THEM. I ALMOST GOT INTO ANY ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20080211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

MY 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 IGNITION IS STARTING BUT NOT FAIL TO START THE ENGINE. A COMPUTER TEST CONDUCTED SHOWS THAT THE ML320 COMPUTER IS DEFECTED. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, THE SAME VEHICLE HAS A HOSE POWER STEERING WHICH I HAD REPAIRED NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOSE POWER STEERING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY RECALL EXIST FOR 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 REFERENCE TO THE COMPUTER. THANKS. *TR

20080211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

MY 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 IGNITION IS STARTING BUT NOT FAIL TO START THE ENGINE. A COMPUTER TEST CONDUCTED SHOWS THAT THE ML320 COMPUTER IS DEFECTED. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, THE SAME VEHICLE HAS A HOSE POWER STEERING WHICH I HAD REPAIRED NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOSE POWER STEERING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY RECALL EXIST FOR 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 REFERENCE TO THE COMPUTER. THANKS. *TR

20070305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 MERCEDES ML 320 WITH 46000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 45 MPH THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE BRAKES REMAINED ENGAGED, THEREFORE THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE YAW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, PE07-007. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000.*AK

Mileage: 46,000

20070122SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CLK 320 MERCEDES BENZ. WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A VACCUM LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. *AK

Mileage: 82,000

20051212POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

THIS CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RELATED DESIGN DEFECT. THE CAR JERKED TO A SUDDEN STOP AFTER WATER WAS SPILLED FROM THE CUP HOLDER ONTO THE SHIFT CONSOLE. I WAS LUCKILY DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED(LESS THAN 25 MPH). THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND THEN I COULD GET TO NEUTRAL (LUCKILY ON A FLAT STREET OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED AWAY FROM ME). AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF I GOT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE $800 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONICS THAT HAD SHORTED OUT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW TO HAVE A CUP HOLDER NEXT TO AN AREA PRONE TO SHORTING OUT WITH WATER EXPOSURE. THIS WAS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. ALSO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY.. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED, I'M FEARFUL I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE SI

Mileage: 46,000

20051013STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 RECEIVED RECALL 03V121000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL MB 2003-040005, AND WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL IS ON NHTSA # 03V121000 AND MB # 2003-040005 THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING ON PARTS FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE THE CONTACT'S TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE SALESMAN WILL NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK ON MB 2003-040005 CONCERNING THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CHECKED THE CAR ON 9-29-05. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPLY HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ, AND THEY TOLD HER TO GO THROUGH THE DEALERSH

20051013ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 RECEIVED RECALL 03V121000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL MB 2003-040005, AND WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL IS ON NHTSA # 03V121000 AND MB # 2003-040005 THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING ON PARTS FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE THE CONTACT'S TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE SALESMAN WILL NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK ON MB 2003-040005 CONCERNING THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CHECKED THE CAR ON 9-29-05. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPLY HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ, AND THEY TOLD HER TO GO THROUGH THE DEALERSH

20041105CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SENT OUT A TEAM OF TECHNICIANS TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT IN THE RIGHT SPOT. THUS, NOT ALLOWING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. *AK

Mileage: 55,000

20040820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20040820FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20040820VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20040820VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20040820AIR BAGS

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20040820STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

20031026TIRES

TIRE TORE APART ALL AROUND, REELED OFF MY M.BENZ E 320. *LA

Mileage: 333,959

Compare 2000MERCEDES-BENZ320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 have?
The 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 has 25 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320?
The most-complained component for the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION).
Is the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.