Total Complaints
25 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 320 · model year
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.
Total Complaints
25 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
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
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
SRS LIGHT STAYS ON , DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
TIRE TORE APART ALL AROUND, REELED OFF MY M.BENZ E 320. *LA
Mileage: 333,959
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.