MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 · model year

1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320

164 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999MERCEDES-BENZML320 carries 164 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 2 fires, 12 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 1999 ML320 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys with 13 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (12) and steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections (12). 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 1999 ML320. 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.

164
Complaints
17
Crashes
2
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

164 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION12
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS12
STEERING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP6
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SERVICE BRAKES5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SUSPENSION:REAR3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3

Recent Complaints

20230802STEERING

The contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and other various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that she refilled the power steering reservoir several times and noted that there was a stain underneath her vehicle after parking overnight. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to a closed NHTSA Action Number: PE3006 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

Mileage: 220,000

20220723STEERING

There was a recall on the steering on my 1999 Mercedes Benz . The Manufacturer said its closed . The steering is leaking and hard to drive and I fear the power steering pump will go out while I am driving the Vehicle. I fear for my safety. How can I get this recall opened and my vehicle fixed .

20211016CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT A WEEK AGO MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER SERIOUS IMPACTS MY CAR ROLLED SERVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMMING TO A STOP ON ITS SIDE NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF ALSO THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT LIT UP ABOUT THE BAS SYSTEM AND SOME OTHER MALFUNCTION THE TWO WARNING LIGHTS NEVER WENT OFF THEY STAYED ON CONSTANT WHILE DRIVING I HAVE SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO NO AIRBAGS GOING OFF IM VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PREVENTED ANOTHER FRIEND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DO AND WILL FILE THEIR OWN COMPL;AINT NOW I DONT HAVE A VEHICAL PERIOD WHAT AM I SUSPOSED TO DO? IF MY KIDS WERE WITH ME I WOULD SUE FOR SURE THANK GOD THEY WERE NOT WITH ME !!! COME ON MERCEDES FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT YOUR WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALREADY DO SOMETHING!!

20200913SERVICE BRAKES

THE YAW RATE SENSOR IS CAUSING THE CAR TO UNINTENDED BREAKING. IT STARTED THE BREAKING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE, HOWEVER OVER A WEEK AGO THE ACTUAL CAR WILL BREAK WHILE IM DRIVE AND BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WILL NOT GO UNTIL I CUT THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT WILL DRIVE AGAIN.

Mileage: 35

20200913ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE YAW RATE SENSOR IS CAUSING THE CAR TO UNINTENDED BREAKING. IT STARTED THE BREAKING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE, HOWEVER OVER A WEEK AGO THE ACTUAL CAR WILL BREAK WHILE IM DRIVE AND BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WILL NOT GO UNTIL I CUT THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT WILL DRIVE AGAIN.

Mileage: 35

20190307SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65MPH, THE ML320 SLAMMED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE BREAK CAUSING TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT NEARLY OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN STOPPING AND CHECKING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, HUB AND BRAKE PAD WERE SMOKING AND VERY HOT

Mileage: 175,000

20190307ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65MPH, THE ML320 SLAMMED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE BREAK CAUSING TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT NEARLY OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN STOPPING AND CHECKING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, HUB AND BRAKE PAD WERE SMOKING AND VERY HOT

Mileage: 175,000

20170615SERVICE BRAKES

THIS IS IN REGARD TO NHTSA ID #10033607, ALSO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CAMPAIGN #2009100002 DATED JAN 2010, FOR MODEL 163. MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED BY ABOVE MERCEDES SERVICE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT'S V-6 MODEL, BUT SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN AND ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM AREA SHOWING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FUEL LINE AND LESS SO TO BRAKE LINE. THE PHOTOS SHOWING SEVERE CHAFING BETWEEN FUEL LINE & BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW MASTER CYLINDER. THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN ONLY COVERS 8 CYLINDER MODELS, BUT MY 6 CYLINDER MODEL IS SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME CHAFING AT THE SAME AREA. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM, BUT JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE LAST FEW DAYS.

Mileage: 212,000

20170615FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS IS IN REGARD TO NHTSA ID #10033607, ALSO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CAMPAIGN #2009100002 DATED JAN 2010, FOR MODEL 163. MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED BY ABOVE MERCEDES SERVICE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT'S V-6 MODEL, BUT SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN AND ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM AREA SHOWING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FUEL LINE AND LESS SO TO BRAKE LINE. THE PHOTOS SHOWING SEVERE CHAFING BETWEEN FUEL LINE & BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW MASTER CYLINDER. THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN ONLY COVERS 8 CYLINDER MODELS, BUT MY 6 CYLINDER MODEL IS SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME CHAFING AT THE SAME AREA. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM, BUT JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE LAST FEW DAYS.

Mileage: 212,000

20140908SERVICE BRAKES

UNCOMMANDED BREAKING OF FRONT WHEELS RESULTED IN DECELERATION AND SEVERE OVERHEATING OF FRONT BRAKES. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN ONE MILE OF DESTINATION. HIGH ENGINE REVS AND DOWNSHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION WERE REQUIRED TO OVERCOME THE UNCOMMANDED BREAKING FORCE AND REACH THE DESTINATION. A SIMILAR SECOND OCCURRENCE EFFECTED ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. *TR

Mileage: 95,540

20140729STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. DJR

Mileage: 99,000

20140729STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. DJR

Mileage: 99,000

20140623SERVICE BRAKES

99 MERCEDES ML320 FRONT RIGHT BRAKE OVERHEATED TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH. *TR

Mileage: 13,700

20140607CrashAIR BAGS

MY 1999 MERCEDES ML-320 WAS TRAVELING ON A THROUGH HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN IT WAS BROADSIDED AT THE INTERSECTION BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH APPARENTLY DIDN'T STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, MY VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING A SAFETY INVESTIGATION REGARDING POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THE AIRBAGS OR DEVICES CONTROLLING SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20130617CrashPOWER TRAIN

WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEM TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AN ACCELERATING, CAUSING IT TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO A LIGHT POLE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20130617CrashELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEM TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AN ACCELERATING, CAUSING IT TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO A LIGHT POLE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20120301VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCERDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20111006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 12/08/11

Mileage: 72,000

20110909CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO A BOULDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20110830POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK BUT THE SHIFTER REMAINED STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

Compare 1999MERCEDES-BENZML320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 have?
The 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 has 164 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 2 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320?
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS.
Is the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 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.