Total Complaints
195 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 · model year
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320
195 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001MERCEDES-BENZML320 carries 195 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 7 fires, 17 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 2001 ML320 is electronic stability control (esc) with 33 filings, followed by service brakes (26) and vehicle speed control (13). 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 2001 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.
195
Complaints
19
Crashes
7
Fires
17
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
19 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 33 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 26 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 12 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 10 |
| STEERING | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20241230LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated that the front passengerâs door failed to open more than 6 inches. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
20210519AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that when they entered their vehicle and turned it on, the vehicle's passenger front door air bag made a sudden boom sound and then deployed. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.
Mileage: 132,000
20200314AIR BAGS
AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION
20200314SERVICE BRAKES
AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION
20200314ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION
20200122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.
Mileage: 200,000
20200122ENGINE
ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.
Mileage: 200,000
20200122FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.
Mileage: 200,000
20200119CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY
MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER
Mileage: 120,000
20200119CrashSTEERING
MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER
Mileage: 120,000
20200119CrashWHEELS
MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER
Mileage: 120,000
20200108SERVICE BRAKES
THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM ON MERCEDES BENZ ML320 LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 213,000
20190819SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
Mileage: 220,000
20190727STEERING
STEERING FLUID LEEKS.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TANK.THE STEERING IS VERY HARD.
Mileage: 210,000
20190524SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS TO COME TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION
Mileage: 15
20190524ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS TO COME TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION
Mileage: 15
20190317ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THIS IS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME (JAN 2017) HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BUT BEFORE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I SAT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES WITH CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY DRIVE HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA BUT STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE ALL THE WAY HOME. 2ND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEORGIA. PULLED OVER AND LET IT SET FOR AWHILE. FINISHED RIDE TO ATLANTA AIRPORT. WEEK LATER I DRIVE HOME FROM ATLANTA AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I BRING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CANT FIND ANYTHING DIAGNOSTICALLY. 3RD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH. I BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC AND HE KEEPS IT FOR A WEEK. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF MY LAST OCCURENCE; I AM DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 327 AND THIS TIME IT IS THE WORSE O
Mileage: 160,000
20180327SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT AS ID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE 'BAS ESP" (BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20180327ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT AS ID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE 'BAS ESP" (BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20171102SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP RELEASE AND LOCK UP AGAIN.THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON.
Mileage: 10
Compare 2001MERCEDES-BENZML320 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 have?▼
The 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 has 195 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 7 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 is ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) with 33 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2001 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.