Mercedes Benz / ML320 / 2001
2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 problems
Owners have filed 196 complaints about the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 with NHTSA. Electronic stability control (ESC) accounts for 16.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes at 13.3%.
Complaints196
Crashes19
Fires7
Injuries17
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electronic stability control (ESC) 16.8% · 33
Service brakes 13.3% · 26
Steering 12.8% · 25
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.7% · 19
Electrical system 8.7% · 17
Vehicle speed control 8.2% · 16
Air bags 4.1% · 8
Fuel system, gasoline 3.6% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 19 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire and 17 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 5 model years of the Mercedes Benz ML320 in this data, 2001 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 2000 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 17 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 92,485 miles.
In owners' own words
Vehicle came to a dead stop when brakes suddenly applied automatically while driving in a straight line at 40mph in heavy freeway traffic. Very difficult to get vehicle off road onto shoulder. Esp/bas light came and remained on until ignition turned off. Now no warning light nor diagnostic code detected. Brake pedal sensor replaced by mb dealer on month ago. An extremely dangerous situation. Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 81,755 miles
2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 incidents of uncommanded brake application. This happened four times in two weeks. I was driving at a steady speed of 60 mph on a highway when all of a sudden the car shook violently for a second, it felt like the abs system engaged. And the esp light come on. The last time it happened I was accelerating from a traffic light (5mph). Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 90,600 miles
While driving on i95 in florida on dec 26, 2009, my car's brakes suddenly and repeatedly (3 times) engaged on their own without warning. My tires locked up one tire at a time causing me to completely loose control over my vehicle (ML320 ' 2001). Replaced a faulty yaw rate sensor. Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 65,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…