This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
First incident in August 2012 driving 20-30 mph just got on hwy and car suddenly slammed on brakes. Could not go over 1000rpm without brakes engaging but fortunately a policeman who witnessed this escorted us to safety on single lane hwy very dangerous. Replaced yaw rate sensor for $1000. Now it is doing the same thing again 2/27/13 and is undrivable. Most likely facing another replacement of yaw rate sensor for another $1000 that only lasted 6 months last time. There are hundreds of these same stories online and ridiculous that Mercedes Benz with its classy reputation would not recall such a potentially dangerous issue. How many people have to be injured to justify a recall?! I do not feel safe driving my 2 year old daughter anymore and still owe on this hunk of junk so I am stuck.
The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the caution and esp lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the brakes locked up without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and shut off for a few moments. Upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal and was taken to an authorized dealer where the yaw rate sensor was relaced. The contact was also informed that another sensor needed to be replaced, but the repair was not performed. The vehicle was still in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 215,000.
I have been the owner of a 2000 Mercedes ML320 for about 6 years. The car was purchased from the dealer with approx. 30,000 miles. Today it has approx 73,000 miles. Since owning it, I have had several problems which were all out of warranty and which I feel were unwarranted and were not seriously attended to by mb or the dealer: This complaint form was very difficult to complete according to the fields provided. The equipment information included is not correct and was included just to get to the form. I felt that the problems with the car should be reported specifically the esp light and the air bag problems at about 51,000 miles, the airbag became inoperative. I was told that it would cost about $2000 to repair and correct. Dealer offered a small adjustment. I chose not to make the investment. At about 65,000 miles, I began having very loud noises that seemed to come from the crankshaft and appeared to be a brake problem. Dealer did try to determine what it was, but couldn't isolate the problem unless "he had to take the whole car apart" there was a related problem because the esp light would come on intermittently that the dealer advised could not be isolated unless I did the work on the brake and the crankshaft:" At about 72,000 miles, the car developed oil leaks from the motor. Est. Cost of repair was $2000. We are watching and waiting. In may, I was advised that there is a recall notice on the cruise control of the car. No word on that issue since. Because of the cruise control notice I received, I was prompted to write you about these other issues and became further concerned about the esp light and the faulty air bag the care has had., car is driven an average of 150 miles a week in mostly city driving. Car is serviced but not by the dealer because of the high cost and relative dissatisfaction from the service provided. Updated 07/27/11
While driving my 2000 ML320 Mercedes, the car suddenly applies brakes while traveling at various speeds. The bas/esp warning lights come on. This is a very dangerous malfunction and someone should make Mercedes address this defect immediately before someone is killed! if you do a search on the internet, it will amaze you how many people have experienced this horrifying ordeal. Please do not ignore my complaint.
- Cartersville, GA, USA
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I own a 2000 ML320 Mercedes Benz. In 4 different events the car applies brakes on tires randomly and the car comes to a stop and pulls and jerks to that side the esp light blink on instrument cluster and bas/esp light comes on. My wife taking the kids to school from stockton to lathrop on I-5 had this problem too and it really scared them luckily the right lane was empty and they managed to somehow pull over. This is a major safety issue that can cause death or serious injury. The brakes and electronic stability applies on by itself randomly causing the car to jerk or stop and pushing on the accelerator does not make the car move due to the lack of power and car won't pass 1000rpm restarting the engine resets the problem until it occurs again. Took to the dealership and they say this is most likely due to a bad "yaw rate sensor" I have had this problem on 3 other occasions driving around 30-40 miles per hour and the car came to a stop in traffic and the driving conditions was clean on a straightaway road. Mercedes Benz refuses to fix this dangerous problem as a major safety recall they want $300 to look at the car $500 for yaw sensor and $600 for labor and they will not guarantee if it will solve the problem. Please help I do not want my wife and kids get in to a car accident but this is our only car.
I purchase a my 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 used with approx. 78K miles. The vehicle now has 105K miles, while driving the vehicle normal, and no off road activity the front brakes would activate causing the vehicle to pull suddenly to the left or right depending on which side had been activated with no input from the driver. The incident would last anywhere from three to five seconds in duration and loss of brake control to the rest of the vehicle. This has happened several different times 5 to be exact all at different speeds. The last episode I was traveling at 50 mph when the front left wheel slammed on brakes and jerked the vehicle to the left, thank god, no on was coming at me at that time. The vehicle has been taken to a repair shop and a yaw sensor ordered. I have read previously that a similar complaint had been filed and closed back in 2007. All I can say is that this could have been a very serious issue, because it happens unexpectedly and at any speed!
I was driving my 2000 Mercedes Benz ml 430 at approximately 40 mph, when without any warning lights being displayed it abruptly stopped. The brake pedal had not been depressed. The vehicle then skidded, stopped, skidded again and stopped. This went on for approximately 45-60 seconds then the bas esp malfunction light came on. I was then able to drive the vehicle while the light was illuminated. I have experienced this on 4 separate occasions and have almost been involved in three accidents which all could have been fatal because the vehicle stops completely, it does not slow down then stop, it stops. I was advised to change the tires and have the brake light switch replaced. I did but the problem continued. I have been told by three certified mechanics that there seems to be a defect with or within my ABS system because even if there is a problem with my ABS system the car should not abruptly stop while being driven and it seems that the ABS system is working in reverse order because the malfunction lights illuminate after the malfunction occurs. The abrupt stopping of the vehicle while being driven is dangerous and can cause a fatality or serious bodily injury. I have my old brake light switch but do not have the tires that were replaced.
2000 ML320 vehicle engages bas / esp system during left turn after which these warning lights remain on. ABS system activates brakes causing loss of speed. Occurs in wet or dry conditions.
2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 while driving 45mph the brakes came on suddenly without depressing the brake pedal. The brakes locked and then released itself. The bas esp light came on. Then the vehicle was able to drive fine. The dealer could not find the failure. This stated only a few sensor has gone bad once again. This failure occurred four to six times.
The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. While driving approximately 45 mph, the brakes suddenly engaged although the contact that had not depressed the brake pedal. The brakes locked and then released within two to three minutes. There were no warning lights prior to the failure but the esp light illuminated when the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer but the dealer could not find the cause of failure. The failure occurred three times. After the second failure, the dealer stated that the esp pump voltage relay stuck had a shortage in some of the wires. The relay was replaced; however, after the third failure, the dealer could not pinpoint the cause of the failure. The contact did not call the manufacturer and the vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 93,648. Updated 05/18/10.
2000 ml-class Mercedes ML55 leaking brake line due to chaffing as described in your investigation of 52,000 ml-class Mercedes SUV's. the brake line running from the master cylinder to the ABS pump suffers eventual failure due to chaffing against a poorly positioned fuel line. Suffered near total failure of braking system this morning due to this issue. I have all parts removed, and a failure assessment provided by the service technician. The work was not performed at a Mercedes Benz dealer, thereby ensuring objectivity of the diagnosis.
The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. While driving approximately 30 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed, the ABS engaged and the vehicle skidded approximately 5 feet. The ABS then released on its own. The vehicle was driven to a mechanic and the failure was diagnosed as the esp yaw rate sensor. The sensor was replaced. The current mileage was 124,000 and failure mileage was 123,080. Updated 09/10/08 the power steering hose lwaked. Updated 09/10/08.
My biggest concern with the ML320 that I have owned since 2002, but not the only concern would be the braking system. I complained from a couple of months into buying this vehicle that I did not feel safe. The vehicle brakes goes into a locked position if you drive over a bump, man hole, or if it rains the SUV skids as if you are losing control of the vehicle. The bas esp light comes on often, which warns you that the braking system is not working properly, it is on as I am complaining now. I have taking it to the dealership on more than one occasion complained over the phone with this issue and many more. The dealership replace a switch I believe maybe in 20002. The eps have come on even after that. I am very fearful when it comes the braking especially in rain or ice. I have had so many issues with this vehicle, I will not recommend it to anyone. This vehicle has been a nightmare! Mercedes Benz would not purchase vehicle back but offer to make things right with repairs.(... yes the brakes lock whenever you press the brakes, almost skid without stopping vechicle...especially scary in rain or running over a manhole cover. It very weird.....braking system light come on often bas light)*smch
Vehicle was always being serviced and the air bags failed to deploy in a severe accident. The consumer was struck by another driver and caused damage on both sides of the vehicle. Both sides of the doors were smashed and there was extensive damage in the passenger's cabin. Other problems are as followed: The engine light was on, engine low level oil light had come on, when the right front and left rear windows were erratic when going down, the cigarette lighter was inoperative, the rear cargo accessory plug was inoperative, the trim on the left side of the left front seat cracked, there was a buldge on the right rear tire, lug bolts were missing on the right rear wheel and the rear pads needed to be replaced, there was a noise heard in the rear when going over bumps, the power supply plug in the rear cargo area was inoperative, the light behind the climate control panel was inoperative, the left front window was intermittent, the left front park light was inoperative, the left front door was not closing due to the latching, the rear electrical plug in the rear cargo area was inoperative, the material on the center console wrinkled, the sunroof would bind when opened, the rear tire had a knot on the sidewall, when the vehicle was filled with fuel the fuel gauge would go down, there was a noise in he right front wheel when driven at low speeds, there was a whining noise when turning the steering wheel and the steering was stiff.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Owings Mills, MD, USA