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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
126,498 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 Owner Comments

problem #10

Oct 142017

ML430

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Re: 2001 mb ML430 electronic braking sensor the front passenger brake initially locked up at low speed upon acceleration. After stopping and turning the vehicle off and back on the system was back to normal. Then one day I was traveling at near 70 mph in the passing lane of an interstate highway when the front driver brake locked up and brake tire smoke billowed from my vehicle which caused traffic behind me to swerve and brake behind and on the side of me. I proceeded to pull off onto the shoulder of the highway and turned my vehicle off and back on, after which my vehicle operated normally. I proceeded to do an online search and learned that this was a common sort of problem for this model.. particularly at low speeds. In my case it happened at low speeds and then the one time at 70 mph. I learned that the yaw sensor which is part of the ABS system was commonly reported as the likely cause of the problem.. I proceeded to disconnect the yaw sensor and have had no further problems. I am fortunate that it was not a rainy day, otherwise the results may have been catastrophic with so many vehicles behind me and traveling at such a high speed. Theyaw sensor mb part # is a 002 542 94 18 Q01 systron donner inertia division usa

- Sunset, LA, USA

problem #9

Sep 102017

ML430

  • 170,000 miles
Twice now while driving and going over minor bumps (dots on the road to warn of crosswalks and a driveway entrance curb) the bas/esp and hazard lights have come on and the car has automatically applied violent breaking that took control of the direction the car was heading. This breaking continued until the vehicle came to a complete stop. Both times the car was going less than 20 mph, but control of the car was limited during the event. At freeway speeds, it would be very likely to cause an accident. Bas/esp light turns off after the car is turned off.

- Granite Bay, CA, USA

problem #8

May 072017

ML430

  • 105,000 miles
Vehicle's front wheel brakes by itself while driving and the eps warning light comes on afterwards. Extremely dangerous in highway driving. Had the brakes checked, but nothing wrong. Online complaints suggests a failure in yaw rate sensor.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #7

May 172017

ML430

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the highway, going about 60 mph, and the car suddenly started applying the brakes on its own. Nearly got me into an accident. I was able to get over to the shoulder luckily. I had my toddler in the car and it was a very scary thing. When the brakes started engaging by itself, a yellow triangle warning light displayed on the dash followed by the bas/esp light after the vehicle came to a complete stop. I have seen others that have had this very same issue and seems to be the yaw rate sensor. I am shocked this hasn't been recalled with all the issues I've read on this. I barely just bought the car and it's already not drivable. Very huge safety issue.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #6

Feb 052015

ML430 8-cyl

  • 186,675 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML430. The contact stated that the service engine and the bas esp warning lights flickered. The contact mentioned that when the warning lights illuminated, the brakes engaged and there was an abnormal noise. In addition, the electric power door lock function was making an abnormal noise. The contact discovered that the A/C line fractured and the windshield wipers plastic piece fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V208000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 186,675. Updated 11/23/15 the consumer fixed the vehicle at his/her expense. Updated 01/29/16.

- Wyandanch, NY, USA

problem #5

May 102015

ML430

  • 153,100 miles
I was driving on interstate 285 East at a speed of 70mph suddenly the the bas/esp warning light came on and my car automatically applied brakes and the car couldn't run. So I turned of the engine and started the car again and everything went back to normal except the cruise control stopped working and bas/esp waring lights are still on but the car is running. How do I fix the cruise control and the bas/esp warning lights?

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #4

Aug 282013

ML430 8-cyl

  • 131,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving at about 35 mph and all of a sudden I heard screeching sound from my tires and the orange triangle warning light in my dash light up. I pulled over and shut off the engine. I notices tire skid marks from on the passenger side. After a few minutes I started and drove and the car drove normal. This same thing happened to my wife also. Basically it is like applying the brakes hard while driving but with out even touching the brake.

- Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA

problem #3

Feb 132013

ML430

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430. The contact stated the ABS hydraulic unit system malfunctioned. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the ABS warning light illuminated as the braking system independently actived. The contact had to pull over to the side of the road and shut the vehicle off. The contact restarted the vehicle and the braking system was working normal. The contact called the dealer regarding the ABS system. The dealer stated the ABS hydraulic unit needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 175,000. The VIN was not available.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #2

Oct 012012

ML430

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML430. The contact stated that when driving from 50 to 80 mph, the vehicle brakes would sporadically engage independently and without warning. There were several warning lights illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle as taken to a dealer where a diagnostic was performed; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined based on the failure codes provided by the diagnostic. The failure later recurred while the contact was driving 50 mph. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 99,000 and the current mileage was 102,000. The VIN was not available.

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 282011

ML430 8-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
While driving vehicle a 45 mph at 5pm in traffic, vehicle automatically started engaging brakes in a jerking motion, repeatedly, subsequently coming to a complete stop. Smoke was coming from tire area. This has happened repeatedly and vehicle was being driven by my 16 year old. Fortunately, this has not caused an accident. After much research, I have found this has happened to several other people over a period of time in Mercedes Benz's. this is a serious safety concern.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

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