The Used Car Index

2000 Mercedes-Benz M Class problems

NHTSA lists 25 complaints for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz M Class, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-10.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ M CLASS.

At a glance

Complaints
25
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
5
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
211,000
Investigations
5
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
6

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STEERING832.0%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)624.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC624.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28.0%
EQUIPMENT28.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL28.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING14.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE14.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER14.0%
POWER TRAIN14.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMIGNITION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWIRING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY1
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
VISIBILITYPOWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

5 recalls.

11V208000

Date: 2011-03-31. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT (excerpt)

Consequence: DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

08V465000

Date: 2008-09-17. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION. (excerpt)

Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. (excerpt)

Remedy: AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DUR (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V121000

Date: 2003-03-27. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION. (excerpt)

Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTA (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

00V352000

Date: 2000-10-30. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR IN THE REAR FOLDING MIDDLE SEATING POSITION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH OUT-OF-TOLERANCE HARDWARE.

Consequence: IF THIS IS THE CASE, THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

00V203000

Date: 2000-07-26. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." AN AUDIBLE SEAT BELT BUZZER WARNING SOUNDS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION IS TURNED TO THE ON OR START POSITION AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS FASTENED. THIS BUZZER ACTIVATION EXCEEDS THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD.

Consequence: DRIVERS MAY BECOME CONFUSED REGARDING THE PURPOSE OF THE CHIME.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME SYSTEM.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

5 investigations; 0 open.

PE10050

Opened: 2010-12-21. Closed: 2011-05-04.

Brake lamp switch failure.

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also reported the illumination of a warning lamp on the instrument panel.The switch con

Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: 11V208000.

EA08009

Opened: 2008-04-28. Closed: 2009-12-16.

BRAKE LINE CHAFE

ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE

Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

RQ08002

Opened: 2008-03-11. Closed: 2008-09-17.

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE AND CLAMP IN ALL VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL R

Systems: STEERING.

Linked campaign numbers: 08V465000.

PE07007

Opened: 2007-02-01. Closed: 2007-07-11.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION

ODI OPENED PE07-007 AFTER RECEIVING 4 COMPLAINTS WITHIN A 6 WEEK PERIOD ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE APPLICATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2001 MERCEDES M CLASS SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS OR GATHERED IN SUBSEQUENT CONSUMER INTERVIEWS INDICATED THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FAULTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) SYSTEM WHICH WERE REPAI

Systems: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE03058

Opened: 2003-12-17. Closed: 2004-04-22.

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT CO

Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

6 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SEATS1
STEERING1

10051989

Date: 2013-02-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

MERCEDES: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP SHOULD BE REPLACE, UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAKAGE FROM CONNECTION TO POWER STEERING COOLER. MODELS 1998-2003 163.154, (ML320, 430, 55, 500, 350). *PE

10016685

Date: 2005-05-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

ESP LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT

10012829

Date: 2005-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

ENGINE WILL NOT START AND FAULT MESSAGE START ERROR APPEARS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT

622143

Date: 2001-08-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE POOR NAVIGATION POSITIONING IN HIGHER ALTITUDES (VEHICLES DRIFTS OFF OF ROADS ON MAP SCREEN OR POOR RE-ROUTE CALCULATION). *TT

616233

Date: 2000-12-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.

THIRD ROW SEAT KITS. *TT

616300

Date: 2000-11-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

SUBJECT REGARDING PART NUMBERS AND PRICING INFORMATION FOR THE REAR SEAT VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. *TT

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
M CLASS25

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2000

Sources

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