The Used Car Index

2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 problems

NHTSA lists 88 complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320, 4 of them mention a crash and 8 mention a fire. 5 complaints mention an injury, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ ML320.

At a glance

Complaints
88
With crash
4
With fire
8
With injury (complaints)
5
Injuries
6
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
870
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
54

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
STEERING2427.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1921.6%
SERVICE BRAKES1517.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1112.5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1011.4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC910.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING66.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING55.7%
SEATS55.7%
SUSPENSION55.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST6
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM2
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY2
STRUCTUREBODY2
VISIBILITYREARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBRAKE LIGHTS1

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.

1 recalls.

01V290000

Date: 2001-09-10. Systems: SUSPENSION.

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM MAY NOT MEET THE SPECIFIED STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS.

Consequence: THE CONTROL ARM COULD FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2001. 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 CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 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.

Manufacturer communications

54 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING7
POWER TRAIN7
STEERING7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
STRUCTURE5
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3

11038186

Date: 2026-09-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibra

11036101

Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. a ? If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary

11035005

Date: 2026-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n

11031580

Date: 2026-04-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l

11029025

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the la

11025648

Date: 2025-11-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

11019018

Date: 2025-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

11017496

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Remedy NOTE: If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover

11017500

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11017039

Date: 2025-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Complaint Vehicle with atypical reduced heat output. Cause Silicate granulate may have escaped from a damaged bag in the expansion reservoir (not visible), reducing the coolant flow in the heater heat exchanger (see picture). Remedy With the aforementioned complaint, make sure that the cooling circu

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
ML32088

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2002

Sources

Get this record as JSON

The free rate-limited demo needs no key.

curl "https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/demo/vehicle_risk?make=Mercedes+Benz&model=ML320&year=2002"

Paid endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/vehicle_risk. MCP endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/mcp.