AI Damage1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320 filed 125 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 125
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 28% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 23% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 35 complaints (28% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 29 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 19 complaints (15% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 13 complaints (10% of all).
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 125 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 35 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 29 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was in an accident a week ago my airbags did not deploy under serious impacts my car rolled serveral times before comming to a stop on its side not one airbag went off also there was a warning light lit up about the bas system and some other malfunction the two warning lights never went off they stayed on constant…
The side airbags didn't deploy. I am concerned that they were defective; therefore, I am requesting a safety investigation regarding possible defects in the airbags or devices controlling side airbag deployment.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercedes ml320. The contact stated that while turning a corner, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle did not respond to the brakes and did not stop until crashing into a boulder. There were no injuries from the accident.
However, the side air bag failed to deploy. Car was totaled by the insurance company.
I truly suspect there is some mechanical problem for the sudden/unintended acceleration that led to this unexpected behavior. So far we found the ignition got jammed (could not start and had to be towed in), other than the bumper/front damages.
My wife drove from las vegas on 15 fwy back home when the engine light came on. About 10 minutes later, the vehicle pulled to the left so she steered to the right but it pulled to the left again. While the vehicle was pulling, she applied brakes to slow it down but it seem like the vehicle went faster and faster.
The vehicle rolled down the hill and ran over a mailbox damaging the vehicle and back while the gear lever was still in park. The rear seat belts does not retract and had to be manually pushed back into the mechanism.
1.sudden acceleration without depressing gas pedal. Making right turn at @ 5 m.p.h. In parking lot. Momentary pause in engine power immediately followed by unassisted acceleration. 2. Impact parked car and concrete median "curb". No injuries. Damage left driver side fender and bumper of ml 320.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,035 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the ML320 has 57 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 125, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, steering, powertrain. Total complaints: 125. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (23%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%), warning lights, check engine (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.