AI Damage2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320 filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 21
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 29% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 10% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 6 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (19% of all).
- Steering: 3 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 21 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes benz ml320. While the vehicle was moving through the automated car wash conveyor at approximately 1 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic.
A short time later the headlights on the vehicle suddenly went out. I turned on the flashers and they also went out in a short time. The vehicle was parked and would not re-start. About 15 minutes went by and the vehicle was started and fully functional. No signs of codes or reduced lighting performance.
Hazard:water will cause a short circuit which could lead to a fire. Remedy:dealers will replace the seal of the rear tail lamp assembly with a thicker one and reposition the affected power lift gate control unit inside the chassis. This service will be performed free of charge.
While driving approximately 30 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted, but the failure recurred twice. The second time the failure recurred, the vehicle did not restart. The contact also stated that the horn sounded without being prompted.
Got error messages on the dash rear hatch open, checked rear hatch was closed and it would not open either manually or using the remote opener or the button in the car, multiple error messages rear brake lights left right side and trailer, error message srs failure, fuel gauge quit working, locks not working.....
The cooler leaked oil onto the under-engine pan and was not detected as a leak on the garage floor. Had the cooler failed completely it would have created a safety issue in traffic. The seal failure appears to be a common problem but should not occur under normal use, which is how this vehicle is used.
While at freeway speeds the right front wheel bearing began to growl and continued to get worse until replaced at a dealer. It seems it is premature for a bearing to fail, the vehicle had been serviced at about 121000 miles.
Right rear coil spring broken. Rear of vehicle has uneven level. Could affect handling.
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 8,077 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the ML320 has 57 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 21, below average.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (10%), seat belts (10%), smoke, burning smell, fire (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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.