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1998 Mercedes Benz ML320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most ML320 years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →
133Owner complaints

Model-year median: 28

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
133
1998125
1999166
2000136
2001
Compare all ML320 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
31Electrical System
21Visibility
17Fuel System, Gasoline
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
All reported categories
Structure
12Power Train
10Seat Belts
8Air Bags
7Vehicle Speed Control
7Steering
6Equipment
5Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Other
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Seats
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Service Brakes
3Wheels
3Interior Lighting
2Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

43 reports with mileage · 90 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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150,843 miles · Nov 9, 2008
Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. OTHER CARS CANNOT SEE ME. ALMOST HIT SOMEONE CROSSING THE STREET BEFORE I NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. SOMETIMES CYCLING THE LIGHTS ON AN OFF TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM. OTHER TIMES I DRIVE WITH MY FOGLAMPS ON. I'VE CHECKED THE FUSE AND WILL BE TAKING THE CA…

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HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. OTHER CARS CANNOT SEE ME. ALMOST HIT SOMEONE CROSSING THE STREET BEFORE I NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. SOMETIMES CYCLING THE LIGHTS ON AN OFF TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM. OTHER TIMES I DRIVE WITH MY FOGLAMPS ON. I'VE CHECKED THE FUSE AND WILL BE TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. PREVIOUSLY, IN 2006 THE HEADLAMPS WOULDN'T TURN OFF. THE DEALER FIXED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248088

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior LightingStructure

TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ODI #609270

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608925

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior LightingFuel System, OtherVisibility

FUEL GAUGE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607677

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM BULB FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606620

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

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 COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.