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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

Steering complaints

6 reports
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139,000 miles · Feb 22, 2006
Steering

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A CLUNK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. I THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. THE CAR WANDERS OVER THE ROAD AND SOMETIMES STARTS PULLING ITSELF INTO ONE LANE AND THEN TRIES TO GO TO THE OTHER LANE ALMOST CAUSING ME ON ONE OCCASION TO RUN OVER A KIA RIO. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE TO…

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THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A CLUNK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. I THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. THE CAR WANDERS OVER THE ROAD AND SOMETIMES STARTS PULLING ITSELF INTO ONE LANE AND THEN TRIES TO GO TO THE OTHER LANE ALMOST CAUSING ME ON ONE OCCASION TO RUN OVER A KIA RIO. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR FOR FREE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150914

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Steering

ALARM SYSTEM, ALARM CONTROL COMPUTER.

NHTSA ODI #609501

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1999
SteeringStructureVisibility

REAR WINDOWS GOE DOWN ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE ALL THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND THE ALARM SYSTEM WILL GO OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844560

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

ALARM SENSOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609899

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606183

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

ALARM MALFUNCTION, FALSE ALARM AT ANY TIME. YH

NHTSA ODI #606011

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.