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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

Wheels complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
15,000 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Wheels

MICHELIN LATTITUDE TOUR 255/65R16 TIRES ARE PREMATURELY COMING APART. I HAVE LESS THAN 15K MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THE TREAD IS RIPPING AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MICHELIN FOR THIS SIZE OF TIRE AND IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER SIZES IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL TIRE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! 164 DOLLARS A…

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MICHELIN LATTITUDE TOUR 255/65R16 TIRES ARE PREMATURELY COMING APART. I HAVE LESS THAN 15K MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THE TREAD IS RIPPING AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MICHELIN FOR THIS SIZE OF TIRE AND IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER SIZES IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL TIRE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! 164 DOLLARS A TIRE AND I COULD HAVE DIED DRIVING ON THESE THINGS. THESE NEED A RECALL NOW! PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT RICK DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES!

NHTSA ODI #10851726

98,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

SUDDENLY I COULD NOT GAIN OR GET ANY MORE SPEED. I WAS JUST COASTING ALONG, I THEN ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND GOT OUT AND SMELLED BURNING SMELL FROM FRONT WHEELS. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR I WAS IN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10616862

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Fuel System, OtherSeatsWheels

WHEEL LUG NUTS RUST; REAR SEAT CONTROL LEVER BREAKS; GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ODI #609505

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.