At about 10 to 25 miles per hours my car suddenly and unexpectedly brakes and changes direction by itself without pressing any pedal.

- Weston, FL, USA

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 without warning the vehicle applies full braking power (without the driver touching the brake pedal) at highway speeds and does not release until the vehicle stops completely. When the event happens, it is violent and sudden and it is very difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. It is very difficult to keep the vehicle in one lane of traffic, making the driver feel like he has to keep the vehicle from going into a spin. Oddly enough, it's the safety system (bas/esp) that causes the problem. Mb dealer replaced the aam computer and returned the vehicle but we still had the same issues of the brakes lockup on the highway. Now the dealer does not really have any repair options besides replacing all the system components at a very high price. The problem manifests itself at different times and intervals. Sometimes it may go weeks without a lockup and then other times it may happen every time you drive the vehicle. Once an event happens the bas/esp light comes on and the vehicle will drive normally with the safety system disengaged. However, once the car is turned off and restarted, the system resets, the bas/esp light does not light up and then it's anyone's guess when it will happen again.

- Leawood, KS, USA

My son and daughter were driving my 2001 Mercedes ML320 (109,470 miles) down the interstate in charleston, SC on a clear, calm sat. Afternoon at 70 mph, when the vehicle braked without warning, practically throwing them into the dashboard. Esp/bas code was lit. My son was able to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder, and it was towed to an independent shop. A brake inspection was done, and there seemed to be a problem with the emergency brake cable, which was corrected. I had had new brakes put on front and back a week before. No codes were lit on the dashboard. Three days later the same thing happened when my daughter was driving it, luckily at a slow speed, and it did it again. This time I had it towed to baker motor co., the Mercedes dealer in charleston. The diagnosis was that the back left brake pad was not bolted on tightly, and that the yaw sensor needed to be replaced, at a cost of $1254. I asked if the vehicle was still showing the code for that and the service advisor said it was not, so I was hopeful that the loose brake pad had been the problem, and I declined the yaw replacement. I asked him if the vehicle seemed ok, and he said that he would not allow his technician to take it out for a test drive, because it was too dangerous but he could drive it in the parking lot. I had no problems again until Feb. 12, 2011, when, again, on a sunny, calm sat. Afternoon, I was making a left turn and the vehicle came to a screeching halt with the esp/bas code showing. It was towed to the dick dyer Mercedes, where the yaw defect was diagnosed again. I did some internet research, googling "yaw sensor" and was quite surprised to learn that many others have reported the exact problem, going back several years. I understand that the part would not be under warranty, but shouldn't Mercedes have warned their owners about this very dangerous situation?

- Columbia, SC, USA

2001 Mercedes ML320 brakes would activate themselves at all speeds. Esp/bas light would come on and triangle warning light would illuminate. This happened several times at 70+ mph locking both back wheels almost causing the vehicle to go out of control.

- Bluffton, SC, USA

My name is [xxx] and I just had a small accident on June 08th, 2010 in phoenix AZ. It involved my 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320. Facts: On June 8th, 2010 I was traveling at approximately 50 mph on the freeway (hov lane) when the front right wheel locked. The brakes just engaged without warning and or me activating them. Luckily I the person behind me was able to swerve to avoid me but still clipped the left side of my rear bumper. I believe I'm lucky I did not caused or sustained any serious injury. I took the car to a local Mercedes Benz dealer for service and they told me it could be many things wrong. Mb knows about the problem with the mb ML320's year 1998-2001. The gentlemen @ mb told me that but they will not take any responsibility. He instructed me not to drive the vehicle in the current condition. I asked if mb knows about the problem why not issued a recall and fix the problem" the answer was, not enough accidents or incidents to issued the recall. In other words, they are waiting for someone to get seriously injured or killed to change the system that was set in place to avoid this problems and make us and cars safer. My question is to you ODI, what can you do to assist me" information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- El Mirage, AZ, USA

While driving on I95 in Florida on Dec 26, 2009, my car's brakes suddenly and repeatedly (3 times) engaged on their own without warning. My tires locked up one tire at a time causing me to completely loose control over my vehicle (ML320 ' 2001). Replaced a faulty yaw rate sensor.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

I have a 2001 ML320 in which the electronic stability program (esp) system light came on. While traveling at 70 mph, the brakes were applied electronically and the car came to a stand still. It was fortunate that I did not have an accident because the brakes caused the SUV to veer in another lane. Mercedes claims that their demonstration to the NHTSA that the systems applies the brakes for less than 0.3 seconds but that is untrue and it has happen three times with my vehicle (see PE07-007). I have replaced the sensor but yet the problem still exist. This defect will eventually result in death. The only way to resolve this is to get Mercedes to fix this flaw and recalled all affected cars.

- Marietta, GA, USA

Approximately 10 times in the last 4 days, my 2001 ML320 upon driving @ approximately 40 mph +, brakes lock up suddenly by themselves. It about throws you through the windshield. Triangle light on dashboard flashes. Afterward bas/esp light comes on. This is an intermittent problem. I was driving normally in perfect weather conditions, nothing on the roadway. Four cars about rearended me the first time. It is very scary when this happens. If you look on the mbworld forums and mbenz forums this has happened to quite a few people. I am in the process of trying to replace the yaw rate sensor, being that is what other people on these forums have done. I will keep you posted.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

My complaint is the same as an existing case #PE07007. After changing the brake switch and yaw sensors stated in the complaint as being the cause of the fault - the problems persist.

- Plantation, FL, USA

While driving about 30mph in traffic, esp warning lamp in speedometer illuminated and brakes were automatically applied intermittently causing the vehicle to shake violently. The vehicle continued to stop and go until I was able to cross 2 lanes of traffic to exit to the shoulder. Vehicle was turned off and restarted at which time the bas esp malfunction indicator lamp illuminated. Several attempts to drive the vehicle resulted in the same stop and go action. After turning the vehicle off and on several times the stop and go action ceased but the vehicle felt as though it was pulling a heavy load. I was able to drive the vehicle home in this condition. The next day I started the vehicle and no malfunction codes were displayed. I drove the vehicle around the block without incident. I then drove the vehicle on some errands and, as luck would have it, the stop and go action started again as I was accelerating from a traffic signal about 600 yards from the Mercedes repair shop. I left the vehicle with the repair shop and he called a few hours later to say it needed a yaw sensor.

- Northport, NY, USA

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 incidents of uncommanded brake application. This happened four times in two weeks. I was driving at a steady speed of 60 mph on a highway when all of a sudden the car shook violently for a second, it felt like the ABS system engaged. And the esp light come on. The last time it happened I was accelerating from a traffic light (5mph).

- Lutz, FL, USA

I have an 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320. I was driving steady at 40 mph when the right front brake locked up for approximately 3 seconds, it released for about 3 seconds then locked up again for about 3 seconds. The esp light (exclamation light on the console lights up as well) I never touched the brakes!! the SUV left skid marks on the street. I proceeded on and the same thing happened again. I never touched the brakes! the brake lights do not come on when it happens. Good thing I was not on the freeway or any cars slam me from behind.

- North Wales, PA, USA

There was no prior indication that there would be a failure. The esp yaw sensor malfunctioned and locked up a rear brake while the 2001 ML320 doing about 70 miles per hour. I was able to regain control of the vehicle after swerving several times and pulled to the left shoulder of the road. I drove the vehicle to the jackson Mercedes-Volvo dealership in macon, ga. Even though the bas/esp light was on. The dealership recommended replacement of the yaw sensor. I was also told by the service rep. That the malfunction of this sensor can cause the brakes to lockup.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA