1.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
161,537 miles

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problem #14

Apr 072022

ML320

  • miles
The car brakes suddenly by itself just after the ESB/ABS lights come on along with an exclamation point (!). This has happened randomly at least 4 times since we purchased the car. Once at high speeds on the highway. It appears this problem is common with other owners of Mercedes 2001-2002 ML's. According to the forums below, the problem seems to be a "YAW RATE SENSOR" malfunction or defect. My Mercedes mechanic saw no error codes for this component and it seem extremely expensive (forum states part is $3000) to replace. The https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w163/233486-big-problems-ml320-pls-help-2.html

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #13

Jan 062020

ML320

  • 203,000 miles
Fuse box some has power some not. Front left wheel making this noise and stops after 25 miles per hour radio volume low when ignition key is on position 3 when key it's in the position 2 laud volume when key is not in I can turn on the stereo

- Pacoima, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 302017

ML320

  • 106,500 miles
I was driving on a busy intersection in my 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 when driving the yellow triangle in the speedometer starts to flash and all the breaks lock up, this is followed by a stall, thankfully I was able to pull off to the side of the road without being hit. After doing some research I discovered that many Mercedes ML320 owners were having this same problem. Specifically the yaw rate sensor. This is a serious life threatening issue that can injure or worse yet kill someone. You guys need to do a recall before someone dies!

- Wilbur, OR, USA

problem #11

Sep 012016

ML320 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
On numerous occasions occurring in different conditions regarding speed, weather, road conditions, etc., I have had the vehicle pull hard to the right while engaging the front brakes, both while turning the vehicle and on straightaways. When this occurs, the triangle hazard light and esp lights start flashing. Most often I have been able to pull off to the side of the road, thankfully safely, or on one occasion stop in the middle of the road as the car wouldn't allow me to continue driving which was incredibly dangerous and scary. I have taken it to the dealership who replaced the front brake sensors, which didn't fix the problem, and returned to have them again diagnose the issue and declined their recommendations such as replacing the back brake sensors, until I came upon the repeated issues of the stability sensors failing (specifically the yaw sensor). I can't believe that, to date, this has not been a recall issue and no one has been seriously injured or killed due to this problem (I filed a previous claim, but the website went under maintenance and closed my complaint as I was filing and was given id #10923983, but there is no information filed in association that I could find hence the re-filing).

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #10

Sep 012016

ML320

  • 135,000 miles
On multiple occasions and numerous different speeds, weather, both driving on a straightaway or turning, and other road conditions, the front brakes have locked up on the car causing it to veer right while engaging the brakes. Most often I have had to pull over, thankfully safely, or on one occasion, stop in the middle of the road to turn the car off to be able to continue driving which is incredibly dangerous and scary. I've taken it to the dealership and they had me replace the brake sensors which were obviously not the problem and then recommended other replacements, since the problem continued, that I declined until I found that this was a common problem with the stability sensors in this vehicle (specifically the yaw sensor). I'm amazed this is not a recall situation and that no one has been seriously injured or killed due to this problem.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #9

Aug 042016

ML320

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the brakes independently engaged and caused the vehicle to veer to the side of the road. The contact mentioned that the ABS warning light illuminated and then the entire instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake lamp switch failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V208000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- Loranger, LA, USA

problem #8

Jul 182016

ML320

  • 600,014 miles
Brakes applied on their own without pedal pressure while car was moving at highway speed. Front brakes were smoking by the time I found a safe place to stop off the 4-lane road on a side road. Rear brakes seemed hot, but not smoking. No warning lights came on. Immediately before this highway event, car had just been traveling around 35 mph on hilly side roads with steep ascents and descents. This is the fourth time brakes have self-applied in a similar manner. After second event, dealer examined car but could not reproduce the problem or find any faults on computer diagnostics. When brakes cool, car restarts without brakes coming on. Brake pads and sensors were replaced 6,000 miles earlier; significant brake drag was present for around two hundred miles after that repair; dealer said brakes were self-adjusting and declined to examine car at that time. It was about 4,000 miles after brake pad/sensor replacement that the self-braking problem started.

- Weaverville, NC, USA

problem #7

Feb 272016

ML320

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle felt as if it slammed on the brakes without the contact depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the ebs and ABS warning lights remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle made a loud screeching sound when being driven. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

- Pembrook, FL, USA

problem #6

Jan 272015

ML320 6-cyl

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. While driving approximately 45 mph, the front brakes activated independently. The contact noticed that the front rotors were red and hot. The esp warning light illuminated. The contact disconnected the esp cable and continued to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000. Updated 7/21/15 updated 10/18/2017

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #5

Apr 282015

ML320

  • 210,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brakes would erroneously activate and abruptly stop the vehicle. The contact indicated that when the failure occurs the bas/esp sensor light would illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 210,000.

- Oakland, TN, USA

problem #4

Nov 292014

ML320

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, all of the warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the ABS system failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.

- Morrow, GA, USA

problem #3

May 122014

ML320

  • 149,000 miles
While driving on the highway at 60mph the vehicle started shaking violently. The brakes started engaging on their own pulling the car to the left and right and nearly bringing the car to a sudden stop. It took a lot of effort to keep the vehicle from pulling into the other lanes and causing an accident. The bas/esp light came on the dash and has stayed on now. This all lasted for about 10 seconds. I was in the 3rd lane of a 4 lane highway during moderate traffic. I was almost rear ended by two different vehicles. I have been researching this issue and found many other drivers with the same thing. This is a dangerous defect and needs to be addressed. It doesn't take much for a sudden change in direction and speed to cause a severe accident when driving on the highway, and knowing that this vehicle is capable and know for doing this makes it very dangerous. It makes me wonder how many fatal accidents have occurred due to this problem, but no one knew because it was just assumed the to be driver error.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #2

Jul 152010

ML320 6-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
The anti-lock braking system would engage without driver activation. The bas/esp light would come on without any reason either. One day I was on the freeway when it happened and suddenly the breaks were engaged at 73 mph when I was on the fast lane and other vehicles following at about the same speed. My leg was on the accelerator gassing to continue, but the anti-lock braking system forced the car to almost a stop - about 10mph, before the breaks disengaged and the car continued to move (that is accelerate again). I almost got rammed by the vehicle behind me. I took it to mecerdes Benz dealership in george town tx. They said it was unequal size tires that was the problem. I changed the tires to all new and the same size tries and the problem persisted. I took it back to the georgetown dealership again. This time their diagnosis was that the lateral acceleration and yaw sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced for $1250. What I described above was just an episode. It happen first when my wife was driving the car. It has happened several other times before I finally took it for repairs. I have packed the car for now because I have other cars to use and the problem has not still been fixed. NHTSA should issue a recall.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #1

Nov 062012

ML320 6-cyl

  • 129,000 miles
Front passenger side wheel brake on it's own, pulling me off to the left of the road vehicle brake (right side) stayed engaged until vehicle speed was down to about 20 mph. Dealer said a bad yaw rate sensor was the problem.

- Austinburg, OH, USA