2002 Acura MDX vs 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Acura MDX | 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 204 | 27 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 165 | 56 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 14 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 98,465 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Mercedes-Benz ML500 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 124 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 3 |
| Steering | 5 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 5 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 19 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
2002 Acura MDX
2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500
Compare all Acura MDX vs Mercedes-Benz ML500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.