1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320 problems & reliability
133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
11 complaints report injuries (16 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 23% |
| Electrical System | 21 | 16% |
| Visibility | 17 | 13% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 | 11% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 10% |
| Structure | 12 | 9% |
| Power Train | 10 | 8% |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 79,279 miles (middle 50% between 57,068 and 128,230 miles), based on 43 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“1998 mercedes benz ml-320. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration. *smd the consumer stated while making a turn and releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated and hit a concrete column. This damaged the main metal frame behind the front bumper. The airbags did not deploy. *js”
Air Bags · filed Jan 19, 2018
“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!…”
Wheels · filed Mar 26, 2016
“Went to start my car seat belt blew up ,smoke coming out now will not work will not retract .how can mercedes make such a dangerous product and not be be sued for such a crappy dangerous product.this not a isolated or freak occurance have read numerous similar on line.”
Seat Belts · filed May 17, 2015
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
Preliminary Evaluation PE03058 · opened Dec 17, 2003 · closed Apr 22, 2004
Technical service bulletins
28 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The 10 most recent:
Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
LI27.50-P-071658 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 30, 2020
Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D
LI27.50-P-049281 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 22, 2020
Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor"
LI07.08-P-060993 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 25, 2015
Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual"
GI88.40-P-057430 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 3, 2014
Thumping noises from front axle when driving over bumps on road.
LI32.20-P-057942 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 4, 2013
Since 12/2012 (model 166) and since 06/2013 (model 242) the glass breakage loops are no longer in the side windows and rear window. Suitable interior protection ensures that the interior monitoring function continues to…
S-B-67.00-29 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 23, 2013
Customer experiences low battery conditions, resulting in jump starts, and eventually requiring battery replacement.
LI82.95-P-056655 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 12, 2013
The COMAND unit does not start or the COMAND display remains dark. The COMAND unit cannot be operated. Note: The problem disappears after a lengthy idle period (>6h) or after interrupting the power supply (circuit 30).
LI82.85-P-055695 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 8, 2013
Combination message: "Clean fuel filter" is displayed. The fault code 162500 (water level message - Bosch) or P226997 (water level message - Delphi) or 171600 (filter load - Bosch) is stored in the engine control unit.
LI47.20-P-054958 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 1, 2013
Xentry: outside door handle no longer returns to end position. Due to a bent pin in the dynamic balancer, the support spring of the bearing bracket can slide out of place or become unhooked. Models 164, 251, 166, 204…
LI-72-00-P · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2013
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 79,279 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.