2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320 problems
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. After that come air conditioning & heating (19%) and seats (19%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 31 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 22 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 22 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 71,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 87% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Mercedes-Benz ML320 with enough data (19 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving the vehicle heated seats caused second degree burns to the driver's bottom. There was no damage to the vehicle's seat. This problem also cause some redness to another driver's bottom. After visiting doctor for treatment of burns, took vehicle to dealer the same week. Was informed by three different mechanic's problem could not be found or resolved. "pictures enclosed" the vehicle seats were heated.
Driver's seat heater shorted out while vehicle was being driven. The event ocurred so quickly and was so severe that it burned through the leather seat upholstery and a very heavy pair of denim jeans I was wearing almost imediately and unexpectedly. The consequences are pretty much obvious and could range from severe burns, to the vehicle burning to causing a serious accident because of the spontaneous happening. No response from mercedes benz to date.
The heated seat in my 2003 mercedes ml320 burned through my leather seats and leaving a small mark on my left thigh. My injury healed; however, there is still a burnt mark on my seat. After explaining it to mercedes and my extended warranty service, both decided to help me stating it was a cosmetic defect. Now I'm stuck with a driver side seat that has 3 cm hole in it along with heated seats that mercedes suggest that I should never turn on, even though I paid extra for it.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz ml320. The contact exited an offramp at 10 MPH and the vehicle came to a complete stop. When she attempted to accelerate, she lost all power steering ability. She was able to drive home and later had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that there was a leak in the power steering unit and one of the o-rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle is currently at the dealer, but the contact feels that it is a manufacturer defect.
Car makes a "washing machine" type nose when the steering wheel is turned. Mercedes dealer evaluated and found the steering gear box/rack & pinion is "worn" and should be replaced. Although dealer recommended replacement of part they did add a lubricant to power steering fluid to "eliminate" the noise (which is still there presently). Warranty company refuses to replace rack & pinion because they state part is still functioning as intended.