1999 Mercedes-Benz ML430 problems
NHTSA has received 59 complaints about the 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML430, and 32% of them involve engine. Next are electrical system (10%) and fuel system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 59 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 78,000 miles 41 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 | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 14 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 41 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 78,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (15 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported.
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.
Throttle locks- cannot be pushed down by a 250 lb driver. This makes it difficult to even pull out of a filling station. It probably caused a serious accident in jan 2001 which I tried to cross a road and was hit and the honda that hit us was totalled.
Model year 2000, gas station nozzle kept getting stuck in gas tank due to narrow opening which caused fuel to spray onto consumer, burning face/ scalp/ hair/ eyes ,and eye lids. Consumer was aware of other people having same problem. Consumer contacted manufacturer, and was told vehicle complied to 2003 EPA standards. *slc
Ln late august, the "check engine" light was illuminated on the dashboard of a 1999 mercedes benzml430. Car was delivered to the dealer to remedy this problem. After several weeks and tests, mercedes benz decided to replace transmission. Owner incurred cost of labor. In november, driver was parking car and removed key from ignition while transmission was in drive. Key released in error causing car to roll into a ravine and hit a tree.
I own an ml 430 mercedes benz 1999. The transmission failed with only 116,000 miles on it. I called mbusa and they refused to offer "goodwill" in assisting with repair. The cost of repair is over $5,000.00. The owner's manual states that the ml430 supposedly has a permanent fill of automatic transmission fluid so regular checks and changes are not required and for this reason the dipstick has been omitted. How can the consumer be responsible for this if we cannot perform maintenance on the part?
My vehicle sometimes won't start again after if has been running and shut off. For example it frequently happens at the gas station. I can't get my car started again after I fill up for sometimes 45 minutes.