2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ML320 years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. That ranks 5th out of 13 ML320 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (24 complaints, 27%), typically at around 82,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 8 fires, 6 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 88owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 24 | 27% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 19 | 22% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 17% | 141,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 13% | 108,502 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 10 | 11% | 129,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 10% | 35,985 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 7% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 6% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 6% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 6% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 5% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 3% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 3% | 200,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | 109,340 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 2% | 2,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 89,670 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | 100 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 76,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper arm
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The left front upper control arm may not meet the specified strength requirements.
Risk: The control arm could fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left front upper control arm. Owner notification began september 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake lamp switch failure. (PE10050) — opened Dec 21, 2010, closed May 4, 2011, led to recall 11V208000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the driverâs side front wheel independently braked. The contact stated he had not depressed the brake pedal but heard an abnormal sound from the tire screeching as the wheel had stopped rolling…
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…
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
Front end collision - airbags failed to deploy.
Yes this [xxx] coming to you to let you know that i was and a car accident i was struck by and vehicle made by oldsmobile year 1998 plate no. State [xxx] i was on my way home from down town federal court i was riding down [xxx] crash date 08/21/2018. I was at the red light i also had my hazard…
Other Mercedes Benz ML320 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 ML320 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 ML320 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 ML320 | 28 | 3 |
| 2008 ML320 | 21 | 2 |
| 2007 ML320 | 16 | 2 |
| 2006 ML320 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 ML320 | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 ML320 | 22 | 0 |
| 2002 | 88 | 1 |
| 2001 ML320 | 136 | 0 |
| 2000 ML320 | 166 | 0 |
| 1999 ML320 | 125 | 0 |
| 1998 ML320 | 133 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz ML320 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
Embed this 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, service brakes problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ML320 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.