2002 Mercedes Benz ML500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ML500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML500. That ranks 2nd out of 8 ML500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (7 complaints, 26%), typically at around 101,384 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 27owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Mercedes Benz ML500 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 | 7 | 26% | 101,384 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 19% | 49,507 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 11% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 11% | 110,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 11% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 7% | 58,526 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 7% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 4% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | 201,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4% | 108,631 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Mercedes Benz ML500 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.
- Brake line chafe (EA08009) — opened Apr 28, 2008, closed Dec 16, 2009.
- Brake line rupture (PE08002) — opened Jan 10, 2008, closed Apr 28, 2008.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Motor vehicle accident head on and the airbags did not deploy.
There is a serious defect in the YAW rate sensors in these Mercedes ML W163's. Thank God I was driving down a secluded road and nobody was behind me, but my vehicles brakes locked up, on their own, even with my foot on the accelerator pedal, with no warning lights or warning signals. I have no…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE LOW RANGE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT…
House from power steering pomp is leaking , during drive i loose power steering fluid and almost i hit cat from another line.
This was the 3rd time it happened, this time on the freeway in california and lasted until the car came to a stop. The car went into break mode on its own, the car fishtailed and came to a stop before recovering. Luckily the car behind me was able to stop, i heard breaks screeching, but no known…
Other Mercedes Benz ML500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 ML500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 ML500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 ML500 | 9 | 2 |
| 2006 ML500 | 37 | 2 |
| 2005 ML500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 ML500 | 18 | 0 |
| 2003 ML500 | 13 | 0 |
| 2002 | 27 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz ML500 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML500?
Owners most often report steering, service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML500?
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 ML500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ML500 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.