Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am the owner if a 2000 Mercedes ML320. This morning as I came home on this car and suddenly it sped up and lost control when it came to the driveway. I leg was on the brake when I came to the driveway no way I could have put my leg on the accelerator. I believe there is a defect in its design and cause it to suddenly speed up. Please look into this since it can be a serious matter. My other 2 cars in the garage were badly damaged in addition to the this ML320.
Ongoing issue that is sometimes difficult to replicate. Vehicle will suddenly die while driving or idling, without warning, and take approximately 20 minutes to restart. Ignition will sometimes stick and not start. Vehicle almost crashed into another vehicle in one instance where sudden loss of power occurred while approaching stop light.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 03V121000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections) and had the necessary repairs performed by the dealer. However, she continued to experience failures with the power steering fluid leaking. The steering wheel became more difficult to turn over time. On a separate occasion, she received a second recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08V465000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections). The dealer stated that the hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler needed to be replaced at the cost of $1,200. The dealer stated that it would be pointless to repair the vehicle according to the recall when additional components were affected as a result of the steering failure. …
I was on the freeway, I was using my cruise control (luckily just after heavy traffic hours) just like any other day. A car slowed in front of me, so I went to apply my brakes. As soon as I hit the brake pedal the brakes not only did not disengage the cruise control but the brakes got stiff and would not work no matter how hard I pressed them. At the same time the accelerator was floored and the car was trying to go what seems like 130-140 MPH. It took all my strength to try and keep it at an appropriate speed. Luckily my passenger told me to stay calm and tried to help me disengage the cruise control. I had to maneuver the car to the slowest lane and shift it into neutral. That was the only option I had besides crashing into the car in front of me. I am extremely shaken from this event, I have anxiety/panic attacks whenever I drive any vehicle now. …
Dt: the check engine light has been staying on since purchase of vehicle on March 20, 2004. The vehicle stalled intermittently since March of 2005. It happened when trying to start the vehicle from a cold start. The contact stated that he will have to leave it running for five to ten minutes before it will start. Also, it will stall when trying to accelerate. Had a diagnostics test run on the vehicle and it showed a problem with the mass oxygen sensors, mass air flow sensors, and something else that he was not sure off. They replaced the mass oxygen sensors. This helped the problem a little, but, the problem recurred. . Also, there was a problem with the window switch console. It started in February 2005, and had it replaced. The catalytic converter weld completely separated. The problem started in December 2004. Complete separation happened in April of 2005. …
Dt: there is a crack in the catalytic converter. It was leaking carbon monoxide. When driving with the windows closed the consumer was getting carbon monoxide poisoning. The problem first started in June of 2005. The crack occurred sometime before this. There was a rattling noise coming from the vehicle on September 12, 2005, and on September 15, 2005 the mechanic discovered a leak in the right one. Both catalytic converters cracked. The consumer found that there has been a problem with this type of vehicle concerning catalytic converters. The consumer was concerned that she was not made aware of this issue. The consumer experienced nausea, dizziness and sleepiness while driving the vehicle in July, August and sept 2005. After the catalytic converter was replaced all of the consumer's symptoms disappeared. A carbon monoxide detector was installed in the vehicle on 9/15/05.
I own a 2000 Mercedes Benz ml 320. While my wife was driving the vehicle on February 1, 2003, the engine quit twice without warning and the vehicle lost all electrical power and steering and braking control. The first failure happened as she accelerated from a stop at an intersection. The second failure occurred shortly thereafter while driving down a street. She had to run into the curb to stop the vehicle. I have talked to another owner of a ml 320 that experienced an engine shutdown without warning while driving on a highway. I have also found many complaints on websites by owners of ml 320s that reported loss of engine power without warning. From my limited research I was able to find other instances of this occurring, and feel that this May be a widespread problem and May represent a significant public safety hazard.
This vehicle is under a federal recall for the catalytic converter. According to a service technician, this part is on back order and the dealer and manufacturer have been out of stock of the part for more than a month. No one can seem to give me and other owners a delivery date on the part. Meanwhile, I am driving a vehicle that sounds like a harley davidson motorcycle and like it is about to fall apart! I have been experiencing this problem for more than a month and it gets worse every week that I continue to drive it. I cannot afford to park my vehicle at the dealer as other owners of ml320s have done. How can a federal recall be issued and the dealer/manufacturer not be prepared?
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65-70mph the engine stalled. As a result, there was a loss of power steering. The check engine light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was maneuvered from the highway without incident. There was a 30 minute delay before the vehicle would restarted. The engine stalling failure occurred five times and occurred more often during hot weather. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined the camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensor were faulty. Since the repairs were performed the vehicle has been operating properly. The manufacturer was alerted who explained there was a technical service bulletin on the problem.
The consumer's Mercedes Benz m l 320 slowed down on its own. The consumer pulled over put the car in park and restarted it. After this incident the consumer parked in a mall parking lot. When she returned to the vehicle the shift lever would not move out of park. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. After the vehicle was picked up from the dealer it went into stick mode again. The SRS light illuminate on the dash. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer and when it was returned to the consumer the light was still on. The engine light illuminated and the front end vibrated.
NHTSA investigations
Engine crankshaft pulley failure
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure that could result in loss of power-steering assist.odi has received a total of 546 non-duplicative reports that allege engine crankshaft pulley harmonic balancer failure on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles using the subject component.the subject component failures…
Engine complaints in other ML320 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320, 17% of the model year's 166 complaints. The component named most often is engine (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.