Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. After the vehicle was started, the contact heard an abnormal sound under the hood of the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and discovered that the power steering hose was fractured and fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under manufacturer safety campaign number: 2003-040005. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.
I was pulling away from the curb, steering wheel started making whining noises and harder to turn. I continued on city streets then to a freeway where my car began to overheat. I pulled over at a gas station opened the hood and could see fluid all over right lower driver side. It seemed to be coming from a hose by the power steering cap and the right side of the radiator. Under the car same spot right passenger side I could see power steering and radiator coolant leaking from that area.
I have a 2002 ML320, the radio is out and the hole clamp used to secure the power steering fluid does not provide sufficient clamping causing a leak, ESP/bas stays on causing low traction and the door lock. These items were recalled on the m-class 320, what happened to thes recalls.
While driving on the highway at 60mph the vehicle started shaking violently. The brakes started engaging on their own pulling the car to the left and right and nearly bringing the car to a sudden stop. It took a lot of effort to keep the vehicle from pulling into the other lanes and causing an accident. The bas/ESP light came on the dash and has stayed on now. This all lasted for about 10 seconds. I was in the 3rd lane of a 4 lane highway during moderate traffic. I was almost rear ended by two different vehicles. I have been researching this issue and found many other drivers with the same thing. This is a dangerous defect and needs to be addressed. It doesn't take much for a sudden change in direction and speed to cause a severe accident when driving on the highway, and knowing that this vehicle is capable and know for doing this makes it very dangerous. …
I have a 2002 Mercedes Benz (mb) ML320. The power steering fluid was depleting all the time from a leakage between the power steering pump and the hose. I took the vehicle to an mb dealership in georgetown, tx (garlyn shelton Mercedes Benz dealership). The repair was under recall, but the dealership still charged me $214.16. I told them the repair was for a recall, but they would not let me take my car without payment, so I paid them to have my car back. However, I'd like NHTSA to compel them or Mercedes Benz to refund me back my $214.16. I wrote to mb headquarters in new jersey and they sill refused to refund me back my money. I have a receipt of the repair that was done on the car and the cost they billed me. I can send you the letter I wrote to mb headquarters and the repair receipt if you contact me. I'll be grateful if you can help me from this ripoff.
On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, while driving to work my steering wheel became difficult to turn. When I left work, I noticed that most of the steering fluid had leaked out of my vehicle. Then on Thursday, a co worker contacted me and told me that she saw a recall on the news about the steering on Mercedes SUV. I immediately contacted the local dealer and was told that they did not have a recall in their system for my auto and it would cost me $110 to have them diagnosis my vehicle. I contacted the 800# that was on the news and was told that someone will get back with me. In the meantime, I am a recent single parent with a 14 year child that I transport in a vehicle that I having a difficult time to steer.
Driving home on a local street at about 30 miles per hour, approaching intersection, trying to turn, all the sudden, steering wheel became very hard to turn, with no assisting power, car run over to the other side of the road, almost crash into curb. It is very lucky, there is no incoming cars, would have crash head on otherwise. Car towed to dealer, found steering hose from radiator to steering rack broken off, steering fluid splatting all over engine. Dealer stated no recall for steering hose coming out of radiator, but there was recall on steering hose coming out of pump. So this defect was not covered. I urge NHTSA to investigate this dangerous defect immediately, and issue recall to save lives.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercedes ML320. While driving at speeds of less than 50 MPH, the steering locked without warning causing the wheel to become tremendously hard to turn. She almost lost control of the vehicle, however she was able to eventually maneuver the vehicle off of he highway safely. The dealer was contacted and she was advised that there was an open recall campaign on the vehicle (NHTSA campaign id number: 03V121000; steering, hydraulic power assist hose, piping, and connections) and advised coming in for repairs. No repairs were made to date. The failure and current mileages were approximately 85,000.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact received a recall notice and took the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated that the o-ring between the power steering pump and reservoir failed. As a result, the recall repairs would be ineffective without also replacing the o-ring. The dealer further stated that the o-ring would not be covered by the recall; therefore, the contact would have to pay an estimated cost of $162 for this repair. The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The failure and current mileages were less than 70,000. Updated 03/23/09. Updated 03/23/09.
Lower power steering hose clamp had released and allowed the power steering fluid to discharge to the ground. This loss of fluid disabled the power steering rendering the car almost impossible to control without strong steering input. My wife had to call for me to drive the car home. The hose failed upon startup, thus preventing an accident. The unit was repaired at no cost under bulletin #t-b.46.30/13a. This bulletin extended the warranty to 100,000 miles for this part. However, this type of failure mode could result in loss of control and a crash.
Steering complaints in other ML320 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the steering of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320, 27% of the model year's 88 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist › hose, piping, and connections (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320, though it has 1 recall for other components. 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 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering 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.