Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Our vehicle caught fire. My wife and I had just gotten off of the interstate when we started to smell an odd smell. We pulled into a hotel parking lot where we started to see smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. I stopped the vehicle in a hotel driveway, put the vehicle in park. We got out of the vehicle and saw flames underneath the vehicle. We called 911 and hotel staff tried to extinguish the fire but it continued to grow. The fire dept. Arrived and put out the fire. Photos are attached.
Clear headlight lens cover gets wet on inside even though there has been no rain causing light from headlamp to be diffused and restricting reach of beam. Manufacturer says leave headlight on dissipate moisture, however seems unsafe while moisture present. The dealer refused to contact Mercedes Benz.
Water entered the vehicle (rain) standing water in the spare tire area of the car. The windshield wiper quit working. Got error messages on the dash rear hatch open, checked rear hatch was closed and it would not open either manually or using the remote opener or the button in the car, multiple error messages rear brake lights left right side and trailer, error message SRS failure, fuel gauge quit working, locks not working..... Parked the car it was raining unable to drive, the next day drove it to a mechanic who found 1" of standing water in the spare tire well. …
My 2008 is having the same problem as this 2009. Mercedes Benz is recalling 16,130 my 2009 m-class w164 passenger vehicles equipped with the optional power lift gate. As a result of a faulty seal around the rear tail lamp assembly, water May enter the rear compartment containing the spare tire. Water contamination of the control unit for the power lift gate can result in disabling of the power lift gate motor. Hazard:water will cause a short circuit which could lead to a fire. Remedy:dealers will replace the seal of the rear tail lamp assembly with a thicker one and reposition the affected power lift gate control unit inside the chassis. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during April 2009. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at [phone]. Additional info:Mercedes Benz recall no. …
I was driving on a busy intersection in my 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 when driving the yellow triangle in the speedometer starts to flash and all the breaks lock up, this is followed by a stall, thankfully I was able to pull off to the side of the road without being hit. After doing some research I discovered that many Mercedes ML320 owners were having this same problem. Specifically the yaw rate sensor. This is a serious life threatening issue that can injure or worse yet kill someone. You guys need to do a recall before someone dies!
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it slammed on the brakes without the contact depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the ebs and ABS warning lights remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle made a loud screeching sound when being driven. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
Safety system failure, including braking assist, seat belts, air bags and tel-aide due to computer chip failure. Caused two accidents after which customer paid to have vehicle reviewed bumper to bumper and the failing chip was replaced. During this time, the dash warning lights did not illuminate to warn of the failure which the vehicle computer documented 15 times in a six-month period (between the two accidents). Approximately eight months later, the warning light on the dash illuminated again. Do not know how many times system had failed since it was 'fixed.' traded in vehicle for safety purposes.
My 2001 Mercedes ML320 SUV developed a defect in the ignition switch, whereby the key came out while the car was not in the park position. In June 2009, the car was parked in my driveway and ignition turned off. I didn't realize that the key came out when the car was in neutral instead of park. After a while the car rolled backwards and hit a neighbors car and the garage door opposite my driveway. I reported the incident to Mercedes and the dealer said that the defect cannot be covered free by the manufacturer as the car was out of warranty. I paid almost $1000 to get the ignition switch defect fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz ML320 years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (21), 2000 (20), 2002 (19) and 2001 (16) model years. Electrical complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz ML320 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for any Mercedes-Benz ML320 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz ML320 electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the wiring (7 mentions), followed by the ignition › switch (5).
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.