1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML430 from North America - Comments

I have has this car for a short period of time, yet I have been unable to put any miles on it due to the fact that it is ALWAYS in the shop. Recent repairs -transmission $9,000; Power locks $300; Battery $300; Navigation Malfunction $500. The list goes on and on. Needless to say, Mercedes knew about the majority of problems with this model SUV yet will not address them with their customers. In fact, the offered dealer incentives to unload all the 1999 model year ML's. This is not how a car company should treat the top tier consumers.

I have a Lorinser ML 430 with all the bells and whistles. I am writing this because I want to warn the typical person in the market for a good SUV to stay away from the Mercedes line (unless you are going for the G-Wagon, which has its own problems). Repair costs (which I am now accustomed to) are astronomical!!! When all was said and done I paid nearly $10,000 to replace the transmission on the car, Mercedes corporate response - well the cost of upkeep should be expected with any car. FU MBUSA. After many MB's I am sorry to say that I will only buy one of their top competitor's from now on (I don't care what it is as long as I am not giving MB anymore $$$)

Hope this helped someone in the market.

Not sure why these two had the problems they've had, but I own a '99 ML430 and have only had 1 problem, the fuel pump, which was replaced by MBUSA at no charge. All in all, very happy with the vehicle and feel I made a good choice.

I have a 99 ML 430 and I am the primary owner of the car since I got it in 1998. The transmission went bust out of the blue and apparently friends of mine who own S class and E class (2 out of 2) had trouble with their transmission as well. Mercedes try to cover it up during the period of the warranty. I think there is a problem with their factory here in the US that they have to address. I will not buy mercedes again till these issues are resolved, and they can't just sweep it under the rug. I will notify consumer protection agencies because apparently they will not do anything about it willingly.

I own a 99 Ml320 it is a great vehicle and bought it brand new it has 20,000 miles on it and has run great other than a power steering hose that was fixed under warranty,that is the only problem you people must not know how to drive em if the transmission is going out. It is a great vehicle other that the tires the Dunlops are a POS 20,000 miles and they are bald, but that isn't mercedes fault that is dunlops bought to go buy some Michelin's.

In spite of all the negative reviews, I recently bought a 1999 ML 320 with 40K on it. Though I have had only a small problem in 3 months I've owned it, I wish I would have down a more thorough "walk around" before purchasing. The "detail" work is very poor and may be reflective on the labor force in Alabama... I don't know. Paint job is miserable as there are chips all over the place. Glass also seems to be "soft" as I've already replace the windshield and just found a crack in passenger side window. Also, I've replaced the plastic piece with the weatherstrip that goes under the back window TWICE. It was cracked when I bought it, then the dealer put a new one in crooked and now the new one they put in either fell off or someone ripped it off!! My wife owns a E240 Wagon and loves it, but it's too soon to tell if we'll buy a MB again.

My ML 320 was in the shop nine times in the one miserable year I owned it. Definitely my first and LAST Mercedes. Repair costs were never under $300, no matter how minor the repair was and ranged as high as $4,000. What a nightmare, I wish I would have known about this web site before I bought the car. Mercedes should scrap this model. Our Mercedes dealership new slogan is "Yes, you can afford a Mercedes" which I pass by every day on the way to work. I want to add "...however, you CANNOT afford the repair fees."

I seem to be one of the few owners who have been very pleased with their ML430 (1999).

I bought mine new in early 1999. Since then I have not had a single repair, brake jobs excluded. The brakes wear rapidly (about every 20,000), but it's just pads. The tires too seem to have a shorter life than I would like, and were replaced at about 35,000 miles, and again at about 80,000 miles. The battery expired almost exactly at five years. The car now has 96,000 miles on it, and I have encountered none of the problems noted by other owners. No body rattles or squeaks, no electronic problems, not even minor mechanical failures. the car has been continuously garaged and the paint looks showroom fresh. It has been the best car that I have ever owned.

I have just ordered a new 2006 ML500. Wish me luck!

I wonder how authentic these claims are?? Most owners of New MB will not quibble about $300 repair issues because they have the money to buy a new one.

Also the people who can afford a new MB will also have it properly maintained, for instance having the trans fluid properly serviced!!! Not letting it go for infinite miles!! Yes not changing the fluid will ruin the transmission. GO ASK A TRANNY SHOP!!!