Comments: 1-15, 16-25
I posted a review earlier and could not modify it. Hence I am creating a new one. I fortunately purchased a zero deductible 6 year extended warranty that would take me to 100K miles and 10 years of ownership.
- At 2K miles - The dashboard started rattling within 3 months of ownership.
- At 9K miles - The rear seat (second row dual seat) would not lock when pushed flush to the ground for cargo carrying purposes.
- At 9K miles - There are 2 positions when the rear seat (second row dual seat) is used for seating. In the rear of the 2 positions (when the second row dual seat is used for seating) it would not lock and slide forward when brakes were applied.
- At 12K miles - Handle for rear seat broke (to get access to third row seat)
- At 15K miles - The windows stopped working, they went down and then not come up and the motor had to be replaced.
- At 18K miles - Rear bumper corner came loose. Also, Power Steering recall fixed at that time
- At 21K miles - Noticed orange stains on the upholstery ceiling near moon-roof and dealer confirmed that moon-roof had been leaking for a while. All the upholstery replaced.
- At 30K miles - Front brake pads replaced.
- At 32K miles - Weather stripping coming apart at 3 doors. Also, rear hatch not locking because plastic arm in latch was broken.
- At 35048 miles - Driver's seat trim and left rear seat trim comes loose
- At 35528 miles - Transmission seals leak. Replaced seal rings and fluid.
- At 39K miles - Check engine light comes on and vehicle drives very sluggishly. Ignition coil 1-3 replaced. Also, replaced left and right catalyst converters. ($800 of which warranty paid $500)
- At 43K miles - One of the keys to start the car stops working ($120).
- At 49K miles - Had to replace rear brake pads and rotors ($700).
- At 51K miles - Ignition coil 2 fails ($540 of which insurance pays $400).
I am wondering what will fail next.
Stay away from Mercedes Benz.
I own an ML320. I bought it with 19K miles from San Diego, CA Dealer. I have had only minor issues with the vehicle, but I now have 104K miles. Just had the catalyst replaced new as per the recall and the check engine light came on followed by a smoke smell from the engine - a 2-3 mile trip from the dealer to home - thank goodness.
The dealer is picking it up in the morning. While I was there they recommended (and this is after a Vermont State Mercedes Benz required inspection) that I get the rear cargo light housing unit replaced ($35.00) and that the catalyst smokes if newly replaced. They also recommended that, and they were not sure because of the snow tires making possible similar sound, that the center carrier bearing on the drive shaft be replaced for about $450.00. Yea right.
The bearing is probably about $50.00, who knows, totally bunk because of the speculation.
The dealer I deal with in Shelburne, VT now, trying to make a buck, suggested that I get the master cylinder replaced as well as the back rotors and brake pads for... get this $2,300.00. Once I laughed them into next week, I replaced the rotors and brakes on the rear for about $250.00, my labor, and more the wiser. I did mention to the mechanic at the time of estimate for the brake job that it "might" and I stress MIGHT be something like the master cylinder. Well, after hearing that, and in front of the service manager, the mechanic walks over and decides to add (after his completed inspection and quote for repairs) the master cylinder to come up with the $2,300.00 total.
Well, do it yourself. MB is a good car is my main point, you just have to watch our for ANY dealer. I STRESS A-N-Y dealer. Keep them on their toes or they will keep you paying.
I think now that they want to make the dough on a bearing they say MIGHT be going bad, but have the nerve to say that it MIGHT be my snow tires. You have got to be kidding. WHO IS TO KNOW MB BETTER THAN THE OWNER??? - THE DEALER!!!
I got this list of possibles in writing in the quote on the invoice. I am keeping this baby for future reference.
I own 3 MBs and cannot get enough. I also own a new BMW - so I am not totally lost, just convinced that a little owner responsibility goes a long way.
Last point. With many issues possibly happening to the ML 320 I own compared to my friend above, and God Bless you for noting what you did, I have a 7 passenger, 6 people comfortably using the crap out of that car and so far, so good.
My list of items replaced:
Window switch unit in the center console.
Rear driver's seat pull handle broke.
Rear driver's door lock is malfunctioning
rear cargo light unit was corroded - funny nothing else did?
Front driver's heated seat got very hot on one side - replaced by warranty in San Diego, CA. Second replacement seat, same issue now in Vermont - no warranty, no replac"y"
RSVP ALL YOU MB FANS. Especially ML320 Owners.
Stay strong and realize at the end, these are STILL man made oobjects, NOT heavenly carriages driven by Odin which we all think they are when we buy them - as we should, they ARE Mercedes Benz or we wouldn't have bought them in the first place!
DMW. opsin150@yahoo.com
"stay away from Mercedes-Benz" is an unfair and uninformed statement. I have owned four Mercedes since 1974, including an ML320 and it is clearly the worst. it is also the only Mercedes I've owned that is built outside Germany in the USA.
All Mercedes-Benz except the ML, R-Class and GL are made in Germany.
Do not buy a American built Mercedes!
The same holds true for BMW. Its Z class and X5's have horrible reliability, only outdone by the mediocre X3 built in Austria.
I am the person that posted the review at the top and I felt I had to respond to the 2 comments that were posted for my post.
Please check Consumer Report's ranking of the least reliable vehicles at
http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023544.
You will see that Mercedes is at the top of the worst car list in most categories.
Also, just for the record, after posting the list of failures, I have experienced so far, the power steering pump started leaking and it had to be replaced. Total cost was $600. This is at $53K miles.
Obviously you are bias on your comment. I bet you never drove SC430. Benz makes best cars in the world but clearly over priced for what you get. ML series were clearly bad cars. I've owned many cars including German and Japanesse. If you compare apple to apple (price), I really have to say that Japanesse wins.
<<Benz makes best cars in the world, but clearly over priced for what you get.>.
Benz USED to make the best cars in the world. But quality issues (no matter where built) combined with their continued insistence on high prices no longer make them the best.
My 2000 BMW 528i had ZERO faults (other than a defective cupholder) in the three years I had it. My 1998 German-built C230 was in the shop at least four times in two years, something I considered unacceptable given it was a "Mercedes"
I am hoping you are all right and that Mercedes will once again be Mercedes, but for now I still think buying these cars is a crapshoot.
The person who says the SC430 is junk is wrong.
I drive an 03 SL500 and my wife drives an 02 SC430. The Mercedes styling, performance, and ride is amazing. The negatives to the car are price and the reliability.
The Lexus is also a great car. Although its ride isn't as nice as the SL, it comes close. The performance on the Lexus is almost better because of how smooth it accelerates. The SC is also much higher quality and came fully loaded for close to $30,000 less than my SL.
We recently purchased a new SUV due to our first baby being on the way. We test drove multiple SUVs including the new ML500. Although we wanted a V8, we decided on the Lexus RX400h. Its performance is close to the V8, and so far we have gotten 24 MPG.
Mercedes has been going downhill since 1992. My parents bought a 1992 500SEL my senior year of high school. By 1996 they had replaced it due to complete engine failure. They now are in a BMW, which has been semi-reliable.
I actually agree with the author of the 31st Dec 2006 comment.
The Lexus SC430 is a truly awful car. I test drove one recently, and I just could not believe how badly it handled - It felt like an old lardy sack. Drove a Mercedes CLK 500 in the same day, and it was a whole lot lot better than the Lexus.
Yes. I would risk my "peace of mind" buying the better handling Mercedes instead of the soggy Lexus.
CLK > SC.
To the person (or anyone) who had the brake problems: where would I find a DIY guide for brakes? I have a 02 ml320 with 43000ml on it and the brake sensor just came on. I know how to do a brake job on other vehicles, but want to make sure there are no special instructions with the benz. Any help would be appreciated, for brakes and any general maintenance. thanks.
Doing the brakes on a newer Mercedes is almost impossible. They make it so you have to pay the dealer. I was always able to do my 91 560SEL and my 96 S500 but never on my 2001 ML430.
<<Doing the brakes on a newer Mercedes is almost impossible. They make it so you have to pay the dealer. I was always able to do my 91 560SEL and my 96 S500 but never on my 2001 ML430.>.
I've read this is true about newer BMWs and I think Porsches when it comes to engines as well. The car can only be serviced by a dealership or those with specialized equipment. They claim it's because the cars are low maintenance, but the reality is it makes more money for the dealers.
I am the person that wrote the original complain and I listed the problems I have experienced with the 01 ML320.
I updated it once with a problem and I am posting the second update which is as follows.
At 58K miles - The driver side window stopped working. Window went down and would not come up. This problem actually happened once before at 15K miles. Cost of repair this time was about $230 of which my warranty paid about $200.
Again, I would advise anyone considering a Mercedez Benz vehicle to stay away from this junk brand. Check Consumer Reports for their assessment before buying any car or SUV. This brand has severe quality problems across all classes of cars and SUV's. If you have no problems dropping several hundred (or thousand) dollars in repairs every year, sure go ahead and buy one of these.
Hi all,
I had an 01 ML320 and thank goodness I got rid of it recently. I was actually having very similar problems with mine as the person who posted the original comment. The steering fluid was the most recent problem I had. I also had a recurring window problem happening at the most inconvenient times (harsh winters of Toronto), and also I had my back wheel base getting loose from the axle.
I've had an E and a 5 series since, and I just wanted to say ML is pretty much the only crappy Mercedes out there.
I have a 2001 ML 430 that I acquired at 53,000 miles. It had just been serviced by the dealer for approx $2,500 for front and rear brakes (including new rotors). Today, at 70,000 the warning lights went off. Took it to Les Schwab and they did the front and back for $650. Very happy.
Thank you very much for all of your comments. I just test drove a 2001 ML320 and enjoyed it. I was seriously considering buying it. Now I know why they are "giving them away"! I own a Lexus RX300 and will just go buy another. I have had no problems with it and don't need a $650 brake job, much less a $2,500 one! Just a single mom trying to find a decent vehicle for my daughter, who's in college. Dollars count for me!