Faults:

Electronics.

Parking lights.

Gas gauge.

Time and compass cluster.

Trunk light.

CD player.

Tape player.

Tow hitch.

Mechanically the car is a Merc...

It's gonna run like a beauty. They're tanks.

General Comments:

It was my birthday present when I was 11, and I personally love the car, and it is my favorite SUV. It's very unique if you know what I mean.

Performance wise it is great, but not enough power out of the V6 motor. I'm planning on supercharging it soon.

Electronics on this car are horrible, but I can deal with that by replacing it with better aftermarket parts.

Ride is great; cannot complain.

If you know anything about the ML's structure, it is a uniframe design with fully independent suspension, better handling on road than off, but stronger than a solid axle SUV.

I feel very safe in this car, and it does not feel flimsy or like the BMW X5.

Amazingly it is very good off road. In an SUV comparison when it first came out, it placed 3rd; 4x4 Hummer H1, Jeep GV, ML320.

I plan on making this one an offroad machine, and buying another one in the future and keeping it bone stock,

I love this car, even though it has a few problems.

Faults:

Two sensors blew before 50k miles, but were covered under warranty.

Window switch went out at approximately 70k miles at a cost of about $400 dollars (parts and labor).

Other than these things just the normal maintenance was done.

General Comments:

This has been a good vehicle for me. Brought it in Colorado and have taken it four wheeling up at Cripple Creek, handled great. I lived in Monument Co. which is at 7,400 feet elevation, lots of snow. The ML is incredible in these harsh conditions and never let me down. Drove the car from Colorado to Atlanta, GA in 2004 with no problems. Have taken the ML on numerous trips throughout the south since, all with no problems.

There are a few things that could be better though like the fit and finish. I have owned four other Mercedes since the late seventies. The ML is not as well put together as any of these other MB were, although it is still a very nice vehicle. Also this is a heavy vehicle and with a 16 Gal. fuel tank it has a short driving range (estimating fuel economy at about 16/18 city/hwy).

Faults:

Power assist fluid hose leaked. Easy fix @ about 80,000 miles.

General Comments:

My third MB. Had the last two for 12 years each.

I don't do much maintenance, I just buy good cars and drive for 12 years. Average cost very low.

Faults:

No problems to date.

General Comments:

From the comments I have read, it is clear driver treatment may determine some of the resulting problems.

Although the ML is assembled in the US, it is in fact made up entirely of German parts. So the comments saying otherwise are incorrect.

My ML has the third row seat, GPS Nav, CD changer, sunroof, power everything. My wife's E-320 prompted me to buy this one, though the only real negative is with the third row seating where there is virtually zero storage. And the sound the doors make when closed really sounds tinny. Purchased mine for $14000.

Faults:

Passenger window is not working.

Brakes had to be replaced as part of maintenance.

General Comments:

I love the truck. It performs like my old Dodge Stealth. Very roomy and safe. The Bose sound system is great.

The seats could be a bit softer for long drives.

I bought a warranty and that will help with the bad driver's side window. It uses a bit less gas than a suburban, but not by much. The truck's handling and performance is worth it. I did not expect it to be perfect. The performance is more important than minor problems.

The full time all-wheel drive is awesome. Many "sports cars" have not been able to keep up with my Mercedes on challenging roads. It passes like a rocket. Very stable at high speed. The best vehicle I've ever owned.