30th Dec 2006, 12:42

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.

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.

17th Jan 2007, 07:28

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.

17th Jan 2007, 13:49

<<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.

17th Jan 2007, 17:28

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.

25th Jan 2007, 19:28

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.

26th Jan 2007, 15:32

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.

26th Jan 2007, 18:17

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.

20th Aug 2007, 18:07

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.

14th Oct 2007, 01:04

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.

1st Dec 2007, 19:52

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.

14th Dec 2007, 13:54

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!

10th Aug 2008, 14:08

ML Mercedes are horrible. Poor gas mileage and a lack of performance for that give poor gas mileage.

The car looks like a pregnant roller skate and runs about the same. I have owned many other German cars and this has to be the worst.

Coils coils coils. Sensors seem to be the issue. Very poor quality.

I think if you spent the same maintenance and repair money on a Chevy Cavalier, it would still be running and probably better than an ML.

9th Sep 2008, 20:06

I also own a ML 320...with only 60K miles (which was made in Alabama by the way).

The gas cap is bubbling and rusting.

The power "sky-roof" is not working (approx cost to fix $2500).

Power window switch went out in console and driver side window steel arm broke inside..

Now the drive shaft is out and it is out of state!!!

I will never purchase another MB in my short life...

17th Sep 2008, 22:06

I agree that there were some design problems with my 2000 ML320. During the first two years it was a love hate relationship - loved it when it was working/hated it when it wasn't. However, Mercedes stood by their product. They resedesigned and retrofitted the fuel pump. They repaired, replaced, and recalled the handful of other issues for no cost.

I have now owned the vehicle for 9 years, the last 7 years have been problem-free. I hope to sail on to 200,000 miles in the next few months. The ride is good and the gas mileage is great for a mid-size SUV. I have gone on test drives of new vehicles over the last few years but nthing under $50,000 compares to my old faithful vehicle.