Mercedes-Benz · ML-Class · 2003
0
Recalls
71
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class has no recalls and 71 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: steering (17 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
The Floor Mats I received for my vehicle covered a portion of my accelerator pedal and would when up into the back above the pedal and to the right of it and would get caught and force my accelerator pedal to stay down. I told the company of their design flaw, and they said would not do anything about it. If I wanted to send it back it would cost more than the pads were worth. I paid $189.95. I got PayPal involved and if I paid the shipping cost to send them back they would rebate me the money that I paid. That's only if the mats are in perfect condition when they receive them. So it cost hours of BS and $60 so I get back at least $129. But with that said I felt you should know that they are selling and sending things not made for the cars they promise they will be for.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO THE RISK OF A POTENTIAL CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID, IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE HOSE CONNECTION TO THE RADIATOR DURING DRIVING AND WHILE STATIONERY. THIS ISSUE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED, I BELIEVE TWICE. DEALER REQUESTED $125 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. MB USA INFORMED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION, THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ALREADY FIXED OCTOBER 2008 UNDER RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SHOULD FIX ON MY OWN COST.
ENGINE KEEPS GETTING OVER-HEATED EVEN AFTER A NEW ENGINE FAN HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, AFTER ITS REPLACEMENT I TOOK IT TO TWO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO RE-INSPECT AND MAKE ADJUSTMENT TO THEIR INSTALLMENT OF THE FAN BUT IT KEEPS GETTING OVERHEATED. I ALSO HAD A NEW WATER COOLANT TANK INSTALLED BUT IT IS ALSO LEAKING OUT THE COOLANT AND SHOWING THE WARNING LIGHT. THESE EVENTS HAPPEN AFTER I TOP UP THE COOLANT TANK AND DRIVE AROUND 50 MILES, THEN THE OVERHEATING STARTS AND THE TANK STARTS BECOMING EMPTY.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO SUDDEN BREAK OF IDLER ARM PULLEY AND SUBSEQUENT SHREDDING OF BELT. PROBLEM IS THE PULLEY IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACKED IN TWO, LEAVING 1/2 THE PULLEY AND SHREDDING THE BELT. THIS OCCURRED AT DRIVING SPEED OF 50 MPH AND MILEAGE AROUND 169,650 ON 2003 ML500. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE NEAREST FREEWAY EXITS. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BUT ABLE TO STEER INTO A PARKING LOT. LUCKY IT WAS 'RUSH' HOUR AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOW ON SURFACE STREETS. INCREDIBLE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO DIFFICULTY TO STEER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. CAR IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY GERMAN MECHANIC FAMILIAR WITH REPAIR OF MB ENGINES IN GERMANY.
MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK ONE DAY AND WHEN SHE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY STREET, THE YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION POINT STARTED TO FLASH AND ENGAGED THE BRAKES. MY WIFE QUICKLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND MADE HER WAY BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT WHILE THE BRAKES WHERE ENGAGING. MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK. WE LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVING BUT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGING AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. I HAVE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL SHOPS AND ALL THE SHOPS ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM ONE OF THE SHOPS, AS SOON AS I PULLED OUT OF THE SHOP'S PARKING LOT THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION WAS FLASHING. IT DID THIS FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS CAUSED THE APPROACHING VEHICLE FROM THE REAR TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID REAR ENDING ME. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW IF WHEN IT DOES THIS. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY USUALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE AS BEEN SITTING OFF FOR A SEVERAL HOURS.
TAKATA RECALL. POWER STEERING BRAKE ISSUE, POWER STEERING HOSE BECAME DETACHED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION AND RADIO DRAIN, CAR CUT OFF ON ME DURING DRIVING.
I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RESEVIOUR, AND HOSE AFTER LOOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFILLING WITH FLUID ALL THE CONTENTS RAN RIGHT OUT. I DO SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2008, BUT I DID NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 2/15. IS THERE ANY WAY POSSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL?
BAS LIGHT TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. THE GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK SO I PULLED OVER. I FEEL LIKE ITS A DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND PUTTING OTHER DRIVER IN DANGER SO I STOPPED DRIVING IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2000-2002 ML320 BUT MY CAR IS 2003 AND ITS DOING THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE 2000-2002 ML320
RANDOM LOSS OF POWER ' (THE ENTIRE PANEL LIGHTS UP) AS THE CAR SUDDENLY AND SLOWLY POWERS OFF WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A DROP, DRIVING, BREAKING, AND TURNING, COMING TO A STOP AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WE HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 3800.00 FOR CAR REPAIR ON THE ML 350. IT SHUTS OFF MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. SO MUCH SO WE DO NOT ALLOW OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE UNLESS I AM THERE AND NOW NOT EVEN THEN UNTIL WE HAVE HAD IT FIXED FOR THE 4TH TIME (WE THOUGHT) AFTER CRANK SHAFT, SPARK PLUGS AND NOW ELECTRICAL WORK WE ARE AT A TOTAL LOSS. THIS ISSUE IS NOT ISOLATED BUT MERCEDES BENZ HAS HAD OTHER REPORTS OUR AND OTHERS ' NOT REPAIR / OR RECALLED BUT IT SEEMS MAJOR TO OUR FAMILY ' AS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND OTHER OWNER THAT HAVE INVESTED IN THIS MAKE.
WITHIN THE PAST 8 MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES WITH THE ISSUE RELATING ENGINE SHUT OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I WAS TOLD THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWO TIMES AND AS OF TODAY THE PROBLEMS REMAINS. MERCEDES BENZ HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE BUT HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. I FEAR DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN IT SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT ONE POINT AND THEY HAVEN'T ADDRSSED IT. I'VE SPENT $4500 TO REPAIR AND THEY CANNOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND I'M NOT CERTAIN THEY KNOW HOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000...UPDATED 08/06/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TWO LINES FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD SEVERE PITTING AND CORROSION , AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES. UPDATED 08/13/15*JB UPDATED 8/28/15*CN UPDATED 09/01/15*LJ UPDATED 09/08/15*JB UPDATED 10/01/15*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2017*CN
I HAVE A 2003 ML350 SUV. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING STEERING. I HAVE REPLACED ONE RACK AND PIN WHICH I BELIEVE WAS USED. NOW I AM IN NEED OF ANOTHER ONE. *TR
DRIVING 45MPH ON HIGHWAY, CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. TOWED TO CLOSEST GAS STATION, WHO PUT A COMPUTER ON IT TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. AFTER COMPLETELY COOLING IT WILL START AGAIN, BUT IN LESS THAN 10 MIN IT CUTS OFF. *TR
LAST TIME I USED THE HEATED SEATS, TURNED THEM ON THE WAR I ALWAYS HAVE, BUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY LEG FELT LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. ONE SPOT IN MY SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND WAS SMOKING. IMMEDIATELY I TURNED THE SEATS OFF AND HAVE NEVER USED THEM AGAIN. CALLED DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT NO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE RPMS REVVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING, WENT OVER BUMP IN ROAD, AND TRUCK IMMEDIATELY LOST SPEED. PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL WEAKEND. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELERATION. I PULLED OVER AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED AND PULL OVER INTO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM HOOK IT UP TO DIAGNOSTIC READER. IT CAME BACK WITH SEVERAL CODES, THAT ALL STATED "THROTTLE PEDAL POSITIONER MALFUNCTION" I HAVE BOUGHT AND REPLACED THIS ITEM 4 TIMES SINCE THIS INCIDENT, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, BUT I'M ALWAYS VERY AFRAID THAT THIS PART IS GOING TO MALFUNCTION WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION OR STREET, AND I ALONG WITH MY KIDS ARE GOING TO BE KILLED. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST TWO TO THREE TIME A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE. *TR
RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN BRAKE PISTON AND BOOSTER CAN COME OFF OR DISINTEGRATE, CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM ASSIST AND A SUDDEN DECREASE IN BRAKE FORCE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE SUV BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND PARKED IT. I SAW AN OIL LEAK WHERE IT HAD BEEN PARKED. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TOYOTA, AND LEFT THE MERCEDES PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE LARGE OIL LEAK CONCERNED ME.I SPOKE TO A MERCEDES MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT I HAD HEARD, AND HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A STEERING PROBLEM. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP FOR ML 350 MODELS YEARS 2003 +. IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL OIL LEAKS OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE RECALL IS STILL VALID? DOES THE MERCEDES DEALER STILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HOSE AND CLAMP? WHAT IF THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE PARTS, THEN WHAT DO I SAY OR DO? *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 71 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class are steering (17 reports), seats (15 reports), engine and engine cooling (4 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.