There are 2 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 DEFECTS WITH TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER UNIT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE DEFECTS AND THINKS THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON. *KB
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SUV "JAMMED" WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. THE SUV WAS PREVIOUSLY MAKING SUDDEN JUMPS WHILE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CORRECTLY. NOW THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THAT THERE WAS METAL DEBRIS IN THE TRASMISSION WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, COULD BE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026