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2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 44 owner complaints about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430, most often about the service brakes. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the ML430 median · #3 of 3 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints444 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage131kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 20, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 has problems

44 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes111
Service brakes, hydraulic111
Vehicle speed control60
Electronic stability control (ESC)60
Electrical system60
Steering51
Visibility30
Power train20
Fuel system, gasoline20
9 other systems90

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other ML430 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the ML430 median. How we score

'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430, and the recalls they led to.

  1. BRAKE LINE CHAFEEA08009 · closed Dec 16, 2009
    No recall
  2. ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTIONPE07007 · closed Jul 11, 2007
    No recall
  3. Brake lamp switch failure.PE10050 · closed May 4, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-208
In owners' words

What ML430 owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Was driving 50 miles per hour when the car slammed on the brakes, nearly getting me rear ended. The throttle would not respond until the car was doing maybe5 miles per hour - on an interstate! The BAS/ESP light was on solid. I got onto an off ramp, called the dealer, was told it could be several…
Complaint 11637080 · Jan 20, 2025
RE: 2001 MB ML430 ELECTRONIC BRAKING SENSOR THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE INITIALLY LOCKED UP AT LOW SPEED UPON ACCELERATION. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON THE SYSTEM WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 70 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY…
Complaint 11035778 · Oct 23, 2017 · 125,000 miles
TWICE NOW WHILE DRIVING AND GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS (DOTS ON THE ROAD TO WARN OF CROSSWALKS AND A DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE CURB) THE BAS/ESP AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND THE CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED VIOLENT BREAKING THAT TOOK CONTROL OF THE DIRECTION THE CAR WAS HEADING. THIS BREAKING CONTINUED…
Complaint 11022910 · Sep 12, 2017 · 170,000 miles

Own a 2001 ML430?

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