The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the driver’s side front wheel independently braked. The contact stated he had not depressed the brake pedal but heard an abnormal sound from the tire screeching as the wheel had stopped rolling. The contact stated that the ESP traction warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over, turned off, restarted the vehicle, and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred several minutes later. The contact stated that the failure occurred one other time and had not happened again. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes problems
25 complaints (28% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 129,000.
- owner complaints
- 25
- of this car's complaints
- 28%
- typical mileage
- 129,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Power assist1
- Foundation components: master cylinder1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The car brakes suddenly by itself just after the ESB/ABS lights come on along with an exclamation point (!). This has happened randomly at least 4 times since we purchased the car. Once at high speeds on the highway. It appears this problem is common with other owners of Mercedes 2001-2002 ML's. According to the forums below, the problem seems to be a "YAW RATE SENSOR" malfunction or defect. My Mercedes mechanic saw no error codes for this component and it seem extremely expensive (forum states part is $3000) to replace. The https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w163/233486-big-problems-ml320-pls-help-2.html
Fuse box some has power some not. Front left wheel making this noise and stops after 25 miles per hour radio volume low when ignition key is on position 3 when key it's in the position 2 laud volume when key is not in I can turn on the stereo
I was driving on a busy intersection in my 2002 mercedes benz ml320 when driving the yellow triangle in the speedometer starts to flash and all the breaks lock up, this is followed by a stall, thankfully I was able to pull off to the side of the road without being hit. After doing some research I discovered that many mercedes ml320 owners were having this same problem. Specifically the yaw rate sensor. This is a serious life threatening issue that can injure or worse yet kill someone. You guys need to do a recall before someone dies!
On numerous occasions occurring in different conditions regarding speed, weather, road conditions, etc., I have had the vehicle pull hard to the right while engaging the front brakes, both while turning the vehicle and on straightaways. When this occurs, the triangle hazard light and esp lights start flashing. Most often I have been able to pull off to the side of the road, thankfully safely, or on one occasion stop in the middle of the road as the car wouldn't allow me to continue driving which was incredibly dangerous and scary. I have taken it to the dealership who replaced the front brake sensors, which didn't fix the problem, and returned to have them again diagnose the issue and declined their recommendations such as replacing the back brake sensors, until I came upon the repeated issues of the stability sensors failing (specifically the yaw sensor). I can't believe that, to date, this has not been a recall issue and no one has been seriously injured or killed due to this problem (I filed a previous claim, but the website went under maintenance and closed my complaint as I was filing and was given id #10923983, but there is no information filed in association that I could find hence the re-filing).
On multiple occasions and numerous different speeds, weather, both driving on a straightaway or turning, and other road conditions, the front brakes have locked up on the car causing it to veer right while engaging the brakes. Most often I have had to pull over, thankfully safely, or on one occasion, stop in the middle of the road to turn the car off to be able to continue driving which is incredibly dangerous and scary. I've taken it to the dealership and they had me replace the brake sensors which were obviously not the problem and then recommended other replacements, since the problem continued, that I declined until I found that this was a common problem with the stability sensors in this vehicle (specifically the yaw sensor). I'm amazed this is not a recall situation and that no one has been seriously injured or killed due to this problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz ml320. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the brakes independently engaged and caused the vehicle to veer to the side of the road. The contact mentioned that the ABS warning light illuminated and then the entire instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake lamp switch failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v208000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.
Brakes applied on their own without pedal pressure while car was moving at highway speed. Front brakes were smoking by the time I found a safe place to stop off the 4-lane road on a side road. Rear brakes seemed hot, but not smoking. No warning lights came on. Immediately before this highway event, car had just been traveling around 35 MPH on hilly side roads with steep ascents and descents. This is the fourth time brakes have self-applied in a similar manner. After second event, dealer examined car but could not reproduce the problem or find any faults on computer diagnostics. When brakes cool, car restarts without brakes coming on. Brake pads and sensors were replaced 6,000 miles earlier; significant brake drag was present for around two hundred miles after that repair; dealer said brakes were self-adjusting and declined to examine car at that time. It was about 4,000 miles after brake pad/sensor replacement that the self-braking problem started.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz ml320. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it slammed on the brakes without the contact depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the ebs and ABS warning lights remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle made a loud screeching sound when being driven. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz ml320. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the front brakes activated independently. The contact noticed that the front rotors were red and hot. The esp warning light illuminated. The contact disconnected the esp cable and continued to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000. Updated 7/21/15*cn updated 10/18/2017
Questions about the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes
Does the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 25 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320, 28% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 129,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mercedes Benz ML320 have bad brakes?
The Mercedes Benz ML320 model years with the most brakes complaints are 2001 (48 complaints), 2000 (34 complaints) and 2002 (25 complaints).
Other 2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 problems
Steering 24Electrical 19Acceleration 11Driver assistance 11Engine 8Lights 6Seats 5Suspension 5Visibility 4Wheels 3Airbags 2Body 2Fuel system 2Locks 2Transmission 2Tires 1
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