NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz ML430

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz ML430.

Complaints

230

Active records

Recalls

19

Active records

TSBs

91

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

11

Crashes

14

Fires

6

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz ML430

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

74

Condition issue

55

Braking behavior

51

Driver assistance issue

42

Reporting mechanism

41

Steering behavior

35

Fluid issue

31

Engine behavior

26

Noise

21

Safety restraint issue

15

Thermal issue

15

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

13

Access/entry issue

10

Vibration/harshness

10

Performance issue

9

Recent change

8

Powering on/off behavior

6

Electrical issue

5

Smell

4

Ride/handling behavior

3

Safety restraint behavior

3

Lighting behavior

2

HVAC behavior

1

Infotainment behavior

1

Starting behavior

1

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Jan 20, 2025


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 causes, drove home carefully, and took it to the dealer. The dealer found nothing. Several times since, the car was being driven at speeds in the 20-30 miles per hour range, and the system would…

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Apr 8, 2023


Problem is with the BAS/ABS. The problem was confirmed by two (2) separate drivers of the vehicle in question. The problem occurred on 4 or 5 separate occasions, all within the last 120 days. The BAS/ABS light on the dashboard indicated random conditions (off when first starting the engine, then on after approximately 1 to 2 minutes). Regardless of the BAS/ABS light status the vehicle appeared to be operating normally. Then suddenly without warning the brakes jammed on pulling hard to the…

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Dec 12, 2021


I have 2000 ML 430. When I drive my car once a while brakes will engage without the warning, no matter how fast or slow I go. It is a very scarry situation.. The shop I went to replaced the ABS module and the problem went away for about 6 months. After that I have experienced one more hard braking but again everything went to normal. I do take good care of mine old ML 430 and the car is in in excellent condition,, so lack of proper maintenance is not an issue here. No matter what it is, I…

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed May 27, 2021


Fire

The contact owned a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML430. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph the ABS light had illuminated and smoke was present coming from the steering column. Moments later flames were present coming from under the hood and the subframe of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and the local fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A police report was filed at the…

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Mar 25, 2020


SRS LIGHT ON

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Nov 17, 2017


WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MILES PER HOUR ON EXPRESSWAY, CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED ON ONLY THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. BRAKING WAS A SEVERE PUMPING THAT LASTED ABOUT 2 SECONDS. WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONTO AN EXIT RAMP WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS NOT HEAVY AND CARS BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ME AS THE CAR BUCKED AND I MOVED TO THE SIDE OF TH ROAD ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. I STOPPED TO SEE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. NOTING NOTHING RELATED TO THE LEFT RONT WHEEL, I…

2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Oct 23, 2017


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 WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER BRAKE LOCKED UP AND BRAKE TIRE SMOKE BILLOWED FROM MY VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO SWERVE AND BRAKE BEHIND AND ON THE SIDE OF ME. I PROCEEDED TO PULL…

2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Sep 12, 2017


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 UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH, BUT CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LIMITED DURING THE EVENT. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT WOULD BE VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN…

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Sep 11, 2017


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING, EST, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PITTSBURGH (4709 BAUM BLVD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15213) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NO CODES WERE POPULATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. UPDATED 11/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER PROVIDED CODES C114214 AND C114209 UPDATED 12/1/2017*JS

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

Filed Aug 11, 2017


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (BOBBY RAHAL MOTORCAR COMPANY, 10701 PERRY HWY, WEXFORD, PA 15090, (724) 935-9300) WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITH THE DTC PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER'S MECHANIC(S). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.