RecallRepo

1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 558,949 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11V208000 2011-03-31 136,751 affected
Defect

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE…

Consequence

DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

STEERING 08V465000 2008-09-17 125,228 affected
Defect

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

Consequence

THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR…

STEERING 03V121000 2003-03-27 211,000 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

Consequence

THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…

SEAT BELTS 99V328000 1999-11-22 85,970 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. IF THE PLASTIC COVER IS LOOSE DURING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUCKLE TONGUE TO THE LATCH MECHANISM, THE BUCKLE COULD UNLATCH.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IF EITHER THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

Complaints by component

STEERING
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
SEAT BELTS
2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1
Total complaints28

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Driving on tappan zee bridge near nyc and slowed down to approx 15 mph for toll booth and tried to accelerate out of the tolls. The vehicle was very loud and would not accelerate. It almost sounded like I was driving over rumble strips and I almost crashed trying to pull over as the ez-pass is all…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2011-08-20

“Driving on tappan zee bridge near nyc and slowed down to approx 15 mph for toll booth and tried to accelerate out of the tolls. The vehicle was very loud and would not accelerate. It almost sounded like I was driving over rumble strips and I almost crashed trying to pull over as the ez-pass is all…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2011-08-20

“Nhtsa campaign 99v328000. Seat belt buckle recall. Seat belt buckle even after the recall inspection and replacement is defective, the connection in between metal spring and plastic is unsafe and unsafe, it is made out of cheap plastic, eventually plastic will fail and seat belt will unlatch. It…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2010-12-29

“Nhtsa campaign 99v328000. Seat belt buckle recall. Seat belt buckle even after the recall inspection and replacement is defective, the connection in between metal spring and plastic is unsafe and unsafe, it is made out of cheap plastic, eventually plastic will fail and seat belt will unlatch. It…”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · reported 2010-12-29

“My 1999 mercedes ml320 stalled in traffic on the interstate. I had it towed to the dealer who replaced the crankshaft position sensor which showed a marginal problem. We picked up the car and brought to the attention of the manager that the "check engine" was illuminated. He said that was because…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2010-09-05

“Tire almost no tread after 31,000 miles warranty for 65,000 miles. *tr”

TIRES · reported 2010-02-02

“When trying to turn my vehicle from a parking lot, there was a sudden leakage of power steering fluid and the steering wheel became so hard to turn. The car was not in drivable condition and I towed it to my nearest service station. After diagnosis, power steering hose and clamp were replaced and…”

STEERING · reported 2009-10-07

“1999 ml 320 began jerking on medium grades. Jerking was reported to knoxville tn. Mercedes benz dealership. They reported the transfer case is failing. They indicated that to their knowledge there has never been a transfer case failure on an ml 320. I had the transfer case replaced at a cost of…”

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE · reported 2009-05-06

Defect investigations

Investigation EA08009 Opened 2008-04-28 · closed 2009-12-16

BRAKE LINE CHAFE

ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE…

Investigation EA08009 Opened 2008-04-28 · closed 2009-12-16

BRAKE LINE CHAFE

ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE…

Investigation PE03058 Opened 2003-12-17 · closed 2004-04-22

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC…

Investigation RQ08002 Opened 2008-03-11 · closed 2008-09-17

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE…

Investigation RQ08002 Opened 2008-03-11 · closed 2008-09-17

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE…

Investigation RQ08002 Opened 2008-03-11 · closed 2008-09-17

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.