2002 Mercedes-Benz Ml500 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Mercedes-Benz Ml500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 870 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 01V290000 2001-09-10 870 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM MAY NOT MEET THE SPECIFIED STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS.

Consequence

THE CONTROL ARM COULD FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Complaints by component

STEERING
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
ENGINE
1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
Total complaints33

What owners report

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

“Motor vehicle accident head on and the airbags did not deploy.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-10-22

“There is a serious defect in the yaw rate sensors in these mercedes ml w163's. Thank god I was driving down a secluded road and nobody was behind me, but my vehicles brakes locked up, on their own, even with my foot on the accelerator pedal, with no warning lights or warning signals. I have no…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2021-11-26

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz ml500. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated and the low range warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned off the engine. Once restarted, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-08-06

“House from power steering pomp is leaking , during drive I loose power steering fluid and almost I hit cat from another line.”

STEERING · reported 2016-03-17

“This was the 3rd time it happened, this time on the freeway in california and lasted until the car came to a stop. The car went into break mode on its own, the car fishtailed and came to a stop before recovering. Luckily the car behind me was able to stop, I heard breaks screeching, but no known…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2014-08-06

“Power steering fluid leaking in small drips when parked. Hard to steer at times and makes loud noise. Have concerns that steering may be affected and cause total loss of steering. *tr”

STEERING · reported 2013-03-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes ml500. While driving at night at any speed, the contact noticed an optical distortion on the rear view mirror which affected his visibility of the vehicles located in the rear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician…”

VISIBILITY · reported 2011-10-15

“2002 mercedes benz ml 500. Consumer writes regarding vehicle brake failure *tgw the consumer stated the brakes failed on the vehicle due to the brake lines leaking. *jb”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2010-09-13

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 PE08002 Opened 2008-01-10 · closed 2008-04-28

BRAKE LINE RUPTURE

MERCEDES-BENZ'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER FOR PE08-002 INDICATED THAT THE SUBJECT FUEL/BRAKE LINE BUNDLE (PART NO. A1634201526) WAS USED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2002 ON ALL M-CLASS LIGHT TRUCK VEHICLES.MERCEDES FURTHER INDICATED THAT IN 2002 A PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED…

Investigation PE08002 Opened 2008-01-10 · closed 2008-04-28

BRAKE LINE RUPTURE

MERCEDES-BENZ'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER FOR PE08-002 INDICATED THAT THE SUBJECT FUEL/BRAKE LINE BUNDLE (PART NO. A1634201526) WAS USED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2002 ON ALL M-CLASS LIGHT TRUCK VEHICLES.MERCEDES FURTHER INDICATED THAT IN 2002 A PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED…

Investigation PE10050 Opened 2010-12-21 · closed 2011-05-04

Brake lamp switch failure.

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also…

Investigation PE10050 Opened 2010-12-21 · closed 2011-05-04

Brake lamp switch failure.

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also…

Investigation PE10050 Opened 2010-12-21 · closed 2011-05-04

Brake lamp switch failure.

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also…

Investigation PE10050 Opened 2010-12-21 · closed 2011-05-04

Brake lamp switch failure.

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also…

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 2002 Mercedes-Benz Ml500 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.