Model year record
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 recalls & problems
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 44 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (12 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
ML430
| City / highway | 14 / 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
4.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 12 | 75,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 11 | 131,200 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 6 | 106,500 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 6 | 139,050 mi |
| Electrical system | 6 | 117,000 mi |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid; Hydraulic power assist › Pump | 5 | 85,840 mi |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield | 4 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2 | — |
| Power train | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | — |
| EquipmentElectrical › Navigational system(global positioning system) | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsRear/other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakes
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 slam on the brakes and pull hard to the left. I could smell the brake dust in the car. Other times, it will ALMOST engage (ESP light flashes as well) then backs off.
- Service brakes
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 OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, AFTER WHICH MY VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. I PROCEEDED TO DO AN ONLINE SEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON SORT OF PROBLEM FOR THIS…
- Service brakes
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 ACCIDENT. BAS/ESP LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF.
- Service brakes
VEHICLE'S FRONT WHEEL BRAKES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AND THE EPS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AFTERWARDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED, BUT NOTHING WRONG. ONLINE COMPLAINTS SUGGESTS A FAILURE IN YAW RATE SENSOR.
- Service brakes
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKES ON ITS OWN. NEARLY GOT ME INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY. I HAD MY TODDLER IN THE CAR AND IT WAS A VERY SCARY THING. WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED ENGAGING BY ITSELF, A YELLOW TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH FOLLOWED BY THE BAS/ESP LIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE AND SEEMS TO BE THE YAW RATE SENSOR. I AM SHOCKED THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED WITH ALL THE ISSUES I'VE READ ON THIS. I BARELY JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT'S ALREADY NOT DRIVABLE. VERY HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
- Electrical system
THE ALL ACTIVITY MODULE (AAM) DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY TO WHICH NEITHER SIDE MIRRORS CAN BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE THE WINDOWS NO GO UP AND DOWN OR LONGER OPERATE. THEN THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS RELY SOLELY OFF OF THIS MIDDLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE AAM CONTROLS WHICH ARE THE CAUSING AFFECT OF THIS ISSUE.
- Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOBIK UTILIZED AND THE LOCKS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, LOCKED AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE FOBIK WAS UTILIZED TO LOCK THE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE FOBIK OR DOOR LOCK WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALL ACTIVITY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA…
- Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE AND THE BAS ESP WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRIC POWER DOOR LOCK FUNCTION WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C LINE FRACTURED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PLASTIC PIECE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V208000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,675. UPDATED 11/23/15*LJ THE CONSUMER FIXED THE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake lamp switch failure.ClosedLed to recall 11V208000
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 reported the illumination of a warning lamp on the instrument panel.The switch contains three sets of electrical contacts and a (normally extended) spring loaded plunger that actuates the contacts as it moves.As installed in the vehicle, the plunger contacts the brake pedal arm and is pushed into the switch; as the driver applies the pedal the plunger extends.One set of contacts (BLS) operates the stop lamps, a second set (EWM) controls the shift interlock system, and a third set (BS) is used by an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system to monitor switch operation.The cruise…
- BRAKE LINE CHAFEClosed
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 FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THAT RESULTED IN ALLEGATIONS OF REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, THE RATE DROPS EVEN FURTHER (22.3 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.04 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE). MERCEDES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING THAT IN THE RARE INSTANCES WHEN CHAFING DID PROGRESS TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THE DRIVER WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED TO A PROBLEM BY ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT YELLOW ESP/BAS WARNING LAMP AND CHANGES IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A…
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTIONClosed
ODI OPENED PE07-007 AFTER RECEIVING 4 COMPLAINTS WITHIN A 6 WEEK PERIOD ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE APPLICATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2001 MERCEDES M CLASS SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS OR GATHERED IN SUBSEQUENT CONSUMER INTERVIEWS INDICATED THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FAULTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) SYSTEM WHICH WERE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE YAW RATE SENSORS.ALTHOUGH THE SAME YAW RATE SENSOR IS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 800,000 OTHER MERCEDES M-CLASS, C-CLASS AND SLK MODELS, TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE RELATED COMPLAINT TO ODI IN THOSE VEHICLES. DURING THIS INVESTIGATION MERCEDES BENZ PROVIDED ODI WITH 327 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ESP SYSTEM IN THE MY 2000 THROUGH 2001 M CLASS VEHICLES.SEVEN OF THE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE ACTIVATION WHILE DRIVING, WITH TWO OF…