Mercedes-Benz · ML-Class · 2003
3
Recalls
71
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class has 3 recalls and 71 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: steering (17 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Aug 31, 2026
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is steering with 17 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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 ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MEANS OF DEACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE DRIVER PUMPS THE BRAKES RATHER THAN APPLYING CONSISTENT PEDAL FORCE, THE LEVEL OF FORCE REQUIRED MAY BE UNUSUALLY HIGH.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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 TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
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.
Remedy Status
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 SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
The Floor Mats I received for my vehicle covered a portion of my accelerator pedal and would when up into the back above the pedal and to the right of it and would get caught and force my accelerator pedal to stay down. I told the company of their design flaw, and they said would...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE ...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEH...
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LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID, IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE HOSE CONNECTION TO THE RADIATOR DURING DRIVING AND WHILE STATIONERY. THIS ISSUE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED, I BELIEVE TWICE. DEALER REQUESTED $125 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. MB USA INFORMED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION, THAT THIS PROBLEM...
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ENGINE KEEPS GETTING OVER-HEATED EVEN AFTER A NEW ENGINE FAN HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, AFTER ITS REPLACEMENT I TOOK IT TO TWO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO RE-INSPECT AND MAKE ADJUSTMENT TO THEIR INSTALLMENT OF THE FAN BUT IT KEEPS GETTING OVERHEATED. I ALSO HAD A NEW WATER COOLANT TA...
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LOSS OF POWER STEERING DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO SUDDEN BREAK OF IDLER ARM PULLEY AND SUBSEQUENT SHREDDING OF BELT. PROBLEM IS THE PULLEY IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACKED IN TWO, LEAVING 1/2 THE PULLEY AND SHREDDING THE BELT. THIS OCCURRED AT DRIVING SPEED OF 50 MPH AND MILEAGE...
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MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK ONE DAY AND WHEN SHE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY STREET, THE YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION POINT STARTED TO FLASH AND ENGAGED THE BRAKES. MY WIFE QUICKLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND MADE HER WAY BACK INTO THE PA...
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TAKATA RECALL. POWER STEERING BRAKE ISSUE, POWER STEERING HOSE BECAME DETACHED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION AND RADIO DRAIN, CAR CUT OFF ON ME DURING DRIVING.
I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RESEVIOUR, AND HOSE AFTER LOOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFILLING WITH FLUID ALL THE CONTENTS RAN RIGHT OUT. I DO SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2008, BUT I DID NOT TAKE OWNERSHI...
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BAS LIGHT TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. THE GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK SO I PULLED OVER. I FEEL LIKE ITS A DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND PUTTING OTHER DRIVER IN DANGER SO I STOPPED DRIVING IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2000-2002 ML320 BUT ...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 71 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Mercedes-Benz models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 71 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class are steering (17 reports), seats (15 reports), engine and engine cooling (4 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.