NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 9 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55.

2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55, describing incidents dated March 15, 2007 to January 27, 2024.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 4 complaints
Steering 2 complaints
Wheels 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Of the 9 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 9 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11568459 · Filed January 29, 2024
While driving the vehicle the car would randomly lock up different wheels on the car jerking the steering wheel out of my hands. The first time I was on a freeway and thought I must have run over a puddle of oil and the antilock system was trying to keep the car stable, even though the steering…
ODI #11004151 · Filed July 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
ODI #10854402 · Filed April 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD NUMEROUS LEAKS AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS…

Read all 9 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE10-050: Brake lamp switch failure.
Closed May 4, 2011
- Recall 11V-208
Engineering Analysis EA08-009: BRAKE LINE CHAFE
Closed December 16, 2009
Preliminary Evaluation PE07-007: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION
Closed July 11, 2007

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

9 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55.

Service Brakes

ODI #11568459

Incident: January 27, 2024 · Filed: January 29, 2024

While driving the vehicle the car would randomly lock up different wheels on the car jerking the steering wheel out of my hands. The first time I was on a freeway and thought I must have run over a puddle of oil and the antilock system was trying to keep the car stable, even though the steering wheel was jerking from side to side. As it only last 10 terrifying seconds, I thought that would be the last time the car did that. The second time it happened was just getting off the freeway and the system kept locking up different wheels again, but this time it would not stop. I had to limp the car to an area where I could safely park it out of traffic and call a tow truck to take us home. Doing research on this it seems this is a common problem with this model of Mercedes as well as a few more models. It comes up in a simple Google search. I am grateful I was the person driving the car at the time and not my wife. This is her daily driving car and I really want to be able to trust the car for her to drive it again.

Service Brakes

ODI #11004151

Incident: July 9, 2017 · Filed: July 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Steering

ODI #10854402

Incident: March 31, 2016 · Filed: April 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD NUMEROUS LEAKS AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V121000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Wheels

ODI #10683338

Crash

Incident: November 20, 2013 · Filed: February 12, 2015

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55, DEFECTIVE SENSOR NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE THAT WHEN FUNCTIONING IS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT ROLL OVERS. UPDATED 02/12/15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOCKED UP AND HE GRABBED THE WHEEL TO PREVENT TO AVOID HITTING PARKED VEHICLES. HE STEERED LEFT, MAKING A U-TURN FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AVOIDING A COLLISION AND UPON OVER-COMPENSATING FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE, HE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND THE WAS STOPPED BY A HITTING A LIGHT POLE. *JB

Tires; Wheels

ODI #10679161

Crash

Incident: November 20, 2013 · Filed: March 9, 2015

2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML55. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOCKED UP, SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SENSOR DID NOT PREVENT THE ROLL OVER. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10439053

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 3, 2011 · Filed: December 8, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING BRAKING ISSUES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SOME HUGE BOULDER ROCKS AND WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED HARD ON GROUND, TIRES FIRST. . THE CONTACT WAS REPORTED AS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,836. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESP AND BAS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 03/16/12

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10370718

Incident: April 15, 2009 · Filed: December 15, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEN RELEASED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND HAD TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER AND WHEELS TO LOCK. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $3400 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HE HAD TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER IN HIS AREA AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10296899

Incident: December 8, 2009 · Filed: December 24, 2009

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING, FOG LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, CAN GET NO LIGHTS TO COME ON SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL PUT OUT ON MY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO CARFAX, YET WHEN I SPEAK TO ANYONE AT MERCEDES-BENZ, THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. *TR

Steering

ODI #10186579

Incident: March 15, 2007 · Filed: March 30, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TAKING THE 2001 MERCEDES ML55 WITH 72029 CURRENT MILEAGE FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Check your 2001 Mercedes Benz ML55 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz ML55 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN