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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2000–2003

Mercedes-Benz ML55 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 13 owner complaints for the Mercedes-Benz ML55, covering model years 2000 to 2003. The 2001 model year drew the most complaints (9), and Service Brakes is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mercedes-Benz ML55 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 13 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 4 model years with data (2000–2003)
  • most complaints: 2001 (9 for that model year)
  • top component: Service Brakes (4 complaints)
  • latest recall 01V290000 (reported Sep 10, 2001)
  • 3 complaints reporting a crash (23.1%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (7.7%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints by model year

4 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2001 model year has the most complaints: 9 of 13, or 69.2%. Next come 2002 (2) and 2000 (1). The fewest are for 2003, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mercedes-Benz ML55 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2000–2003Column chart of 13 complaints across 4 model years. The highest is 2001 with 9. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2000: 1 complaint120002001: 9 complaints920012002: 2 complaints220022003: 1 complaint12003
Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200010000
200193010
200220000
200310000
All model years133010

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mercedes-Benz ML55 components

top 9 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes is the component named most often, in 4 complaints (30.8% of all 13), followed by Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3) and Steering (2).

Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints (top 9)
Components named most often in Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints (top 9)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Service Brakes430.8%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic323.1%
Steering215.4%
Wheels215.4%
Electrical System17.7%
Engine17.7%
Exterior Lighting17.7%
Tires17.7%
Vehicle Speed Control17.7%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mercedes-Benz ML55 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name ML55, newest first. The only campaign, 01V290000, covers model year 2002.

  • 1 recall campaign
Mercedes-Benz ML55 recall campaigns covering each model year
2002: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 01V290000

    Reported

    Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Arm

    Model year 2002

    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.

    Filed by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mercedes-Benz ML55 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz ML55 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Mercedes-Benz ML55, covering model years 2000 to 2003. The campaign, 01V290000, was reported on September 10, 2001 and is filed under “Suspension”.

Which Mercedes-Benz ML55 model year has the most complaints?

The 2001 model year, with 9 of the 13 complaints in NHTSA’s file (69.2%). The next are 2002 (2) and 2000 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaint?

Service Brakes is the component named most often: 4 complaints, or 30.8% of all 13. Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3) and Steering (2) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mercedes-Benz ML55?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

How many Mercedes-Benz ML55 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 13 complaints, 3 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mercedes-Benz models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder with every Mercedes-Benz model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Mercedes-Benz models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.