1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 6%of 133 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 142,900miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320, 6% of the 133 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 142,900 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I put my seat belt (s/b) on and started the ignition. A loud bang, I was jerked back into my seat by the s/b and was trapped. White smoke escaped where the s/b comes out of the frame. The srs light was illuminated. I turned the car off, unbuckled the s/b, which didn't retract back into the feed, got out of the car and waited for the smoke to dissipate. I got back into the car, put my s/b on, which was stuck and would not adjust. I called mb dealership to report incid and make apt for car to be chkd. 8-30-07 I brought car into mb of reno, nv. …”
NHTSA complaint #10203560, filed 2007-09, 97,433 miles“Went to start my car seat belt blew up ,smoke coming out now will not work will not retract .how can mercedes make such a dangerous product and not be be sued for such a crappy dangerous product.this not a isolated or freak occurance have read numerous similar on line.”
NHTSA complaint #10716921, filed 2015-05, 170,549 miles“Failure of front driver's seatbelt assembly; a gunshot type noise and smoke occurred coming out of the seatbelt retractor area; seatbelt retractor broke causing the seatbelt to keep retracting tightening on person and the release on the seatbelt would not release causing injury; the event occurred within one minute of turning on car in parked position and as soon as seatbelt was put in the buckle.”
NHTSA complaint #10226038, filed 2008-04, 142,900 miles“After buckling the seat belt, the shoulder harness on the drivers side exploded. The harness yanjed me back against the seat burning my shoulder and the car filled with smoke. The car is a 1998 mercedes benz ML320. If I had been on the road when this happened, it would have caused an accident. Are there any other reports of this happening?”
NHTSA complaint #10028813, filed 2003-07“The air bag and safety resraint system did not operate during my accident. Several months after my accident I recieved a recall on my seat belts. The company that repaired my vehicle told me the air bag had not been connected. No warnings were given until after the accident that there was a problem with the air bag system.”
NHTSA complaint #735008, filed 2000-10Seat belts: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320
31 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology