2003 Acura MDX vs 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Acura MDX | 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 206 | 22 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 189 | 53 |
| Investigations | 5 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 15 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 109,773 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Mercedes-Benz ML320 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 104 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4 |
| Engine | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 9 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
2003 Acura MDX
2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320
Compare all Acura MDX vs Mercedes-Benz ML320 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.