1999 Mercedes Benz M Class problems

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DRIVING ON TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEAR NYC AND SLOWED DOWN TO APPROX 15 MPH FOR TOLL BOOTH AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE TOLLS. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LOUD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND I ALMOST CRASHED TRYING TO PULL OVER AS THE EZ-PASS IS ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER I GOT OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER ROTOR/CALIPER WAS ALMOST GLOWING AND ERUPTING WITH SMOKE, THE 3 OTHER BRAKES LOOKED FINE. THE SMOKE DID NOT STOP FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES AND IT SMELLED ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE EVEN STANDING 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WHERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, THEY SAID IT SEEMED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AFTER BRINGING IT TO ANOTHER SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY YAW RATE SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10424020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING ON TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEAR NYC AND SLOWED DOWN TO APPROX 15 MPH FOR TOLL BOOTH AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE TOLLS. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LOUD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND I ALMOST CRASHED TRYING TO PULL OVER AS THE EZ-PASS IS ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER I GOT OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER ROTOR/CALIPER WAS ALMOST GLOWING AND ERUPTING WITH SMOKE, THE 3 OTHER BRAKES LOOKED FINE. THE SMOKE DID NOT STOP FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES AND IT SMELLED ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE EVEN STANDING 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WHERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, THEY SAID IT SEEMED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AFTER BRINGING IT TO ANOTHER SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY YAW RATE SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10424020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V328000. SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL. SEAT BELT BUCKLE EVEN AFTER THE RECALL INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE, THE CONNECTION IN BETWEEN METAL SPRING AND PLASTIC IS UNSAFE AND UNSAFE, IT IS MADE OUT OF CHEAP PLASTIC, EVENTUALLY PLASTIC WILL FAIL AND SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH. IT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES IN A CRASH OR HARD STOP, MERCEDES IS NOT OFFERING ANY WARRANTY OR REPLACEMENT I WAS KICKED OUT OF THE DEALER WHEN I COMPLAINED, THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL THE POLICE ON ME.

NHTSA complaint #10373917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V328000. SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL. SEAT BELT BUCKLE EVEN AFTER THE RECALL INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE, THE CONNECTION IN BETWEEN METAL SPRING AND PLASTIC IS UNSAFE AND UNSAFE, IT IS MADE OUT OF CHEAP PLASTIC, EVENTUALLY PLASTIC WILL FAIL AND SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH. IT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES IN A CRASH OR HARD STOP, MERCEDES IS NOT OFFERING ANY WARRANTY OR REPLACEMENT I WAS KICKED OUT OF THE DEALER WHEN I COMPLAINED, THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL THE POLICE ON ME.

NHTSA complaint #10373917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH SHOWED A MARGINAL PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANAGER THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" WAS ILLUMINATED. HE SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME PLUGS MISFIRING, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE CAR STALLING. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SAY IT RUNS LIKE A TOP. WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED SO IT WAS DECIDED THAT A TECHNICIAN WOULD DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT STALLED AGAIN. THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ONE WEEK WITH NO STALLING. WE ARE AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO PROCEDE WITH THIS ISSUE. WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE WE FEAR IT WILL STOP AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATHS.

NHTSA complaint #10360111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

TIRE ALMOST NO TREAD AFTER 31,000 MILES WARRANTY FOR 65,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10310206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHEN TRYING TO TURN MY VEHICLE FROM A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SO HARD TO TURN. THE CAR WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND I TOWED IT TO MY NEAREST SERVICE STATION. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP WERE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING GOOD NOW. LATER I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN 1999 MERCEDES ML 320 AND FOUND RECALL CAMPAIGN DETAILS OF THIS ISSUE IN NHTSA WEBSITE. BUT WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES USA TO GET A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COST, THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR A STRANGE REASON. I AM STILL FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE WITH THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10292555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

1999 ML 320 BEGAN JERKING ON MEDIUM GRADES. JERKING WAS REPORTED TO KNOXVILLE TN. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. THEY REPORTED THE TRANSFER CASE IS FAILING. THEY INDICATED THAT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE ON AN ML 320. I HAD THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4300.00.

NHTSA complaint #10277218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

1999 ML 320 BEGAN JERKING ON MEDIUM GRADES. JERKING WAS REPORTED TO KNOXVILLE TN. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. THEY REPORTED THE TRANSFER CASE IS FAILING. THEY INDICATED THAT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE ON AN ML 320. I HAD THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4300.00.

NHTSA complaint #10277218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

MY CAR STOPPED STEERING. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13,2008. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MEINEKE SHOP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT MY HOSE AND CLAMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO MY CLOSEST MERECEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER IN GREENWICH, CT THE NEXT WEEK. THEY COMPLETED THE REPAIR. I SUBMITTED MY MEINEKE BILL OF $50.35 FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO MY SALESMAN, PHIL BOUTALL. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GET THE REFUND IN A FEW DAYS. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER 3 MONTHS. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO MR BOUTALL AND SPOKE TO HIM PERSONALLY AS WELL AS LEFT MESSAGES. BESIDES EMPTY PROMISES AND UNRETURNED VOICE MAILS I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10261954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER EXERTED MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING;HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST;HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA complaint #10255736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

MY 1999 ML 320'S ENGINE RECENTLY (27 AND 29 SEPT 05) INSTANTANEOUSLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING-NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!. GOOD WX, NO RAIN, DRY, DAYTIME. IT RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINS. TRAFFIC WENT AROUND ME. ML IS WELL MAINTAINED,VEHICLE HAS 117K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE (NO CODES). FUEL PUMP CHECKED OK. AT MY REQUEST, THE MECH CHANGED OUT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) ON 30 SEPT. COST TO REPAIR $251.96. ML320 HAS RUN FINE SO FAR (7OCT). I FEEL THAT THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE (CPS) WHILE DRIVING IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS TYPE OF ML 320 ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A FAILED CPS-PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10139067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1999 ML 320'S ENGINE RECENTLY (27 AND 29 SEPT 05) INSTANTANEOUSLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING-NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!. GOOD WX, NO RAIN, DRY, DAYTIME. IT RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINS. TRAFFIC WENT AROUND ME. ML IS WELL MAINTAINED,VEHICLE HAS 117K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE (NO CODES). FUEL PUMP CHECKED OK. AT MY REQUEST, THE MECH CHANGED OUT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) ON 30 SEPT. COST TO REPAIR $251.96. ML320 HAS RUN FINE SO FAR (7OCT). I FEEL THAT THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE (CPS) WHILE DRIVING IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS TYPE OF ML 320 ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A FAILED CPS-PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10139067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

I WAS DRIVING ACROSS THE VERRAZANO NARROWS BRIDGE FROM BROOKLYN TO STATEN ISLAND. JUST PAST THE TOLLS, MY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED, CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SIZES AND STOPPING THE ENGINE. CONSEQUENTLY, I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING BECAME VERY HARD. I WAS MORE-OR-LESS POINTING TO AN SHOULDER/EMBANKMENT BETWEEN THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND THE EXIT IMMEDIATELY PAST THE TOLLS. I COASTED TO THAT EMBANKMENT AND USED ITS SLOPE IN PART TO HELP STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO RAY CATENA MERCEDES IN EDISON, NJ. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THERE (MR. HESSERT) THAT THIS FAILURE WAS PART OF A "CAMPAIGN" AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED ALONG WITH ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE "FOR FREE" BY MERCEDES. I ASKED "SINCE WHEN" WAS THIS CAMPAIGN IN EFFECT, THEY STATED SINCE APRIL OF 2005. I ASKED WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS AS I AM THE REGISTERED OWNER. WE BOTH TOGETHER THEN CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO 'NOTICE' AND THAT THIS WAS NOT A FORMAL RECALL. HAD THIS FAILURE HAPPENED 40 MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY, OR 10 MINUTES LATER WHEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GOETHALS BRIDGE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE VERY LEAST SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT DEAD NOT TO MENTION ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD INEVITABLY BEEN INVOLVED. I AM TOLD THAT THE _DEFECTIVE_ HARMONIC BALANCER WILL BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE "UPPER OIL PAN" AS THAT PART WAS DAMAGED DURING THE FAILURE. I WILL REQUEST THAT THESE PARTS BE RETAINED.

NHTSA complaint #10134187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM AND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR, THE CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN I HAD A HOSE DISCONNECT AND LOST POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE RECALL ON THE HOSE CLOAMP AND I PAID THE TOWING AND REPAIRS MYSELF. NOW I HAVE HAD A MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND ON AUGUST 5TH, MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITIONING, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. APPARENTLY THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND IT SHREDDED ONE OF THE MAJOR BELTS, WHICH DAMAGED THE OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED 20 MILES TO THE DEALER. THE BILL IS GOING TO BE $3000. I SAW A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS MAY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10069784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM AND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR, THE CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN I HAD A HOSE DISCONNECT AND LOST POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE RECALL ON THE HOSE CLOAMP AND I PAID THE TOWING AND REPAIRS MYSELF. NOW I HAVE HAD A MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND ON AUGUST 5TH, MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITIONING, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. APPARENTLY THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND IT SHREDDED ONE OF THE MAJOR BELTS, WHICH DAMAGED THE OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED 20 MILES TO THE DEALER. THE BILL IS GOING TO BE $3000. I SAW A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS MAY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10069784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM AND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR, THE CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN I HAD A HOSE DISCONNECT AND LOST POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE RECALL ON THE HOSE CLOAMP AND I PAID THE TOWING AND REPAIRS MYSELF. NOW I HAVE HAD A MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND ON AUGUST 5TH, MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITIONING, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. APPARENTLY THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND IT SHREDDED ONE OF THE MAJOR BELTS, WHICH DAMAGED THE OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED 20 MILES TO THE DEALER. THE BILL IS GOING TO BE $3000. I SAW A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS MAY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10069784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10045211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

FIRST OCCURANCE WAS LEAKAGE 2 MONTHS PRIOR, CLAMP TIGHTENED BY DEALER. 2ND OCCURENCE ON REPORTED DATE, STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF, LOST ALL FLUID AND POWER STEERING ASSIST.

NHTSA complaint #10007936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMPS. BASED ON PUBLISHED COMMENTS BY INDIVIDUALS ON VARIOUS INTERNET CHAT GROUPS FOR THIS TRUCK REGARDING HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS AND FAILURES OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE, I CHECK MY HOSES AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER HOSE WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF. THE CLAMP, WHICH WAS LOOSE, WAS RETIGHTENED.

NHTSA complaint #10007841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BATTERY FAILED, REPLACED, OZ SENSOR FAILED REPLACE 3 TIMES, FUEL SYSTEM PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED

NHTSA complaint #9001677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BATTERY FAILED, REPLACED, OZ SENSOR FAILED REPLACE 3 TIMES, FUEL SYSTEM PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED

NHTSA complaint #9001677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BATTERY FAILED, REPLACED, OZ SENSOR FAILED REPLACE 3 TIMES, FUEL SYSTEM PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED

NHTSA complaint #9001677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPAIRED FOUR TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BATTERY FAILED, REPLACED, OZ SENSOR FAILED REPLACE 3 TIMES, FUEL SYSTEM PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED

NHTSA complaint #9001677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.