2000 Mercedes Benz M Class problems

SERVICE BRAKES

AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AS OFF THE FROM RIGHT BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED ON ITS OWN. TURNED THE ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) OFF AND PROCEEDED AND THE EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN, CAR JERKED TO LEFT AND HEADED TO DITCH BUT WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME WITH STEERING WHEEL. IT APPEARS A CAR SYSTEM FAILED CRASH RATHER THAN FAIL SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10459727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AS OFF THE FROM RIGHT BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED ON ITS OWN. TURNED THE ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) OFF AND PROCEEDED AND THE EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN, CAR JERKED TO LEFT AND HEADED TO DITCH BUT WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME WITH STEERING WHEEL. IT APPEARS A CAR SYSTEM FAILED CRASH RATHER THAN FAIL SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10459727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL IN ACTIVATION. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK, WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT RESUMED IN OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V208000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL). THE RECALL PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA complaint #10407062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 ML320 MERCEDES, THE CAR SUDDENLY APPLIES BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BAS/ESP WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE MERCEDES ADDRESS THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT WILL AMAZE YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS HORRIFYING ORDEAL. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10380051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 ML320 MERCEDES, THE CAR SUDDENLY APPLIES BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BAS/ESP WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE MERCEDES ADDRESS THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT WILL AMAZE YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS HORRIFYING ORDEAL. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10380051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 430 AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS BEING DISPLAYED IT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE THEN SKIDDED, STOPPED, SKIDDED AGAIN AND STOPPED. THIS WENT ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 45-60 SECONDS THEN THE BAS ESP MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN THREE ACCIDENTS WHICH ALL COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STOPS COMPLETELY, IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN THEN STOP, IT STOPS. I WAS ADVISED TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. I DID BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH OR WITHIN MY ABS SYSTEM BECAUSE EVEN IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY ABS SYSTEM THE CAR SHOULD NOT ABRUPTLY STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING IN REVERSE ORDER BECAUSE THE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AFTER THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS. THE ABRUPT STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING DRIVEN IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE A FATALITY OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. I HAVE MY OLD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT DO NOT HAVE THE TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10348202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 430 AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS BEING DISPLAYED IT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE THEN SKIDDED, STOPPED, SKIDDED AGAIN AND STOPPED. THIS WENT ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 45-60 SECONDS THEN THE BAS ESP MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN THREE ACCIDENTS WHICH ALL COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STOPS COMPLETELY, IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN THEN STOP, IT STOPS. I WAS ADVISED TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. I DID BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH OR WITHIN MY ABS SYSTEM BECAUSE EVEN IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY ABS SYSTEM THE CAR SHOULD NOT ABRUPTLY STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING IN REVERSE ORDER BECAUSE THE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AFTER THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS. THE ABRUPT STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING DRIVEN IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE A FATALITY OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. I HAVE MY OLD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT DO NOT HAVE THE TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10348202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAN TAKE OVER THROTTLE AND BRAKING. VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY APPLY BRAKES TO VARIOUS WHEELS. IT WILL PITCH THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT AND REQUIRE DRIVER TO COUNTER STEER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO WARNING ON WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT OR CAUSE VEHICLE TO SPIN. MERCEDES DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ADVISE ME IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR AND IT IS REPLACE AT OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $600. I COMPLAINT THAT IT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. SERVICE ADVISOR SIMPLY REPLIED " YES IT IS, YOU SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. "

NHTSA complaint #10293268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAN TAKE OVER THROTTLE AND BRAKING. VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY APPLY BRAKES TO VARIOUS WHEELS. IT WILL PITCH THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT AND REQUIRE DRIVER TO COUNTER STEER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO WARNING ON WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT OR CAUSE VEHICLE TO SPIN. MERCEDES DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ADVISE ME IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR AND IT IS REPLACE AT OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $600. I COMPLAINT THAT IT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. SERVICE ADVISOR SIMPLY REPLIED " YES IT IS, YOU SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. "

NHTSA complaint #10293268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2000 ML-CLASS MERCEDES ML55 LEAKING BRAKE LINE DUE TO CHAFFING AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION OF 52,000 ML-CLASS MERCEDES SUV'S. THE BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS PUMP SUFFERS EVENTUAL FAILURE DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST A POORLY POSITIONED FUEL LINE. SUFFERED NEAR TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKING SYSTEM THIS MORNING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALL PARTS REMOVED, AND A FAILURE ASSESSMENT PROVIDED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THE WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER, THEREBY ENSURING OBJECTIVITY OF THE DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA complaint #10290854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, WHEN COMING TO A TRAFFIC STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2000 MERCEDES ML55 WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER REAPPLYING THE BRAKE AND PUSHING VERY HARD. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW, PUT SOME FLUID IN AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO WORK. THE BRAKES WERE VERY SOFT. THE NEXT DAY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MERCEDES DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBED THROUGH AND LEAKING. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNINGS OF ANY KIND OCCURRED BEFORE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10270290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING). AFTER THE REPAIR, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK, HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK, BUT THEY NEVER DID. ON MARCH 26, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE BELTS AND CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10263170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THIS COMPLAINT ARISES OUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (MOST RECENT) INVOLVING A DEFECTIVE HOSE AND CLAMP ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING. I AM WAITING TO HAVE THOSE ITEMS INSTALLED ON MY 2000 MERCEDES ML55 WHEN THE PARTS ARE OBTAINED BY MY DEALER, MBL OF TYSON'S CORNER, VA, WHICH SOLICITED ME TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE AND I TRIED TO DO SO BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK. MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH MERCEDES'S REFUSAL TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FACT THAT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000, IT HAS HAD THREE OR FOUR POWER STEERING PUMPS TO GO BAD AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IN YOUR RECALL NOTICE, YOU STATE THAT THE DEFECTIVE HOSE AND CLAMP "ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING>" SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2000, IT WILL NOT HAVE HAD A NON-DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AS BEST I CAN DETERMINE FROM PAPER IN MY POSSESSION, THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. I SUPPOSE THAT MERCEDES COULD ARGUE THAT FOUR PUMPS REPRESENTS NORMAL WEAR-AND-TEAR, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS SOME CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DEFECTIVE HOSE AND CLAMP AND THE NEED TO REPLACE MULTIPLE PUMPS. THE PUMP IS A BIG-TICKET ITEM--MORE THAN $1,200 EACH TO BUY AND HAVE INSTALLED. IT STRIKES ME AS UNLIKELY IN THE EXTREME THAT THE DEFECTIVE HOSE AND CLAMP DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FAILURE OF AT LEAST THREE POWER STEERING PUMPS OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10252349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

POWER STEERING LEAKING LOSS OF STEERING TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. ADVISE NOT AWARE OF RECALL. CAR WAS REPAIRED IN 2003 DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE UNDER ANOTHER RECALL. FINALLY REPLACE HOSE, BUT POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10250823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THIS FAILURE IS BEST DESCRIBED IN THIS INVESTIGATION HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/DEFECT/RESULTS.CFM?ACTION_NUMBER=PE07007&SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&SUMMARY=TRUE I HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND MERCEDES BENZ DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LED UP TO THIS FAILURE. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME IN A PARKING LOT WHILE PULLING OUT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. 2-3 MONTHS LATER, THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN BUT THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS GOING 60 WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BUT MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT COMPLYING.

NHTSA complaint #10237261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY (WIFE AND 2 KIDS) ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING FROM AN FAMILY OUTING. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CARS BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CAR ON THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME. THE CAR BRAKING ON ITS OWN DID NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER REMOVING OUR HEARTS FROM OUR THROATS AND CHANGING OUR SOILED UNDERGARMENTS WE DECIDED TO HEAD STRAIGHT HOME 45 MILES AWAY. THIS SAME THING OCCURRED ABOUT 3 TIMES DURING OUR TRIP BACK HOME. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ALLOW DOT INSPECTORS TO DRIVE THE CAR TO ASSIST YOUR INVESTIGATION. (I RECOMMEND YOU BRING A CHANGE OF UNDERWEAR.).

NHTSA complaint #10228166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY (WIFE AND 2 KIDS) ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING FROM AN FAMILY OUTING. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CARS BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CAR ON THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME. THE CAR BRAKING ON ITS OWN DID NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER REMOVING OUR HEARTS FROM OUR THROATS AND CHANGING OUR SOILED UNDERGARMENTS WE DECIDED TO HEAD STRAIGHT HOME 45 MILES AWAY. THIS SAME THING OCCURRED ABOUT 3 TIMES DURING OUR TRIP BACK HOME. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ALLOW DOT INSPECTORS TO DRIVE THE CAR TO ASSIST YOUR INVESTIGATION. (I RECOMMEND YOU BRING A CHANGE OF UNDERWEAR.).

NHTSA complaint #10228166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THE ML320 THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE 2002, BUT NOT THE ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I COMPLAINED FROM A COUPLE OF MONTHS INTO BUYING THIS VEHICLE THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE. THE VEHICLE BRAKES GOES INTO A LOCKED POSITION IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP, MAN HOLE, OR IF IT RAINS THE SUV SKIDS AS IF YOU ARE LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BAS ESP LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, WHICH WARNS YOU THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT IS ON AS I AM COMPLAINING NOW. I HAVE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION COMPLAINED OVER THE PHONE WITH THIS ISSUE AND MANY MORE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE A SWITCH I BELIEVE MAYBE IN 20002. THE EPS HAVE COME ON EVEN AFTER THAT. I AM VERY FEARFUL WHEN IT COMES THE BRAKING ESPECIALLY IN RAIN OR ICE. I HAVE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, I WILL NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! MERCEDES BENZ WOULD NOT PURCHASE VEHICLE BACK BUT OFFER TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH REPAIRS. *JB(... YES THE BRAKES LOCK WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKES, ALMOST SKID WITHOUT STOPPING VECHICLE...ESPECIALLY SCARY IN RAIN OR RUNNING OVER A MANHOLE COVER. IT VERY WEIRD.....BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT COME ON OFTEN BAS LIGHT)*SMCH

NHTSA complaint #10199737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

WHILE DRIVING, SOME TEA SPILLED ONTO MY SHIFTER. MOMENTS LATER WHILE MERGING INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. I HAD TO SWERVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS MINOR SPILLAGE OF HERBAL TEA DISTORTED MY SHIFTER RESULTING IN $788.25 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I WANT TO PETITION NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE WHAT I CONSIDER A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY 2000 MERCEDES ML320. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED?

NHTSA complaint #10181957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

RUST HAS FORMED ON BOTH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE UPPER RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE FENDERS WHERE FENDER BOLTS APPARENTLY ARE USED ON THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER TO CONNECT THE LOWER FENDER TO THE UPPER FENDER. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN NOTICED ON SEVERAL OTHER 2000 AND 2001 ML'S BASED ON MY VISUAL EXAMINATION OF SUCH VEHICLES AT SEVERAL LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS. M-B DEALER BODY SHOP MANAGER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED SEEING THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND TYPE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10169857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

BAS/ESP LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKES ENGAGE, STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT...HAPPENS AT SPEEDS 60 MPH AND HIGHER; CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, NO WARNING--I HAVE USED TWO CATEGORY OPTIONS ON THE FORM, BUT I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHICH OPTIONS TO CHOOSE TO DESCRIBE THE ABOVE PROBLEM...SUV HAS DONE THIS ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVING OVER AND OVER FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS....EACH TIME THE DEALER THINKS THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM....

NHTSA complaint #10155050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

BAS/ESP LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKES ENGAGE, STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT...HAPPENS AT SPEEDS 60 MPH AND HIGHER; CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, NO WARNING--I HAVE USED TWO CATEGORY OPTIONS ON THE FORM, BUT I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHICH OPTIONS TO CHOOSE TO DESCRIBE THE ABOVE PROBLEM...SUV HAS DONE THIS ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVING OVER AND OVER FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS....EACH TIME THE DEALER THINKS THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM....

NHTSA complaint #10155050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 ML 320 MADE BY MERCEDES. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO A SAFE PLACE AND STOP THE CAR SAFELY. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE. SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT START, IT WAS TOWED TO SACRAMENTO MERCEDES. THE SECOND, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT, ISSUE IS THE WAY THE DEALER INSISTED ON DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, ?THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED?. AFTER READING WHAT THE DEALER WROTE IN THEIR MAINTENANCE SYSTEM I TOLD THE DEALER THEY MUST HAVE MISHEARD ME. I REPEATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THE DEALER THEN SAID THAT WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AT THAT TIME. SINCE I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I CANNOT VERIFY WHETHER THEY STARTED THE CAR, OR NOT, AND IF IT STARTED WHETHER THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, OR NOT. I TOLD THE DEALER THEY COULD DOCUMENT THAT THEY OBSERVED A WARNING LIGHT, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT ERRONEOUSLY DOCUMENT THAT I STATED THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HOWEVER, WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE DOCUMENTATION CONTAINED BOTH STATEMENTS. I ASKED THEM TO REMOVE THE PORTION THAT I HAD STATED THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ?TRAINED? TO FALSELY REPORT THESE PROBLEMS, PERHAPS TO AVOID PROBLEMS BEING BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA. I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT AND SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A CRANK-ANGLE SENSOR. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS PAYING 50% OF THE COST AND THE ?FACTORY? WAS TAKING CARE OF THE OTHER 50%.

NHTSA complaint #10114385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10091246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.