1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS IS IN REGARD TO NHTSA ID #10033607, ALSO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CAMPAIGN #2009100002 DATED JAN 2010, FOR MODEL 163. MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED BY ABOVE MERCEDES SERVICE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT'S V-6 MODEL, BUT SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN AND ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM AREA SHOWING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FUEL LINE AND LESS SO TO BRAKE LINE. THE PHOTOS SHOWING SEVERE CHAFING BETWEEN FUEL LINE & BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW MASTER CYLINDER. THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN ONLY COVERS 8 CYLINDER MODELS, BUT MY 6 CYLINDER MODEL IS SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME CHAFING AT THE SAME AREA. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM, BUT JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE LAST FEW DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10995430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE MERCEDES ML320 AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR (NO BRAKES) UNTIL A SECOND AND THIRD TRY.

NHTSA complaint #10267687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE COMPUTER LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT ON A TEST DRIVE CALIPER LOCKED UP. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING VEHICLE WAS STARTING IN THIRD GEAR, INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT IN TRAFFIC. DEALER/MECHANIC EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10109044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE COMPUTER LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT ON A TEST DRIVE CALIPER LOCKED UP. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING VEHICLE WAS STARTING IN THIRD GEAR, INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT IN TRAFFIC. DEALER/MECHANIC EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10109044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY/RUN OUT OF FUEL/ENGINE QUITS LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING MAY LEAD TO CRASH/DEFECT

NHTSA complaint #10074445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *JB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10048186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

BASED ON A DEALER RECCOMENDATION, I HAVE BECOME AWARE THE MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AND UNPUBLICISED "CAMPAIGN" TO ADVISE OWNERS OF CERTIAN OF THE ML SERIES SUVS OF THE DESIREABILITY OF "UPGRADING", AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING FILTERS AND LINES. THIS IS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP FAILURES, ASCRIBED BY MERCEDES TO "POOR QUALITY U.S. FUEL" THESE FAILURES HAVE THE EFFECT OF IMMOBILIZING THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THESE UNEXPECTED STOPPAGES CN HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY IMPLICATIONS IF THEY OCCUR IN A MOVING TRAFFIC FLOW SITUATION. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DIRECTLY INFORMED OWNERS AND TAKES THE POSITION THAT IT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, ASCRIBABLE TO FAULTY DESIGN OR MATERIALS THAT CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10030378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BASED ON A DEALER RECCOMENDATION, I HAVE BECOME AWARE THE MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AND UNPUBLICISED "CAMPAIGN" TO ADVISE OWNERS OF CERTIAN OF THE ML SERIES SUVS OF THE DESIREABILITY OF "UPGRADING", AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING FILTERS AND LINES. THIS IS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP FAILURES, ASCRIBED BY MERCEDES TO "POOR QUALITY U.S. FUEL" THESE FAILURES HAVE THE EFFECT OF IMMOBILIZING THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THESE UNEXPECTED STOPPAGES CN HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY IMPLICATIONS IF THEY OCCUR IN A MOVING TRAFFIC FLOW SITUATION. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DIRECTLY INFORMED OWNERS AND TAKES THE POSITION THAT IT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, ASCRIBABLE TO FAULTY DESIGN OR MATERIALS THAT CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10030378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

1.) BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACING AFTER 10,000 MILES. 2.) FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT REQUIRES NEWLY DESIGNED PART AND ADDITIONAL HOSES, CLAMPS ETC TOTALING OVER $300. BECAUSE PREVIOUS PART CAUSES FUEL LEAKS(?) AND NOT AVAILABLE. SHOULDN'T MB PAY FOR PART OF THIS?? *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10009743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CONSUMER STATES FUEL PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #562345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

VEHICLE WAS SHUTTING OFF AND BURNING A LOT OF GAS. CONSUMER WAS GOING ON A TRIP, AND DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE THE ROAD TRIP. CONSUMER WAS 100 MILES AWAY, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. CAUSE STILL CANNOT BE FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #888502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

WIRES ON THE FUEL SENDING UNITS CORRODE IN GASOLINE AND SEND FALSE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO THE FUEL GAUGE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #553625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #864570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

NOTICED POOR GAS MILEAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND REPLACED FUEL SENDING UNIT. SECOND TIME REPLACED A FUEL PUMP . ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #851807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.