2002 Mercedes-Benz 320 Owner Complaints

WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING, THE SENSOR PANEL FLASH FOR A SECOND, THEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO AN EXPERIENCED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, THEY CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER SHUTDOWN BY DESIGN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGIJNG. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES -BENZ AT MONTVALE, NJ, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANY INVESTIGATION OR FOLLOW-UP. SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 12/31/2012 ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR WAS REPORTED ON YOUR WEBSITE DATED MARCH 17, 2013 BY ANOTHER DRIVER . *TR

NHTSA ID

10586611

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

61,526 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT POWER ADJUSTMENT MODULE SHORTED, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING A NO-START CONDITION. WHILE THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC, IT EASILY COULD HAVE, CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD FOR MYSELF, ANY PASSENGER OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT MODULE HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED SO THERE IS NO LONGER THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE SEAT AND OBTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE AIRBAG OR TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE SEAT AND ALLOW A CHILD SEAT TO FIT AS DESIGNED IN THE REAR SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512679

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

124,796 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ 320. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. ONE MONTH LATER, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE WENT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS COMPLETELY DRY AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS), WHICH REQUESTED THAT SHE BRING HER VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIR. THE FIRST REPAIR MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENTLY PREVENTED A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THAT A NEW PUMP WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PUMP UNLESS IT WAS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALER CREATED THE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE; THEREFORE, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE NEW PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PUMP WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, SO THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PUMP REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,631.

NHTSA ID

10262947

Incident

Feb 21, 2009

Mileage

47,631 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320. WHILE PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY, AFTER SEVERE RAIN, WATER LEAKED APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE OPENINGS OF THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR INTERIOR DOORS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED ADDITIONAL POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWERING STEERING FLUID LEVEL WAS BEING MONITORED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10245518

Incident

Oct 9, 2008

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BURNED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OIL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10119629

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON RAINY DAYS THE VISIBILITY WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT. *AK THERE WAS A FAILURE IN COMPUTER CHIPS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED WITH THE POOR VISIBILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD, HORN FAILURE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT FAILURE, STALLING, CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING, INOPERATIVE WASHER JETS, BROKEN GLOVE BOX, NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, LOUD WHINING NOISE FORM UNDER THE SEAT, AND A WHIRRING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER VENTS. *SC

NHTSA ID

10099406

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

Mileage

1,088 mi

I WAS DRIVING CAR WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI TOURING TIRES (SIZE 205/65R16) AT SPEED OF ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR. SUDDENLY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW UP. ON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE AND SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAD BLOWN UP. CONTINENTAL INDICATED THAT CAUSE OF THE BLOW OUT WAS UNDETERMINED AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10079044

Incident

Jun 12, 2004

Mileage

7,500 mi

SEAT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE PRESET POSITION WITH KEY ACTIVATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050786

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S WIPER BLADES, SEAT SETTINGS, STEERING PUMP. *MR DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID

10029389

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

SPONTANEOUS RUPTURE OF CONTINENTAL RADIAL TIRE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008238

Incident

Feb 17, 2003

2ND CAR, SAME COMPLAINTS. FIRST CAR WAS ADDMITTED TO BE A LEMON BY DEALER. THEY GAVE ME A NEW VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE OK BUT, NEW CAR HAS SAME PROBLEMS. WINDOWS DO NOT STAY UP WHEN YOU PRESS BUTTON FOR THEM TO CLOSE. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON BOTH CARS HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED AND TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING CAR ON FREEWAY. LIGHTS, GAUGES, SIGNALS, EVERYTHING WENT OUT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! REPAETED PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS. HAS BEEN WITNESSED BY TECHNICIANS AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING WORSE. I TOOK THE FIRST CAR IN 14 TIMES BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN 5 TIMES, HAD ATTORNEY WRITE LETTERS, AND HAVE TOLD MANAGER DWANE SANDERS OF MY PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND TO ANYONE ON MY END OF THINGS. PLEASE HELP ASAP!!! MR

NHTSA ID

768453

Incident

May 1, 2002