RoadVitals

1998 Mercedes-Benz M Class

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Oct 18, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Sep 17, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz M Class, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and powertrain (other) categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure233.3%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08V465000

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

Sep 17, 2008
125,228 units potentially affected
The defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
The risk: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2003040005View on NHTSA.gov
03V121000

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

Mar 27, 2003
211,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
The risk: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2003-040005View on NHTSA.gov
99V328000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Nov 22, 1999
85,970 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. IF THE PLASTIC COVER IS LOOSE DURING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUCKLE TONGUE TO THE LATCH MECHANISM, THE BUCKLE COULD UNLATCH.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IF EITHER THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ08002ClosedRecall Query

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

Opened Mar 11, 2008
Closed Sep 17, 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE AND CLAMP IN ALL VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL REMEDY FOR 03V-121 AND WHICH HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SUBSEQUENT REPAIR TO INSTALL A REVISED HOSE AND CLAMP.APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PROCEDURE AND PARTS RETURNED FOR SUBSEQUENT SERVICE FOR LEAKAGE FROM THE HOSE FITTING AND, IN APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT OF THESE VEHICLES, COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE HOSE FROM THE COOLER.A REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR 03V-121, WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE OLD HOSE AND CLAMP WITH MODIFIED PARTS, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATES OF RETURN REPAIRS.MBUSA WILL APPLY THE REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FROM 03V-121 TO THE VEHICLES COVERED UNDER 08V-465.ACCORDINGLY THIS RECALL QUERY IS CLOSED.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONSLed to recall 08V465000
PE03058ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE

Opened Dec 17, 2003
Closed Apr 22, 2004

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

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

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2009
Crash reported

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR, SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I CRASHED INTO 2 CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT AND THE DAMAGE TO THE 3 CARS WAS SLIGHT BUMPER DAMAGE. I CALLED THE POLICE AND MADE A REPORT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE GARAGE THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON THE INTERNET THE CHECK FOR SIMILAR OCCURRENCES AND FOUND SEVERAL. MY CAR WAS A MERCEDES BENZ ML320 SUV. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288856
Incident
Sep 15, 1998
Mileage
67,700 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 3, 2004

NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS HARD TO STEER THAT MIGHT CAUSE INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089062
Incident
Aug 29, 2004
Mileage
37,400 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2004

THE CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY OF MY MERCEDES ML 320 GAVE OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BELT STARTED TO BURN. I CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN HONOLULU, HI AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, DAN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PULLEY TO DATE AND THAT I SHOULD BRING MY ML 320 IN TO GET REPAIRED. DAN STATED THAT THE PULLEY MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PART THAT IS DAMAGED AND THAT THE COST COULD PROBABLY GO UP IN PRICE. I STATED THAT I HAD A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED. DAN INSISTED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY INTERNAL DAMAGES. AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED TO JUST PURCHASE THE PART AND HAVE MY MECHANIC FIX MY CAR BECAUSE MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY CAR THOROUGHY AND I FELT THAT THE MANAGER JUST WANTED TO HAVE ME BRING IN MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR(S) WHICH WOULD HAVE PROBABLY COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062287
Incident
Mar 15, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Jan 2, 2003

ON DECEMBER 29TH WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY ON I-77 NORTH IN VIRGINIA THE METAL SUNROOF WIND DEFLECTOR ON MY 1998 MERCEDES ML320 COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING BROKE OFF AND FLEW INTO THE PATH OF SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES. A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. MY ML320 IS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHOM SOLD ME THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10000688
Incident
Dec 29, 2002
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
606535

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TB-46-30-13-B

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

MERCEDES: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP SHOULD BE REPLACE, UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAKAGE FROM CONNECTION TO POWER STEERING COOLER. MODELS 1998-2003 163.154, (ML320, 430, 55, 500, 350). *PE

424562

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ESP LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT

26M992

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF POOR AM / ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE ON AM. *TT

078

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING SRS CONTROL UNIT PROGRAMMING. *TT

TSIMBNA9136

SEATS; STRUCTURE:BODY

INFORMATION ON THIRD ROW SEAT KIT INSTALLATION PROCEDURE. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz M Class by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009110—
2008120—
2007220—
2006142042.8
2004010—
2003103159.1
2002553—
2001544—
2000255554.7
1999184353.3
1998Viewing542—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.