1999 Mercedes-Benz M Class Problems

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *JB

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. *JB

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 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. *TR

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

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC. SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE NOTICING FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS PUT OUT THE BLAZE THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE CASE WAS INVESTIGATED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE. THE VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BY OWNER. HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER AND USED FUEL, LUBRICANTS ETC. RECOMMENDED BY MERCEDES BENZ. OWNER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 1999 AND ALWAYS TOOK FOR SERVICES, SAFETY RECALLS AND REPAIRS TO AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, THE CAR HAD ARROUND 55,000 MILES. NOTE: THIS COMPLAIN WAS REPOTED VIA PHONE ALSO. CASE WAS INVESTICATED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.*AK

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

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. *TR

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. *LA

DESIGN DEFECT IN SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. IT WILL NOT EXTENDED FAR ENOUGH UP AND OUTWARDS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK *ML

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. *TR

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

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

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. *TR