2001 Mercedes-Benz M Class Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REPAIRED IN 2003 ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); HOWEVER, THE STEERING WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY. THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE AND SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,642.

NHTSA ID

10256074

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER DOOR SIDE ON 8/6/05 BY A CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT. MY CAR WAS HIT SO HARD IT ROLLED OVER RESTING ON IT'S ROOF. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOT EVEN SIDE ONES. I CALLED MB-USA TO COMPLAIN. THEY DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THE EVENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142648

Incident

Aug 6, 2005

SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IT CONTINUES TO HESITATE AND STALL OUT GIVING A "START ERROR" ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAD CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, GERRY GRIFFITH (CAR PURCHASED IN INDIANAPOLIS, RECENT MOVE TO ALABAMA), THAT THE MODEL M-CLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. JUST HAD TO SPEND $1000+ ON A "FIX" AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASING THE CAR. DETAILED SERVICE RECORDS ARE NOT GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER ONLY A BRIEF SYNOPSIS AND ALL WORK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT, I.E., THE ACTUAL TESTING CODES, ETC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135790

Incident

Feb 20, 2001

Mileage

100 mi

JUST AS REPORTED IN CONSUMER REPORTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSING ALL SAFETY SYSTEMS (IE., BRAKE ASSIST, SAFETY BELTS, AIR BAGS) TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR WHEN THE 4,400 LB. VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP. OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE ALSO FAILING. FURTHER, THE REAR GATE LATCH WAS NOT LOCKING AND THE DEALER NEVER VERBALLY TOLD US WHEN WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM BEING SERVICED, NOR DID THEY EVER ASK IF WE WANTED IT FIXED. WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. ONE WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A MERCEDES PRODUCT. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS "FIXED" TWICE, WE THEN PAID TO HAVE IT GONE OVER ($300) AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEMS WHICH HAD BEEN NOTED AS BEING FIXED PREVIOUSLY. IT WAS A $100 STOP SWITCH. MEANWHILE, WE WILL PAY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. MERCEDES USA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY JUST BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG. I THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING A QUALITY PRODUCT. I GUESS NOT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10131784

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

Mileage

86,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR AND EVERY MONTH I HAVE BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TURNING IT IN FOR ONE PROBLEM OR ANOTHER. I AM ASSURED THEY ARE DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN BUT I HAVE NOT GONE 30 DAYS IN A ROW WITH A FUNCTIONING, NO PROBLEM, VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A MB BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE VALUE AND DEPENDABILITY WAS THERE. I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE HASSLE FREE AND I COULD ENJOY FEW MECHANICAL ISSUES. I AM NOT SPENDING TIME AWAY FROM WORK WHICH IS CAUSING ME PROBLEMS, JUST TO KEEP THIS SUV MAINTAINED. THE DEFECTS OR ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE BECOMING AN ADDED EXPENSE TO ME AND THE TIME AWAY FROM WORK IS CAUSING ME PROBLEMS. I WANT A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT IN THE SHOP ONCE A MONTH. I TRIED TO CALL THE MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITES. I AM NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CUSTOMER THAT COMES IN ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WOULD THINK THAT I WOULD BE TREATED A LITTLE DIFFERERNTLY AND THAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM! MY HUSBAND WANTED TO TRADE HIS BMW IN FOR A NEW MB BUT NOW I THINK HE HAS LOST FAITH THAT MB IS A RELIABLE, STABLE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10070943

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi