1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED ISSUES WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED AS TO WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE KEY WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRE NEW IGNITION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED DURING RESEARCH THAT MERCEDS BENZ INSTALLED AN INADEQUATE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN HER VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM WOULD ONLY ALLOW EIGHT KEYS TO BE MADE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A SCAM BY MB TO FORCE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER, IGNITION, ETC, FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER THE 8TH KEY HAD BEEN MADE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS MADE THAT WAY FOR SECURITY REASON. THE CONSUMER CALLED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND WAS GIVEN A PRICE OF $4,000 TO $5,000. THE CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE KEY, COMPUTER AND OTHER PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH FOR $1,400. THE RADIATOR, AIR CONDITION AND TWO MIRROR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/11/12

NHTSA ID

10458322

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

LAUNDRY LIST OF FAILURES. JACK HAS ALMOST KILLED ME WHILE CHANGING TIRE. VEHICLE FELL, ALMOST HITTING ME BUT CATCHING SIDE OF VEHICLE BEFORE LANDING ON ME! HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED ON A FEW OCCASIONS, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AIR MASS METER FAILED. HAS REQUIRED 5 (FIVE!) ALIGNMENTS IN TWO YEARS. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A MONTH LATER REQUIRES ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES, WHICH HAS CAUSED HYDROPLANING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWERVES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN HITS ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLAT ROAD. TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FIXED BY DEALER WITHOUT CONSULTING. AFTER REPAIR, TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FAILED. DEALER STATES OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS. HAS HAD REPAIR OF HARMONIC BALANCER ON FRONT OF ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP LEADING TO OIL LEAK AND FAILURE OF BELT TENSIONER. WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE FAILED TWICE AND FIXED AT EXPENSE OF OWNER. SIX DIFFERENT KEYS HAVE FAILED @ THE COST OF $220/KEY. REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSES LOSS OF STEREO RECEPTION. REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED. FRONT END MAKES NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068171

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

97,615 mi

WHILE ROLLING UP THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW IT SHATTERED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051831

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY 1998 MLK 320 IS GOING INTO THE SHOP FOR THE TENTH TIME IN 31 MONTHS, AND THE ONLY REASON IT HASN'T BEEN IN MORE OFTEN IS I LIVE 30 MILES FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE PROBLEMS ARE NUMEROUS; MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT STARTED NOT LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR (NEW) IS, WHEN I START IT THE CAR DIES. I HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCESS AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL START. THERE ARE ALSO A MYRIAD OF SMALL, CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS; WINDOWS THAT WON'T GO UP, LOCKS THAT LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, PLASTIC PARTS THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF. IT HAS IS AWFUL. IT MAKES MY 95 FORD RANGER TRUCK SEEM LIKE A DREAM AUTO.

NHTSA ID

741865

Incident

Jul 28, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WILL SUDDENLY AND TOTALLY FOG IN CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING A WARMED UP VEHICLE AT VARIOUS TRAFFIC SPEEDS. THE DEFROSTER IS UNABLE TO CLEAR THIS EVEN WHEN IT IS ANTICIPATED AND HAS FORCED US TO ROLL SIDE WINDOWS DOWN AND PULL TO THE ROADSIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DEFROSTER BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE AT TIMES 10 MINUTES TO CLEAR AND IT WON'T STOP THE PROCESS ONCE IT IS STARTED EVEN WHEN RUN AT FULL FORCE.

NHTSA ID

733646

Incident

Sep 20, 2000

THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED AND TOOK TWO WEEKS TO HAVE REPAIRED. NLM

NHTSA ID

553863

IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FREEZES UP, EVEN WITH DE-ICER ADDITIVE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. WHEN DIRT IS KICKED UP FROM A PRECEDING AUTOMOBILE, YOU CANNOT CLEAN OFF THE WINDOWS, THIS LEADS TO IMPOSSIBLE VISIBILITY. PULLING OFF THE ROAD EVERY 5 MINUTES TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO. I'M 5FT. AND ITS ALSO HARD TO REACH THE WINDOW TO CLEAN IT OFF. SEVERAL CALLS WERE PLACED FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOZZLES ARE NOT HEATED AND NOT PROTECTED TO KEEP THE COMPONENT PARTS FROM FREEZING. I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN SINCE IT WAS HARD TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOW. DRIVING LIKE THIS ALL WINTER WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717810

Incident

Jan 22, 2000

REAR WINDOWS GOE DOWN ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE ALL THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND THE ALARM SYSTEM WILL GO OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

844560

Incident

Apr 2, 1998

REMOTE KEY OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ID

609879

KEYLESS ENTRY KIT FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

608829

Incident

Nov 1, 1997

POWER WINDOWS FAILED. NM

NHTSA ID

608135

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

FUEL GAUGE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607677

GAS GAUGE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607090

REMOTE KEY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607002

Incident

Feb 1, 1998

POWER SUNROOF FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

606852

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/MOTOR/ POWER WINDOWS/ DOOR HANDLES AND PANELS, AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS EVER SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831300

Incident

Dec 4, 1997

POOR FITTING DOORS, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE.AUTOMATIC WINDOWS FAILED/SQUEAKING ABS BRAKES/NOISY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR.

NHTSA ID

540637

Incident

Aug 25, 1998