1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and other various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that she refilled the power steering reservoir several times and noted that there was a stain underneath her vehicle after parking overnight. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to a closed NHTSA Action Number: PE3006 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11536152

Incident

Jul 23, 2022

Mileage

220,000 mi

There was a recall on the steering on my 1999 Mercedes Benz . The Manufacturer said its closed . The steering is leaking and hard to drive and I fear the power steering pump will go out while I am driving the Vehicle. I fear for my safety. How can I get this recall opened and my vehicle fixed .

NHTSA ID

11475424

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. DJR

NHTSA ID

10617245

Incident

Feb 15, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INQUIRY OVER 3 YEARS AGO; NO RESOLUTION PRESENTED. PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED AND GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ONLY WHEN RESEARCHING, WAS I MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURE OR DEALER. SUBSTANTIAL COSTS INCURRED AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LEAK AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS. MOONROOF UNABLE TO CLOSE 100% - TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS SEEN ROUTINELY WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOONROOF. ADVISED TO FORE-GO REPAIR DUE TO COST. UPON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE CUSTOMARY AND UNSURE AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED OR REPAIRS MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER. WOULD LIKE A WRITTEN RESPONSE OUTLINING OPTIONS AND RESOURCES TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10389979

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED AND THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE ONLY THE HOSE REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

10251315

Incident

Nov 17, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE - DRIVING THIS LEMON OF AN SUV, CAR STARTED TO PULL AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THANK GOD, I WAS NOT ON A FREEWAY AND COULD PULL OVER WITHOUT KILLING SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207955

Incident

Apr 17, 2007

Mileage

58,000 mi

REFERENCE: VEHICLE COMPLAINT - 47046 IN SEPTEMBER 1999, WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES-BENZ, ML-320. IN 2003, THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL CONCERNING A LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP AT THE RADIATOR FITTING. ON AUGUST 7, 2007, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF LOSING ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID. WE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH A FAMILY MEMBER'S ML-320. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FROZEN FOUR TIMES IN FIRST GEAR. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE HOSE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE WE ARE FEARFUL ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THESE RECURRING PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199666

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

63,500 mi

IN SEPTEMBER 1999, WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES-BENZ, ML-320. IN 2003, THE VEHICLE WAS A PART OF A RECALL FOR A LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP AT THE RADIATOR FITTING. ON AUGUST 7, 2007, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF LOOSING ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID. WE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH A FAMILY MEMBER'S ML-320. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FROZEN FOUR TIMES IN FIRST GEAR. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HOSE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE WE ARE FEARFUL ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THESE RECURRING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199413

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

63,500 mi

TL * - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 03V121000. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO MERCEDEZ BENZ OF PALM BEACH JANUARY 3, 2007, AND WAS DENIED ARECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED THE SAME RECALL LAST YEAR AND CHOSE NOT TO ADDRESS IT AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES , AND WAS NOW BEING DENIED REPAIR SERVICE. *AK THE COSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATEDTHERE WAS NOTHING WROG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SATED WHILE DRIVING, THE THE EXHAUST BROKE IN HALF AT THE WELD. UPDATED 01/22/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177747

Incident

Dec 26, 2006

Mileage

129,926 mi

MY PWR STEERING PRESSURE HOSE, FROM BOTTOM RADIATOR THRU PWR STEERING RACK ARE FOUR TIMES POP OUT AT HOSE CLAMP, EVERY WINTER PROBLEM! ( 2002 ) (2003) (2004) MERCEDES DEALER REPLACES A RECALL HOSE LAST WINTER & HOLD FOR A YEAR. (2005) AGAIN WINTER 2 DEC 05 THE SAME THING PROMBLEM (HOSE POP OUT AGAIN) I NEED HELP TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER, PLS!!! TODAY, I WILL DROP OFF MY SUV 10 DEC 05 AT THE SAME DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144881

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

58,680 mi

POWER STEERING HOSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144526

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

58,700 mi

MY WIFE DROVE FROM LAS VEGAS ON 15 FWY BACK HOME WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SO SHE STEERED TO THE RIGHT BUT IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING, SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT IT SEEM LIKE THE VEHICLE WENT FASTER AND FASTER. SHE HEARD A SOUND "SHHH" SOUND LIKE A VACUUM LEAKS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING TOO HARD TO THE LEFT SO SHE COULD NOT HOLD ON ANYMORE. THE CARE THEN WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED OVER, LANDING IN THE SECTION SEPARATING THE CARS GOING TO LAS VEGAS AND THE CARS GOING BACK. AFTER LANDING SHE SCREAMED HOW THE BABY, HOW THE BABY, HE WAS 14 MONTHS, HOW EVERY BODY--HER DAUGHTERS AND PARENTS...ALL 4 TIRES ARE SUV MICHELIN, JUST REPLACED ABOUT A MONTH. WE BELIEVE SOME THINGS WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10133131

Incident

Jun 21, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107391

Incident

Jan 20, 2003

Mileage

70,150 mi

(1)VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. (2) CRANKSHAFT DAMPENER BECAME SEPARATED AT POINT OF RUBBER VULCANIZED AND CAUSED SERPENTINE BELT TO COME LOOSE LEAVING POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING ALONG WITH ALL OTHER PULLEYS RUN BY THE SAME BELT. (3) DAMPENER AND BELT WERE REPLACED. (OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE) THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY. NEW TYPES OF REPLACEMENT DAMPENERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SIX (6) TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE PARTS BOOK. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS SAY IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY WONDER WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ORDERED. IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO FIND OUT HOW MANY CRANKSHAFT DAMPENERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND REPLACED BY BOTH DEALERS AND PARTS SALES. AGAIN, LET ME SAY THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS VERY COMMON. MY PRIMARY WORRY IS THAT A SMALL PERSON WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IF THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AS IN THESE BROKEN DAMPENER CASES. I'M A 225 LB MAN AND I COULD BARELY BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP AT ONLY 25 MILES PER HOUR. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD? PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY. THANK YOU!! *LA

NHTSA ID

10081155

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

Mileage

61,230 mi

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY/RUN OUT OF FUEL/ENGINE QUITS LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING MAY LEAD TO CRASH/DEFECT *LA

NHTSA ID

10074445

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

MERCEDES BENZ, ML320,1999, HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE. DESTROYS THE WHOLE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE ENGINE INCLUDING MAKING POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. MAY CAUSE A REAL BAD ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A 2000 C280 WITH 47,500 MILES WHICH LOOKS LIKE CARRIES THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME POSSIBLE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056797

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

Mileage

56,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE. THE CLAMP HOSES LOOSENED, ALLOWING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057238

Mileage

52,863 mi

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V121000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING PUMP, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITIONS. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A STEERING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050414

Incident

Dec 11, 2003

Mileage

59,600 mi

THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 ENGINE TYPE M112 FAILED AND RESULTED IN $4,000 TO REPAIR. THE PART FAILED WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING. EVEN THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING RECALL TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE DID NOT SPOT ANY PROBLEM AND THEY KNEW TO BE LOOKING. I WAS LUCKY THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE IN STEAD OF ON THE FREEWAY WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OR DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045802

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

70,190 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STUCK OR STOPPED WHILE OPERATING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT ALL FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, LOST OF POWER STEERING FLUID. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE HOSES/CLAMPS AND CONNECTORS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNERS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10041985

Incident

Aug 29, 2003

Mileage

36,200 mi

CONSUMER HAD POWER STEERING HOSE SERVICED BY DEALER IN 01/03. ON 06/12/03 EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND RACK & PINION HAD FAILED. CONSUMER THEN HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BEEN PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR WHEN DEALER PREVIOUSLY SERVICED CAUSING THE CURRENT FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024977

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY STEERING FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024914

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011176

THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON BUT NO RECALLS YET. *NLM THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON BUT NO RECALLS YET. CAUSE: POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOLUTION: NEW HOSE CLAMP INSTALLED AND SYSTEM HAD TO BE BLED AND FLUSHED. *MR

NHTSA ID

10009827

Incident

Oct 29, 2002

Mileage

32,974 mi

THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009743

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

64,225 mi