2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Fuel system Problems

THE METHOD IN WHICH A FUEL TANK IS FASTENED TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS USES A STEEL STRUT TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF STAINLESS STEEL STRAPS. THE DISSIMILARITY IN METALS USED IN FASTENING THE HARDWARE OF BOTH COMBINED WITH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS WILL CAUSE THE STRUT TO CORRODE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FUEL TANK TO DROP ONTO THE ROADWAY WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNING. THE CORROSION AT THE CRITICAL FASTING POINTS IS NOT OBVIOUS WITH ROUTINE INSPECTION. WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1998 THROUGH 2005 STILL ON THE ROAD TODAY, OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11337445

Incident

Jul 4, 2000

Mileage

235,000 mi

AS I NOTICED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ALL FOCUS IN THE POWER STEERING ISSUES, FUEL / OIL LEAKS AND LOSS, ESP OPTION , ELECTRICAL MAIL FUNCTIONS THAT RELATE WITH THE ECU, PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. ALL THESE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY CAR AND IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AS THE CAR IS NOT IN SPEED MOTION UNLESS YOU USE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL , THE ESP IS NOT WORKING AT ALL , THE SHIFTER IS NOT CHANGING TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU OVERRIDE IT AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO START IT AND THE FUEL ALONG WITH THE OIL IS LEAKING AND ALL THE FLUIDS ARE DISAPPEARING IN NO TIME . ALL THESE ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND NOT JUST A SIMPLE PROBLEM . THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REPAIR FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES ASAP FREE OF CHARGE FROM MERCEDES FOR THE OWNERS OF THE PARTICULAR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA ID

11288070

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

25 mi

EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY GAS TANK. THE LIGHT SHOWS EMPTY UNTIL AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING. I HAVE TO TOP THE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 1-2 MONTHS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395662

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

POWER LOST ON STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341087

Incident

Feb 10, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

RECENTLY, MY 2000 ML320 WOULD END UP CRANKING WHILE STARTING. TOOK 2 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR STARTED UP. TOOK MY MERCEDES TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED & FILTER & THE NEW UPDATED LINES. PREVIOUSLY BACK IN DECEMBER 2005, POWER STEERING LINE WAS DAMAGED. SERVICED AT SAME DEALERSHIP. A SMALL HOLE WAS DISCOVERED ON THE PIPE AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALMOST MADE ME HIT THE GARAGE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168203

Incident

Aug 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE SMELL OF GAS WAS PRESENT WHEN PARKING AND A PUDDLE OF GAS WAS NOTICED UNDER THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE FUEL PUMP MELTED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID

10165119

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. OIL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BETWEEN 200-600 MILES OF DRIVING. TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY POOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159163

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

11-03, 12-03 & 1-04 MY CAR WOULD STUTTER AND STALL AND FAIL TO ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH . I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE EACH TIME ,AND FINALLY 1-04 THEY REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM WAS BAD. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN 1-25-04 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE CAR STALLED AND STUTTERED THIS TIME I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A SPEEDING VEHICLE AND WAS HIT. THIS TRUCK WAS IN FOR SERVICE A TOTAL OF 13 TIMES IN 2003. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MBUSA ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND TO THE SERVICE DEPT BUT NO HELP WAS AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ONGOING AND CONSTANT PROBLEM . *AK

NHTSA ID

10067761

Incident

Jan 25, 2004

VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS BEING SERVICED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER AND CAUSED DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH SIDES OF THE DOORS WERE SMASHED AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, ENGINE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WINDOWS WERE ERRATIC WHEN GOING DOWN, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REAR CARGO ACCESSORY PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TRIM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT CRACKED, THERE WAS A BULDGE ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, LUG BOLTS WERE MISSING ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND THE REAR PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A NOISE HEARD IN THE REAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE POWER SUPPLY PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LIGHT BEHIND THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INTERMITTENT, THE LEFT FRONT PARK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING DUE TO THE LATCHING, THE REAR ELECTRICAL PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MATERIAL ON THE CENTER CONSOLE WRINKLED, THE SUNROOF WOULD BIND WHEN OPENED, THE REAR TIRE HAD A KNOT ON THE SIDEWALL, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD GO DOWN, THERE WAS A NOISE IN HE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WAS STIFF. *SC

NHTSA ID

10065115

INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES WHEN THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM IS ENGAGED IT WILL DISENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN COME BACK ON. THIS REDUCES THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEFROSTER SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY DOES THIS UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUEL TANK GAUGE SHOWS ONLY 3/4 FULL. DEALER STATED THAT INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAULT IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. FUEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10056095

Mileage

8,000 mi

CAR WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT TO DEALER THEY CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER, AND CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS. PICKED UP CAR, WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN SAME PROBLEM HAPPEND AGAIN. CALLED DEALER FOR A TOW. BECAUSE AT THE TIME I WAS TO DRIVE TO DEALER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING CAR INOPERABLE. DEALER SAID THE CLAMP THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THAT PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FIXED. MY DEALER ADDRESSED MY ORIGINAL PROBLEM BY THINKING THAT MY KEYS TO THE CAR WERE TRIGGERING SOME KIND OF ANTITHEFT DEVICE IN THE CARS COMPUTER TO KEEP IT FROM STARTING, THEY GAVE ME TWO NEW KEYS, WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 30 MILES WHEN THIS TIME WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD, I WAS GLAD TO BE IN A TURN LANE AT THE TIME. THE TWO PREVIOUS TIMES IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR FOR THE CAR TO RESTART THIS THIRD TIME IT TOOK ONLY ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THE DEALER STILL REMAINS BAFFLED.

NHTSA ID

10000458

Incident

Dec 2, 2002

Mileage

45,552 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY FUEL TANK LEAKED, APPARENTLY DUE TO BEING STRUCK BY AN EXTERNAL OBJECT. DURING NON OF THE OCCASIONS, DID I RUN OVER AN OBJECT OR NOTICE ANY LARGE SHARP OBJECT ON THE FREEWAY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSES, SO I HAD TO FILE A CLAIM THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH COST APPROX. $2000 WITH THE TOW AND RENTAL. HOWEVER, WITHIN 10 MONTHS IT OCCURED AGAIN AND I AGAIN HAD IT TAKEN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, WHICH THEY FIRST CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. I CALLED THE MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER REGARDING THE MATTER, AND MADE THEM REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE FUEL TANK TO BE SO FRAGILE AND OBVIOUSLY NOT DURABLE THAT IT CAN BE RUPTURED SO EASILY DURING NORMAL FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SINCE THIS IS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OFF-ROADING AND INTO MOUNTAINS WHICH COULD CONTAIN ROCKY ROADS OR DIFFICULTY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THAT I EXPECT THE CAR TO WITHSTAND THE DRIVE. THE PUT IT INTO MY RECORD. I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND MERCEDES DECIDED TO COVER ALL MY EXPENSES THIS TIME, SO I DID NOT HAVE TO PUT IN A CLAIM. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THIS MODEL AND THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE RESEACH AND LET ME KNOW AS I DO NOT WANT TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

766120

Incident

Aug 19, 2002

ON 04/24/02 MY CAR STARTED STALLING OUT AND NOT STARTING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP.THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL LINE, AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPAIRED BY 04/25/02.A TERRIBLE FUEL SMELL TOOK OVER THE CAR AND I RETURNED IT ON 04/26/02.IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO ME ON 4/30/02.IT STARTED BREAKING DOWN AGAIN ON 05/05/02 AND I TOOK IT IN ON 05/06/02.THEY HAD IT FOR 10 DAYS (UNTIL 05/16/02) AND IT BROKE DOWN OUT OF TOWN ON 05/25/02 WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 21 DAYS (UNTIL 06//15/02).IT THEN BROKE DOWN ON THE DRIVE HOME (05/15/02)AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWO DAYS LATER (05/17/02, DEALERSHIP CLOSED).ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM RELATED TO THIS BUT I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD UNRELIABLE MERCEDES BENZ I AM NOW PAYING TO REPAIR.I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS' REPAIRS BUT I BELIEVE I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T SELL, TRADE IN OR DRIVE NOW AND I PAID $38,000. FOR IT A YEAR AGO.PLEASE INSTRUCT ME ON THE BEST PLAN OF ACTION AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ID

763201

Incident

Apr 24, 2002

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT WOULD STOP SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. WAS AT GAS STATION & HAD TURNED VEHICLE OFF & PUT FUEL IN VEHICLE. HAD TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT START. TOOK TO DEALER. FUEL PUMP WOULD GO INTO A VAPOR LOCK. FUEL IS NOT GETTING TO PROPER CHANNELS. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

870897

Incident

Sep 5, 2000

DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE SQUEELING NOICE FROM FUEL PUMP AREA "L.R. TIRE AREA"

NHTSA ID

730645

Incident

May 20, 2000

PLASTIC FUEL TANK "CRACKED" OPEN SPILLING GAS. *AK

NHTSA ID

722018

Incident

Apr 26, 2000