Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 45 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE AUCTION IN ALGONA NAMED WHITEY'S PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION AND THAT VERY DAY I HAD TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES TO LEAK. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND STARTED TO RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL.
STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. OVER HEATS AND WILL NOT KEEP COOLINAT DOWN
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
MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ALOT AND AS WELL LEAK ONTO THE GROUND I FIND IT VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR AT TIMES . THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG IT'S BEEN FIXED 1 AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST .
DIFFICULT TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. USES LOT OF FORCE TO MOVE THE STELRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE ABS, BRAKE FAILURE SWITCH, AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN USING THE POWER STEERING TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE COMPLETING THE TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP FOR 5-10 SECONDS AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF SEVERAL CARS IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS INJURED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS! AFTER STOPPING, AND SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, AT AN EXIT FOR SO I COULD SEE IF I COULD SPOT ANYTHING I TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY HOME (OFF THE INTERSTATE). THE BAS/ESP LIGHT WAS OFF, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE ALRIGHT. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AGAIN. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH, BUT I WAS FORCED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND ME SAFELY. *TR
WHILE PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AS IT SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER. AS I DROVE ON AND TURNED AGAIN STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY IT LASTED A WAS BIT LONGER. THE MORE RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON 12-22-13. NOW ITS VERY HARD TO STEER SO HARD THAT TO DRIVE IS TOO RISKY. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS OK. NOW THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT MAY BE THE RACK. *TR
MERCEDES BENZ ML 320. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE 2000 MODELS YEARS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS, DUE TO A FAULTY PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ASKED ABOUT THE PUMP AND HOSE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE PUMP WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL AND IT WOULD COST $ 1190 TO REPLACE IT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT JUST THE RECALL PARTS BE REPLACED. BUT, THE DEALER STATED IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INCREASED AND SMOKE RELEASED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,700.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SOME SMALL TREES WHICH DAMAGED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE CARRIER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
POWER LOST ON STEERING WHEEL. *TR
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE RECALL #2003-040005 ON HER 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. *NJ THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR, SEAL, PUMP, FLUID AND STEERING HOSE CLAMP WERE ALL REPLACED. RECALL 03V121000. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND HAD THE NECESSARY REPAIRS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TIME. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, SHE RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,200. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE POINTLESS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL WHEN ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS WERE AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF THE STEERING FAILURE. THE INITIAL RECALL STATED THAT CONSUMERS WHO HAD REPAIRS MADE BEFORE NOVEMBER 23, 2003 COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE HOSE REPLACED, IF FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO THAT DATE. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,582 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, SHE NOTICED FLUID NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,619.
CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR WORK ON HIS 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP. *NJ RECALL # 03V121000. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET. THE ABS THEN RELEASED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ESP YAW RATE SENSOR. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,080. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE POWER STEERING HOSE LWAKED. UPDATED 09/10/08. *JB
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IN A SLIPPERY PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED BECAUSE THE RETURN LINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE RACK DUE TO IMPROPER CRIMPING. BOTH LINES WERE REBUILT BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB
POWER STEERING FAILURE - AT LEAST 4 TIMES. LUCKILY NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED 150 MILES FROM HOME IN MOUNTAINOUS REGION. *NM
MERCEDES ML 320 POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING, EVENTHOUGH A RECALL REPAIR WAS CARRIED OUT. WAS NEARLY RAMMED INTO BY AN ONCOMING TRUCK BUT WAS SAFE BECAUSE OF FORCED THAT I USE TO GET OUT OF THE PROBLEM. IN PROCESS WRIST AND SHOULDER SUFFERED INJURY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POWER STEERING FAILED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
THE POWER ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONDITION CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE HIT SIDE BARRIER. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO MANEUVER.*AK
I TOOK AN 8 MILES ROUND TRIP TO HOMEDEPOT IN THE MORNING AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. @ HOURS LATER, I NEEDTO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP AND AS I WAS BACKING OUT THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF SHINY STUFF ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. SINCE I HAVE READ ABOUT STEERING HOSE CLAMP FAILURE BEFORE, I IMMEDIATELY PARK THE VEHICLE AND JACK IT UP TO HAVE CLOSE INSPECTION. TO NO SURPRISE, THE UPPER CLAMP WAS LOOSE. SO I TIGHTEN UP THE CLAMP AND TOOK A SHORT 2 MILES TEST DRIVE. RE-INSPECTED THE CLAMP, FOUND NO LEAKS. IF I HAVEN'T READ ABOUT THE CLAMP FAILURE BEFORE AND LET THE LEAK CONTINUE, I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. THUS THE COMPLAIN.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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