2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Driver assistance Problems

The failed component is the YAW rate sensor, original part number A1635426340 (ATE part number 10.0980-0454.2), manufactured by ATE. I have experienced multiple incidents of sudden, unintended braking at highway speeds. These events occurred without warning and created an immediate and significant risk of a serious collision, endangering not only myself and my family but also other motorists sharing the roadway. While the defect has not been reproduced or confirmed by either a Mercedes-Benz dealer or an independent repair facility, the absence of a successful diagnosis does not diminish the seriousness of the safety hazard. In fact, your agency opened an investigation into this issue in 2007, yet no corrective action was ultimately taken despite reports indicating that more than 100,000 vehicles may have been affected. According to publicly available information, Mercedes-Benz inspected and evaluated the YAW rate sensor in May 2007 as part of its review of this issue. The continued occurrence of sudden, unintended braking events raises concerns that the underlying defect may not have been fully addressed. Most concerning is that there were no warning lamps, fault messages, or other observable symptoms prior to the braking events. The vehicle operated normally until the moment the unintended braking occurred, leaving the driver with no opportunity to anticipate or prevent a potentially catastrophic situation.

NHTSA ID

11745171

Incident

May 18, 2026

AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION

NHTSA ID

11317979

Incident

Mar 13, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS TO COME TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION

NHTSA ID

11209613

Incident

May 14, 2019

Mileage

15 mi

THIS IS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME (JAN 2017) HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BUT BEFORE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I SAT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES WITH CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY DRIVE HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA BUT STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE ALL THE WAY HOME. 2ND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEORGIA. PULLED OVER AND LET IT SET FOR AWHILE. FINISHED RIDE TO ATLANTA AIRPORT. WEEK LATER I DRIVE HOME FROM ATLANTA AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I BRING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CANT FIND ANYTHING DIAGNOSTICALLY. 3RD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH. I BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC AND HE KEEPS IT FOR A WEEK. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF MY LAST OCCURENCE; I AM DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 327 AND THIS TIME IT IS THE WORSE OCCURENCE YET; DOING 45 MPH AND BRAKES LOCK UP LIKE AS IF I HAD SLAMMED THEM ON. CAR BEHIND ME SWERVES AROUND ME AND GIVES ME THE 'ONE FINGER' HELLO.....THANK GOD HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND NOT TEXTING. CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANIC AND HE IS LOOKING AT REPLACING A $800 SENSOR. EVEN THEN I WILL NOT LET MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME EVER AGAIN. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET REARENDED (KILLED) EVENTUALLY IF YOU DONT GET MERCEDES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, IT RELEASED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS THEN LOCKED UP AGAIN FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. THE ESP LIGHT (EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE LIGHTS UP AS WELL) I NEVER TOUCHED THE BRAKES!! THE SUV LEFT SKID MARKS ON THE STREET. I PROCEEDED ON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I NEVER TOUCHED THE BRAKES! THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

11187418

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT AS ID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE 'BAS ESP" (BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11081603

Incident

Aug 20, 2016

WHILE DRIVING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP RELEASE AND LOCK UP AGAIN.THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

11042721

Incident

Oct 7, 2017

Mileage

10 mi

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, MY 2001 MERC BENZ ML320 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DRAMATICALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STAND STILL. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. FINALLY, THE LAST TWO TIMES OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH. IN ALL INSTANCES, THE FRONT BRAKES ABSOLUTELY LOCKED AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO AN APPROXIMATELY COMPLETE STOP WHILE PULLING THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. EACH EVENT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EPISODE. ALTHOUGH I KEPT TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. I HAD JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM SO THAT I COULD VEER TO THE SAFETY OF THE SAFETY LANE. THE EVENTS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A TWO (2) WEEK PERIOD...FAR, FAR TOO FREQUENT FOR COMFORT. IN ALL OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT GET RAMMED BY THE VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND ME. NOW THAT I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT TAKEN THIS ISSUE MORE SERIOUSLY AS IT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN AN ISOLATED ISSUE BUT RATHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AMONG FELLOW ML 320 VEHICLE OWNERS. LASTLY, I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, AND IT HAS TERRIFIED ME IN THIS SHORT TIME.

NHTSA ID

10896133

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH UNINTENDED BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND CONDITION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CURVES AND STRAIGHT ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MAY 2016 AT LEAST 15 TO 20 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10891779

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

VEHICLE CAME TO A DEAD STOP WHEN BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 40MPH IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET VEHICLE OFF ROAD ONTO SHOULDER. ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME AND REMAINED ON UNTIL IGNITION TURNED OFF. NOW NO WARNING LIGHT NOR DIAGNOSTIC CODE DETECTED. BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED BY MB DEALER ON MONTH AGO. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10891674

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

Mileage

81,755 mi

DURING BRAKING THE BAS/ESP WILL COME ON CAUSING NO ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. ALMOST RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS. ONLY TUNING OFF AND THE THE VEHICLE WILL TEMPORALLY FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10888285

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

Mileage

163,230 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, VEHICLE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING (WARNING FOR ESP AND ABS) AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT... I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASSUMED I HAD A BLOW OUT... BUT ALL TIRES WERE FINE AND NO ISSUES... TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 13 MILES THEN TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 -15 MINUTES CAME OUT AND GOT IN VEHICLE... WHEN I STARTED TO GO... ORANGE TRIANGLE WAS STILL ON AND IF I EVEN TOUCHED BRAKES THEY ALL LOCKED UP AND WOULD EVEN SQUEAL WHEN EVEN TOUCHING BRAKE PETAL. IT WAS 79 DEGREES, DRY ON A HIGHWAY THAT WAS A SMOOTH ROAD, IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10854595

Incident

Apr 8, 2016

Mileage

112,750 mi

SAME STORY AS I'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF TIMES ON THE INTERNET AND YOU CLAIM NOT ENOUGH OCCURRENCES! I'M ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING 70 MPH. WEATHER IS GOOD, TRAFFIC IS LIGHT (THANK GOD!) AND MY BREAKS SLAM ON. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, SO I'M ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE BEING REAR ENDED. THE TRIANGLE WARNING LAMP IS LIT AND THE BAS / ESP LAMP IS LIT. I TRY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, LIGHTS GO OUT, I MOVE FORWARD, GET UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE BREAKS SLAM ON AGAIN. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I GOT OUT AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE TIRES AND BREAKS. GET BACK IN, START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE ANOTHER 45 MINUTES. GET INTO TOWN, DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THEY SLAM ON AGAIN. I'M ABLE TO LIMP HOME WITH THE ABS GOING ON AND OFF. I PARK IT FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT DAY I DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FOLLOW ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND DISCONNECT MY BATTERY. FIXED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE GOING AROUND AN 18 WHEELER WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. ME AND MY 8 YEAR OLD WAS ALMOST KILLED ALONG WITH OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10722792

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

185,000 mi

THIS IS A SEQUEL REPORT TO MY ODI 10664733 OF 12/16/2014. TWO INCIDENTS ARE IDENTICAL. THE EARLIER INCIDENT HAPPENED AT ODOMETER READING 118,714; THIS SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 118,832, 118 MILES LATER. I WAS ON I-280 SOUTHBOUND APPROX. 53 MILES SOUTH OF SF. AROUND 1PM, A SUDDEN EXTRAORDINARILY FORCEFUL BRAKING ? THE MERCEDES OWNER?S MANUAL CALLS THIS MAXIMUM BRAKING CAPABILITY POWER BOOST WHICH EXCEEDS DRIVER?S MANUAL BRAKING STYLE ? THE ?BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM BAS? HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT DRIVER?S COMMAND. I WAS GOING STEADY AT 65 MPH, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKING. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY WITH A LARGE BRAKING NOISE AND CAME DOWN TO NEAR HOLT. I COULD STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE EMERGENCY AREA BY TRAVELING PERHAPS 15 FEET WHILE THE BAS WAS FIRMLY IN FORCE. THIS IS COUNTER TO THE NHTSA ACTION PE07007 REFERENCE ATTRIBUTED TO MERCEDES AS THE ESP ELECTRICAL FAULTS DURATION BEING 0.3 SECONDS OR LESS. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THIS IS INCORRECT. IT LASTED AS LONG AS I WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR. WHEN THE BAS ACTIVATED, THE ESP ALARM SIGNAL AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. THE BAS/EPS LIGHT CAME BACK ON BUT THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY OTHERWISE. DROVE BACK TO SF WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. WERE THE TRAFFIC HEAVY AND THE ROAD WERE WET AND SLIPPERY, MY MERCEDES ML320 WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE MERCEDES MUST ADDRESS WITH THE DEFINITIVE SOLUTION. I AM WILLING TO AVAIL MY VEHICLE FOR FIELD TESTING. PE07007 CITES ?THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE? THROUGH 2007 LED TO CLOSING ODI INVESTIGATION. A QUICK WEBSITE RESEARCH INDICATES THERE ARE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF BAS INCIDENTS POSTED SINCE 2007 ON VARIOUS PRIVATE FORUMS AND BLOGS BUT THESE DRIVERS MAY NOT HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA. *DT

NHTSA ID

10667458

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

118,832 mi

I WAS ON CALIF HWY1 NORTHBOUND APPROX 20 MILES SOUTH OF SF, DOING 45MPH, AROUND 1:00PM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED IN A FIERCE FORCE, WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO TRAVELING TWO TO THREE FEET. I FELT ALL THE FOUR WHEELS WERE LOCKED FIRM. I DID NOT EVEN TOUCH THE BRAKES. MY CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY BUT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME OR TO MY SIDES. AS I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA OF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE ESP/BAS LAMP WAS ON. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED A MINUTE LATER. THE ESP/BAS LAMP CAME BACK ON. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. DROVE BACK HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664733

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

Mileage

118,714 mi

WHEN DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY APPLIED STRONG BRAKING FORCE BY ITSELF (MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THAT TIME). DURING THAT INSTANCE, THE CAR ALSO WENT OUT OF STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME WITHOUT REAR ENDED INTO MY CAR. I WAS THINKING IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY, ME AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE GOT KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652565

Incident

Nov 2, 2014

Mileage

78,500 mi

I AM HAVING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 WITH A ESP BAS LIGHT COMING ON AND LOCKING FRONT BRAKE CAUSING THE ABS TO COME ON AND STOP SUV. TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED WITH MY KIDS IN CAR. CONTACTED MERCEDES DEALER AND CANT GUARANTEE WHAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY CHANGED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH 2 TIMES SAID IT COULD BE ABS PUMP {800} OR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS {1200} OR YAW SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH, MAYBE EVEN COMPUTER BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. SPOKE TO BENZ AT CORPORATE AND THEY ONLY SAY BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOPE I CAN GET A ANSWER TO THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556140

Incident

Dec 6, 2013

Mileage

134,850 mi

I ALMOST GOT KILLED TODAY!!! I WAS DRIVING MY MERZ ML320 WHEN I FELT THE CAR VIBRATE, HEARD A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS STUCK, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALL BY ITSELF AND THEN FELT THE CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY AND INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF A BIG TRUCK BARELY MISSING HIM. THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK BLEW HIS HORN AT ME AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. MY ABS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRIANGLE BRAKE LIGHT. AT FIRST, IT SOUNDED AS IF I BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT SOUNDED. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE WHEEL OR BRAKES. THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED RIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAD BOTH MY SONS WITH ME. THE PULLING OF THE CAR INTO THE NEXT LANE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I SAT THERE FOR 10 MINS IN SHOCK BEFORE TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE ABS/ESP LIGHT IS STILL ON. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY HOME AVOIDING THE FREEWAY. I AM CALLING MERCEDES TOMORROW. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOCKS UP AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10541732

Incident

Sep 3, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP. MY VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND I HEARD THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. I WAS NARROWLY MISSED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS THE JERK SLAMMED MY VEHICLE TO A HALT AND TURNED MY WHEELS CAUSING MY STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT THERE FOR A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO PROCEED AHEAD AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT THE YAW SENSOR CAME UP AS FAULTY DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND AS THE TECH DROVE IT UP IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING. $1000 LATER THE YAW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY 18 MONTH OLD SON WASN'T IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME AS HAD HE BEEN AND SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE ABRUPT STOP, HE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY AND RECALLED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD DEEM THIS A RECALL, FIXING THE ISSUE FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED IT AND REIMBURSING THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO SPEND $1000 REPLACING WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534293

Incident

Jul 31, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL . ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO TOTALLY APPLY THE BRAKES ALL BY ITSELF AND LUNGED TO A STOP . THE CAR BEHIND ME BARELY MISSED HITTING THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE . I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY . FEARFUL TO CONTINUE DRIVING , I THEN CALLED A TOW SERVICE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP . A FEW DAYS LATER , THEY CALLED ME AND SAID ONE OF THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM HAD FAILED (YAW RATE SENSOR - DTC C1120) AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM . THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE ABOUT $900.00 . I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPONENT OF A SO CALLED SAFETY SYSTEM COULD FAIL RENDERING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT CAN IN ITSELF CAUSE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION . FORTUNATELY IN MY CASE THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE BEEN JUST THE OPPOSITE . THE ASE MASTER CERTIFIED TECHNITION WHO TAKES CARE OF MY CAR STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN TYPE OF FAILURE (DEFECT) OF MY MODEL MERCEDES . MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO COVER THIS REPAIR FOR ME AND DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENNING AGAIN ON MY VEHICLE OR ANY OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD . WE ALL PUT FAITH IN THESE SAFETY SYSTEM THAT MERCEDES MANUFACTURES BUT ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES WE ALL ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE CONCEQUENCES OF DEFECTIVE DESIGNS . I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN A COMPONENT IN A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO TURN ON A WARNING LIGHT AND TURN IT SELF OFF . NOT LIKE IN MY CASE THE FAILED SENSOR CAUSED THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM TO RANDOMLY TURN ON THE BRAKES . WITH ALL OF THE CRAZY COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS IN THE MODERN CARS I AM NOW NERVOUS ABOUT BLINDLY TRUSTING THEM WITH MY LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512228

Incident

Apr 27, 2013

Mileage

108,258 mi

WHILE I AM DRIVING I NOTED IT IS HARD TO ACCELERATE AND YELLOW HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AN DI HEARD NOISE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I WAITED FEW MINUTES I NOTICED THE BAS/ESP CAME ON AND I RESUME DRIVING. THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES, I NOTICED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACH BETWEEN 85-90, IF THE BAS;ESP WILL NOT COME ON, YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING STUCK ON THE BRAKE AND IT DOES NOT MOVE. FIRST THE DEALER IN CHICAGO CHANGE IT AND IT DOES NOT HELP SO I ASK ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT. I STILL HAD THE BRAKE REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER. . THE SITUATION IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE BUT VERY SCARY. I COULD NOT DRIVE TOO LONG OR MAYBE DANGEROUS IN THE EXPRESSWAY. SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET TOLD IT IS THE YAW SENSOR RATE SHOULD BE REPLACED. I CHANGE MINE SUCH NEW BATTERY, GAS PUMP,.NEW RADIATOR, NEW OIL CHANGE. IF SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE WILL COME AND I WILL SHOW HOW MY CAR IS ACTING STRANGELY WITH THE BAS/ESP. HOW COME THE BAS/ESP MUST LIGHT ON AND YOU CAN DRIVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IF THE BAS/ESP WILL NOT ON, IT DOES NOT MOVE OR ACCELERATE. WHY?????? PLEASE MANDATORY THAT DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY THE DEALER SHOULD BE FREE AND CHARGE TO MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504335

Incident

Mar 22, 2013

Mileage

63,000 mi

BAS/ESP CAME ON AGAIN HAD A 2001 MERCEDES ML 320 ( BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2001) 63K MILES, BAS/ESP ON ACTING STRANGELY . FIRST IT WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER IN ILLINOIS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON BUT THEN LATTER IT COMES AGAIN. BEFORE THE PANEL DASH BOARD BAS/ESP CAME ON, IT SEEMS THE WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR IS NOT MOVING AND LATTER ON IT BAS/EXP LIGHT ON SO IT IS OKAY TO DRIVE THE CAR. WHAT I DID I WENT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND THEY REPLACED AGAIN THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON (REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER IN 10/10/12) INTO NEW ONE ORIGINAL PARTS. I NOTICED SOMETIMES THAT THE BAS/ESP IS ON AFTER 90 TEMPERATURE AND STAY ON UNTIL YOU SHUT DOWN THE CAR ENGINE. SOMEONE TOLD THAT IN THE MB FORUM THAT YAW RATE SENSOR IS THE ONE THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM OF THE BAS/ESP ON. I WONDER HOW NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS DOING THIS.YOU SHOULD RECALL THAT ASIDE REPLACEMENT OF BAS/ESP, YAW RATE SENSOR,ESP MODULE AND ABS RELAY SHOULD BE RECALL ALSO AND REPLACE NO CHARGE TO THE DRIVER PLUS FREE DIAGNOSTIC. I BRING TO MERCEDES DEALER IN CHICAGO IN 0CT. 2012 TO RECALL BAS/ESP, YET AFTER A DAY IT CAME ON AND REPEATED AGAIN EVEN TODAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESSWAY. NHTSA SHOULD DO THE RECALL SOONER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492165

Incident

Jan 10, 2013

Mileage

10 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY IN MODERATE TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING VIOLENTLY APPLIED UNEVEN POWER TO DIFFERENT WHEELS, BRAKE AND SPED UP. ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE AS I WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER CAR. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS AS I SLOWED CAR RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ABOUT 10 MILES LATER THE ACTION REPEATED MAKING ME FEAR A CRASH OR ROLL OVER AS I WAS FIGHTING TO REGAIN CONTROL AND EXIT FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND GAIN CONTROL. ENDED UP HAVING CAR TOWED 175 MILES HOME. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE YAW SENSOR DESIGNED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ESP TO PREVENT A ROLL OVER. HOWEVER THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED A ROLL OVER OR A CRASH WITH A LESS EXPERIENCED AND PHYSICALLY STRONG DRIVER. INDEED, HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER SHE COULD HAVE CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE. HAD THERE BEEN ONE OF THE MANY 18 WHEELERS IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO ME I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I COULD HAVE AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER THE FACT IN REVIEW ON GOOGLE I NOTED MANY VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME 2001 MBZ ML320. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478371

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

215,000 mi

ON OR ABOUT MAY 14, 2012, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SELF-INITIATED A CONTINUOUS BRAKE ACTIVATION WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE BRAKES OR TAKING ANY OTHER ACTION. THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED AND SUSTAINED BRAKING ACTION RESULTED IN A NEAR-COLLISION WITH A SEMI-TRUCK TRAVELING BEHIND ME WHICH THE TRUCK-DRIVER WAS FORTUNATELY JUST ABLE TO PREVENT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER AS THE UN-COMMANDED BRAKING ACTION BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING FOR ME, AND IT WAS ONLY SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (?ESP?) CONTROL MODULE AND YAW RATE SENSOR HAD FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY IN AN INOPERABLE CONDITION. REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA (CAMPAIGN # PE07007). *TR

NHTSA ID

10466598

Incident

May 14, 2012

Mileage

182,000 mi

AT ABOUT 10 TO 25 MILES PER HOURS MY CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKES AND CHANGES DIRECTION BY ITSELF WITHOUT PRESSING ANY PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442263

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF WHETHER A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V208000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL BACK WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10424718

Incident

Jul 2, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi