2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Steering Problems

MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER

NHTSA ID

11300274

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

STEERING FLUID LEEKS.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TANK.THE STEERING IS VERY HARD.

NHTSA ID

11235329

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

210,000 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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP WAS REPLACED IN 2005 DUE TO AN UNUSUAL NOISE BEING EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. MOST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT COMPLETED A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CHARGE TO FIRST PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

10493739

Incident

Dec 11, 2002

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT LANE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE BACK INTO HER LANE BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PRESSED ON THE BREAK PEDAL BUT THEY FELL STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. SHE GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN WITH MORE FORCE. SHE STEERED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LEFT AND OFF THE ROAD INTO A PATCH OF GRASS. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURED FROM A STOP LAMP SWITCH. THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT THAT DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ON ANOTHER OCCASSION SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BRAKE FAILURE. SHE VEERED ONTO OTHER LANES. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME THIS TIME AND ATTEMPTED CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED OUTSIDE OF HER HOMEUN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. BL

NHTSA ID

10281651

Incident

Aug 3, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE ESP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10272636

Incident

May 11, 2009

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE HOSE AND CLAMP WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED AND CAUSING A LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WOULD COST $1,025. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72839. UPDATED 12/14/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10262932

Incident

Mar 9, 2009

Mileage

72,839 mi

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 HAS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING PUMP. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE HOSE AND CLAMP BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED PREVIOUSLY AND RAN COMPLETELY DRY AND WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE HOSE AND CLAMP CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL ONLY COVERED REPAIRS TO THE HOSE AND CLAMP AND ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10261250

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

Mileage

120,494 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT, SHE COULD NOT PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AT THE COST OF $150. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HYDRAULICS, RING, AND DRIVE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,320. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL DEFECT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE AMOUNT THEY PAID. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER WILL ONLY INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NEEDED. THE DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR DAMAGES TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,804.

NHTSA ID

10257169

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

Mileage

50,804 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CHEMICALS CAUSED SEVERE BURNS ON HIS RIGHT ARM. HE HAS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS), WHICH EXPLICITLY REFERENCED THE FAILURE THAT HE EXPERIENCED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10256938

Incident

Nov 16, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 03V121000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DUE TO A CLAMP FAILURE. THIS DEMONSTRATED THAT RECALL REMEDY WAS INADEQUATE.*AK AFTER THE RECALL FAILURE, THE CONSUMER LEARNED MERCEDES REDESIGNED THE CLAMP THREE TIMES. THE CLAMP USED ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASN'T THE SAME CLAMP BEING USED THROUGHOUT THE RECALL. MERCEDES WAS CONTINUING TO MODIFY THE CLAMPS. CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE RECALLED AGAIN. STEERING WAS LOST WITHOUT NOTICE AND WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10042694

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

39,678 mi

WE BELIEVE THAT ONE OR MORE MECHANICAL AND/OR DESIGN FAILURES CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH OUR 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 WAS INVOLVED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041161

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

Mileage

21,000 mi

POWER STEERING FLUID ON MY 2001 MERCEDES ML 320 LEAKED OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026067

Incident

Jul 13, 2003

THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 03 V 121 000 FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AND FLASHED AND BEEPED, LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS/GAS TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO SECOND GEAR AND DID COME OUT FOR SOME TIME(DISCOVERED IT WAS IN LIMP-HOME MODE). THE SERVICE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE GEAR SELECTOR. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF, EXCEPT FOR THE BAS/BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM LIGHT, THE GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER HAD RESUMED. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE HALF OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ON THE LEFT LIT UP, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE SERVICE DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE BATTERY. DURING A RAINSTORM, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, THE TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEPT BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY BUT DID NOT GO INTO LIMP MODE. THERE WAS A CRACK IN ONE OF THE D-PILLARS, AND THE REAR HATCH LOCK DID NOT WORK. THE IGNITION LOCK SEEMED LOOSE SINCE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR LEAKED. THE BAS/ESP CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THE BRAKE PAD WEAR LIGHT DISPLAYED, THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES THEN WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A CLAMP PROBLEM. ALSO THE DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH HESITATED. THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE THAT RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE HOSE CLAMP FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE HYDRAULIC FLUID PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES RELATED TO THE REPAIRS. RECALL# 03V121000 *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022912

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

52,025 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024417

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER SHIFTED AND THE SUV STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN, AND THE DEALER STATED A GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE STEERING PROBLEM WERE NOT RELATED. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10009894

Incident

Jan 13, 2003

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES ON-CALL SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE CLAMP TO THE POWER STEERING IS COMING LOOSE IN ALL OF THE ML 320'S AND THE CAR STILL ISN'T BEING RECALLED. IN FACT THERE WERE TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THE ONE HOUR HE WAS THERE HELPING ME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008479

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED, AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT. *JB *SCC

NHTSA ID

10009305

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

13,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10005254

Incident

Jan 4, 2003

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAME OFF AND CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK. AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10006184

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

81,843 mi

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AT 40 MPH, DEALER DETERMINED AC FUSE HAD BLOWN. DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND HOSE. TS

NHTSA ID

10004806

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE ML320 AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ROADSIDE ASSIST INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ML320 BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND DEVELOP A PERMENANT FIX ASAP.

NHTSA ID

10003560

Incident

Jan 25, 2003

Mileage

26,320 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CATR STARTED STALLING. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT TURN AT ALL BECASUSE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT TURN. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. I CALLED THE MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE UNSNAPPED, AS A RESULT, HE HAD TO GO TO A LOCAL TRACK AUTO STORE TO BUY A TEMPORARY PART TO REPLACE IT. THIS WAS A SCARY AND CLOSE CALL AS I SAW A METRO BUS ALMOST RUN INTO ME AS I WAS TRYING TO MANEAVOR THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY.

NHTSA ID

10002870

Incident

Jan 12, 2003

Mileage

27,137 mi

POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE CAME LOOSE DURING OPERATION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CLAMP HOLDING THE HOSE IN PLACE IS DEFECTIVE; HOWEVER, MERCEDES HAS NOT HAD A RECALL TO FIX THE ITEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN A TURN WHEN THIS OCCURRED AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST LIKELY RESULT. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A CAR COMPANY WOULD NOT RECALL AND RESOLVE A KNOWN ISSUE. TS

NHTSA ID

10000961

Incident

Jan 11, 2003

Mileage

36,011 mi