1999 Mercedes-Benz ML430

ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THAT RESULTED IN ALLEGATIONS OF REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, THE RATE DROPS EVEN FURTHER (22.3 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.04 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE). MERCEDES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING THAT IN THE RARE INSTANCES WHEN CHAFING DID PROGRESS TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THE DRIVER WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED TO A PROBLEM BY ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT YELLOW ESP/BAS WARNING LAMP AND CHANGES IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WOULD RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT RED BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME DUE TO LOW MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR LEVEL. CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WOULD ULTIMATELY DRAIN THE RESERVOIR FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE CIRCUIT AND AN APPROXIMATELY 80% INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES. SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND VRTC INDICATE THAT ROUTING ANOMALIES MAY BE MORE COMMON THAN THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SUGGEST FOR THE SUBJECT LINE BUNDLE, WITH LINE CONTACT OR OTHER ROUTING ANOMALY NOTED IN 13 OF 51 VEHICLES SURVEYED BY ODI AND VRTC (25.5%).WHILE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND SUBJECT BRAKE IN A PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT NECESSARILY PREDICTIVE OF EVENTUAL LINE FAILURE/LEAKAGE, SIGNIFICANT CHAFING WEAR WAS NOTED IN TWO SURVEY VEHICLES (3.9%).TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH LINE ROUTING AND ENSURE THAT LINES WITH EVIDENT CHAFING DO NOT PROGRESS TO A LEAK CONDITION, MERCEDES WILL CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR A FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR.LINES THAT DO NOT HAVE A SPACER (RUBBER GROMMET OR OMEGA-CLIP) BETWEEN THE SUBJECT FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WILL HAVE AN OMEGA-CLIP SPACER INSTALLED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LINES.BRAKE LINES WITH CHAFE MARKS WILL BE REPLACED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-009 CLOSING REPORT.

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.

DECEMBER 11, 2013 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY BENZ QUIT ON ME IN THE ROAD WOULD NOT START BACK (MY HOME IS WITHIN 2 MILES OF MY WORK) THE DAY BEFORE IT HAD QUIT AS I WAS MAKING A TURN BUT RESTARTED A COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR I HAD THE CAR WARMING AND IT SHUT OFF WHILE WARMING UP BUT RESTARTED. THERE WAS NO LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT DASH PANEL LIT OR STAYING LIT. AFTER SOME INTERNET INVESTIGATING I ASSUME IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AS IT HAD ALL THE SIGNS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD I PURCHASED ONE FOR THE REPAIR SHOP TO INSTALL. THEY HAVE INSTALLED IT BUT BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SO I AM NOT CURRENTLY DRIVING IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH IT QUITTING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. MY BENZ HAS LESS THAN 65K I DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT MILEAGE WITH ME AT THIS TIME BUT IF IT IS NEEDED PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557938

Incident

Dec 11, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY I NOTICED A LOUD EXHAUST SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER IOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR ANT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SPLIT IN HALF ALONG THE WELDS. *TR BASICALLY, THE EXHAUST IS VENTING DIRECTLY TO THE OPEN AIR WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE LEFT SIDE EXHAUST NOT HOLDING TOGETHER CORRECTLY. I THEN FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT: MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC AND DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG SETTLEMENT (EPA) AFFECTED VEHICLES: THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER: 1999-2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 (VIN RANGE A036519-A260405) 1999 -2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 430 ( VIN RANGE A057639-A260575) THERE IS NO MILEAGE LIMIT OR TIME LIMIT FOR THIS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. I AM AN OWNER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. HOW DO I PROCEED TO GET THIS VIOLATION REPAIRED? CAN YOU PLEASE POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? THIS IS A HEALTH/SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU, SCOTT

NHTSA ID

10509362

Incident

Apr 19, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE BRAKELINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID AND THE ABILITY TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433941

Incident

Oct 20, 2011

Mileage

71,000 mi

TL* THE OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML 430. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTING MAKING A NOISE AND LEAKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC NOTICE THE WELDING WAS CRACKING. THE MECHANIC PULLED UP A RECALL AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR AND THE DEALER STATED DUE TO THE VIN NUMBER, THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED TO THE CONTACT THAT HE CALL MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THEIR IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THE RECALL CAMPAIGN IS CLOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10357002

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL POP. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SOUNDED SIMILAR TO A LOUD MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TWO FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10345951

Incident

Jul 14, 2010

Mileage

131,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 MERCEDES ML-430. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE LED REAR VIEW MIRROR, FILTERING THROUGH THE MIRROR AND CAUSING VISIBILITY DIFFICULTIES. IN ADDITION, THE OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR CORRODING THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT FELT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS AFFECTING HER LINE OF SIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10324659

Incident

Apr 5, 2010

Mileage

57,000 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT MY FUEL TANK SENSOR IS BROKEN AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MERCEDES DEALERS SELL THE FUEL TANK SENSOR WITH THE FUEL TANK AS ONE UNIT. THEREFORE THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS ENORMOUS. IN ADDITION AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT COMPLAINTS FOR THE ML MODELS AND THE FUEL TANK IS NUMEROUS AND WORTH NOTICING. THIS DEFECT HAS OCCURRED IN THE MAJORITY OF MERCEDES ML MODELS AND THE DEALER ACTUALLY HAS A HUGE INVENTORY OF FUEL TANKS IN ORDER TO PROFIT FROM THIS DEFECT. NOT ONLY IS IT DANGER BUT IT CAUSES A HEADACHE FOR CONSUMERS FOR FAIL THE EMISSIONS TEST BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SHEER COST OF REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286165

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND FORWARD AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. HE ASSUMED SOMETHING WAS LOOSE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT BEARING WAS LOOSE. AFTER REPAIRING THE SHAFT, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ALSO CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT REPAIRING THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 04/13/09.*JB THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY$ 3850 FOR A NEW TRANSFER CASE. UPDATED 06/15/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10264001

Incident

Mar 21, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D

Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor"

Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual"

Thumping noises from front axle when driving over bumps on road.

Since 12/2012 (model 166) and since 06/2013 (model 242) the glass breakage loops are no longer in the side windows and rear window. Suitable interior protection ensures that the interior monitoring function continues to operate correctly.