1999 Mercedes-Benz ML430 Problems

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID OVER TIME. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD COST $1,050 TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN HOWEVER, HE STILL FELT RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING. IN ADDITION, THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR AND STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAS INVOICES TO SUPPORT HIS COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

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

MY VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START AGAIN AFTER IF HAS BEEN RUNNING AND SHUT OFF. FOR EXAMPLE IT FREQUENTLY HAPPENS AT THE GAS STATION. I CAN'T GET MY CAR STARTED AGAIN AFTER I FILL UP FOR SOMETIMES 45 MINUTES. *TR

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

MERCEDES BENZ (MB) HAS A DEFECTIVE HARMONIC BALANCER WHICH THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENT FOR WILLINGLY. THEIR OFFICIAL LINE IS THAT THEY "HAVE NO POLICY" WITH REGARD TO THIS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS ON "NATIONAL BACKORDER" I WAS TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT SOURCES. MB WAS CONDESCENDING & RUDE WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS. THEIR DEALERSHIPS PROVIDE NO HELP. FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE FILED REPORTS WITH MY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL & THE BBB. A RECALL IS NECESSARY IMMEDIATELY!! P.S. (THE FUEL GAGE DOES NOT READ FULL EVER!) *LA

THE CAR STARTED FROM FREQUENTLY POWER CUT-OFF WHEN DRIVING, AFTER PULL OFF THE ROAD BY POLICE AND THE ENGINE COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, IT WOULD START AND RUN FOR ABOUT 3 TO 5 MILES AND STOPPED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WAS FIXED FOR OVER $500.00 FOR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY POWER FAILURE. PRIOR TO THAT, I REPLACED WATER-PUMP COST ABOUT $700.00. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, I WAS DIVING TO WORK WHICH IS ABOUT 9 MILES FROM MY HOUSE; I DROVE FOR ABOUT 6 MILES AND THE CAR JACKED-UP 3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED, I WAS LUCKY NOT HAVING ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR. AFTER PULLED ASIDE FROM THE TRAFFIC BY POLICE, I CALLED TOW-TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE SAME DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT WASHINGTON 1401 DRESHER TOWN ROAD DRESHER, PA 19025, PHONE: 215-646-7700). THREE DAYS LATER, I CALLED THE DEALER WHEN I DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT, AND WILL COST ME $6,800.00. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT; WHILE THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER, I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL LETTER #2003-040005 FROM ANOTHER BRANCH OF MERCEDES-BENZ FOR THIS SAME CAR. THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR IT AND I DO NOT HAVE $6,800.00 TO REPAIR IT. *TR

COMPLAINT WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE SUDDEN ONSET OF 1999 ML 430 MERCEDES BENZ SUV FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SPECIFIC TO THE HARMONIC PULLEY WHICH WAS REPLACED. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE TO WORK ON 6/1/07 THE CAR SUDDEN BEGAN TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (NO PRIOR WARNING OR SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT.) *TR

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH BRAKE SYSTEM SEIZED. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS MELTED. ALSO, ABS PUMP UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

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

I OWN A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430 SUV. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST COMPLETE POWER AND POWER STEERING. THANK GOD I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND NOT MY WIFE, WITH INFANT CHILD. AFTER BEING DIAGNOSE BY MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WITH A FAULTY HARMONIC BALANCER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BELTS, OIL PAN, TIMING CHAIN COVER, ETC, I WAS ADVISED BY MY SERVICE REP THAT MERCEDES BENZ OF USA IS VERY AWARE OF THIS HAZARDOUS/DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY HARMONIC BALANCERS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY (MB USA) WILL NOT COVER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. MY VEHICLE HAD 55,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT OUR COMPLAINTS WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER MB USA'S BEHIND. *CB

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC INFORM THE CONSUMER THAT THEIR FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WARPED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING A NOISE OCCURS WITHIN FRONT END OF VEHICLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 40 TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

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.

THROTTLE LOCKS- CANNOT BE PUSHED DOWN BY A 250 LB DRIVER. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO EVEN PULL OUT OF A FILLING STATION. IT PROBABLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN JAN 2001 WHICH I TRIED TO CROSS A ROAD AND WAS HIT AND THE HONDA THAT HIT US WAS TOTALLED.*AK

DRIVING MY 1999 ML430 MERCEDES BENZ ON I-85 IN HOGANSVILLE, GA AT A SPEED OF 80 MPH WHEN THE CAR'S HOOD OPENED UP AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON REVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED I DISCOVERED THAT THE HOOD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE HOOD LATCH. THE LATCH WAS STILL FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE CAR. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS CAUSED BY THIS INCIDENT. *TR

LN LATE AUGUST, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD OF A 1999 MERCEDES BENZML430. CAR WAS DELIVERED TO THE DEALER TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS AND TESTS, MERCEDES BENZ DECIDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. OWNER INCURRED COST OF LABOR. IN NOVEMBER, DRIVER WAS PARKING CAR AND REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. KEY RELEASED IN ERROR CAUSING CAR TO ROLL INTO A RAVINE AND HIT A TREE. MERCEDES HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OF THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. IN FACT, THEY STATE THAT THE KEYS(3)ARE WORN DOWN AND NO LONGER PROVIDE THE SAFETY BY LIMITING THE RELEASE OF THE KEY UNLESS THE CAR IS IN PARK MODE. CAR WAS DELIVERED TO MERCEDES BENZ FOR INVESTIGATION. AFTER A TWO WEEK INVESTIGATION, MERCEDES CLAIMS THE KEYS(3) WERE WORN OUT AND THAT IS WHY THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE FAILED. MERCEDES IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM OR FIXING THE CAR. THE RESULT OF THIS "DEFECT" COULD INVOLVE SEVERAL FATALITIES. IF A DRIVER CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN PARK, THIS FEATURE CAN NOT BE CLAIMED AS SAFE. IF MERCEDES CLAIMS THIS IS A KEY ISSUE, THEN ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO ALERT THE CONSUMER TO THIS PROBLEM. WHILE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT, IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILL IN THE FIELD OF "HEADLIGHT LENSES." WRITER WAS NOT GIVEN ANY OPTIONS AND SO INPUTTED THIS INFORMATION IN ORDER TO PROCEED. AS YOU CAN SEE THE HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MERCEDES THIS IS AN IGNITION/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

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