2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 Problems

Was driving 50 miles per hour when the car slammed on the brakes, nearly getting me rear ended. The throttle would not respond until the car was doing maybe5 miles per hour - on an interstate! The BAS/ESP light was on solid. I got onto an off ramp, called the dealer, was told it could be several causes, drove home carefully, and took it to the dealer. The dealer found nothing. Several times since, the car was being driven at speeds in the 20-30 miles per hour range, and the system would slam on the brakes and pull hard to the left. I could smell the brake dust in the car. Other times, it will ALMOST engage (ESP light flashes as well) then backs off.

RE: 2001 MB ML430 ELECTRONIC BRAKING SENSOR THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE INITIALLY LOCKED UP AT LOW SPEED UPON ACCELERATION. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON THE SYSTEM WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 70 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER BRAKE LOCKED UP AND BRAKE TIRE SMOKE BILLOWED FROM MY VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO SWERVE AND BRAKE BEHIND AND ON THE SIDE OF ME. I PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, AFTER WHICH MY VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. I PROCEEDED TO DO AN ONLINE SEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON SORT OF PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL.. PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS. IN MY CASE IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN THE ONE TIME AT 70 MPH. I LEARNED THAT THE YAW SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM WAS COMMONLY REPORTED AS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.. I PROCEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE YAW SENSOR AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I AM FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS NOT A RAINY DAY, OTHERWISE THE RESULTS MAY HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITH SO MANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND TRAVELING AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED. THEYAW SENSOR MB PART # IS A 002 542 94 18 Q01 SYSTRON DONNER INERTIA DIVISION USA

RE: 2001 MB ML430 ELECTRONIC BRAKING SENSOR THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE INITIALLY LOCKED UP AT LOW SPEED UPON ACCELERATION. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON THE SYSTEM WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 70 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER BRAKE LOCKED UP AND BRAKE TIRE SMOKE BILLOWED FROM MY VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO SWERVE AND BRAKE BEHIND AND ON THE SIDE OF ME. I PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, AFTER WHICH MY VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. I PROCEEDED TO DO AN ONLINE SEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON SORT OF PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL.. PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS. IN MY CASE IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN THE ONE TIME AT 70 MPH. I LEARNED THAT THE YAW SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM WAS COMMONLY REPORTED AS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.. I PROCEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE YAW SENSOR AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I AM FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS NOT A RAINY DAY, OTHERWISE THE RESULTS MAY HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITH SO MANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND TRAVELING AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED. THEYAW SENSOR MB PART # IS A 002 542 94 18 Q01 SYSTRON DONNER INERTIA DIVISION USA

TWICE NOW WHILE DRIVING AND GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS (DOTS ON THE ROAD TO WARN OF CROSSWALKS AND A DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE CURB) THE BAS/ESP AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND THE CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED VIOLENT BREAKING THAT TOOK CONTROL OF THE DIRECTION THE CAR WAS HEADING. THIS BREAKING CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH, BUT CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LIMITED DURING THE EVENT. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT WOULD BE VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BAS/ESP LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF.

Was driving 50 miles per hour when the car slammed on the brakes, nearly getting me rear ended. The throttle would not respond until the car was doing maybe5 miles per hour - on an interstate! The BAS/ESP light was on solid. I got onto an off ramp, called the dealer, was told it could be several causes, drove home carefully, and took it to the dealer. The dealer found nothing. Several times since, the car was being driven at speeds in the 20-30 miles per hour range, and the system would slam on the brakes and pull hard to the left. I could smell the brake dust in the car. Other times, it will ALMOST engage (ESP light flashes as well) then backs off.

THE ALL ACTIVITY MODULE (AAM) DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY TO WHICH NEITHER SIDE MIRRORS CAN BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE THE WINDOWS NO GO UP AND DOWN OR LONGER OPERATE. THEN THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS RELY SOLELY OFF OF THIS MIDDLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE AAM CONTROLS WHICH ARE THE CAUSING AFFECT OF THIS ISSUE.

IN APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 2010, I HAD AN ESP LIGHT ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (3 HOURS AWAY) AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE APPROX 20 MINS WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT ALIGNED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO BRING IT BACK IN BECAUSE THEY FORGOT TO ALIGN THE WHEELS. STARTED OFF ON MY DRIVE BACK HOME, STOPPED FOR GAS AND ON THE WAY OUT THE DRIVEWAY (10 MPH), I HEARD A GRINDING/SQUEAKING NOISE. GOT MY CAR HOME AND FOUND THAT IT WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID FROM A CLAMP. I KEPT PS FLUID IN THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN APPROX. NOVEMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW PS PUMP AND RACK/PINIONS RESEALED, THE COST OF APPROX $1800.00, OF WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR, JUST KEEPING PS FLUID IN IT, BUT IT LEAKS OUT. I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL CLAMP REPLACE TWICE, ONCE IN 2003 AND THEN IN 2007. *TR

MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430 WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I FIGURED OUT THAT THE CLAMP HAD COME OFF SO I RETIGHTENED IT AND FILLED IT UP AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS EMPTY. 2 MONTHS AGO IT HAPPENED AGAIN I NOTICED THE CLAMP DID NOT TIGHTEN SO I REPLACED THE CLAMP THEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. AT THE SACRAMENTO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER GAYTON DEROSA (930382) HAD HELPED US ON 2/17/09 INVOICE NUMBER IS MCCS281762 WE HAD INFORMED HIM THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS EMPTIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLAMP AND WE REFILLED THE TANK WITH MERCEDES POWER STEERING FLUID ALONG WITH A COMPATIBLE POWER STEERING STOP LEAK FLUID HOPING IT WOULD SOLVE THE LEAKAGE WE ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE FLUID WAS UP TO LEVEL WHEN WE LEFT OUR HOME. THEY DID THE REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL#2003-040005 AFTER THE SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED I SAT DOWN A SECOND TIME AND HE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE HAS PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE POWERSTEERING RESERVOIR AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED WHICH COSTS $129 ALSO HE SAID THAT THE SEAL TO THE RESERVOIR IS LEAKING AND THAT IT WOULD COST $185 FOR THE RESERVOIR TANK AND SEAL. WE INFORMED HIM THAT ANY FAULTY PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AT NO COST THAT IF THE RESERVOIR TANK WAS EMITTED TWICE AND RUNNING WITH NO POWERSTEERING FLUID BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLAMP THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND THAT SEALS LEAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAPPENS SPORADICALLY WHEN I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK I NOTICED THAT THE RESERVOIR TANK WAS OVERSERVICED TO THE BRIM. I AM A QUALIFIED FAA RATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND A RETIRED 22 YEAR MILITARY AIR FORCE AVIATION MAINTENANCE MECHANIC. THERE IS NO WAY THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN MY POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TANK. THAT ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAD FILLED IT WITH THE WRONG TYPE OF FLUID AFTER REPLACING CLAMP AND HOSE I AM DISSATISFIED OF THE SERVICE RENDERED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO UNDER THIS RECALL PROGRAM. *TR

DRIVERS WINDOW STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, LEAVING ME TO TRAVEL FOR 2 HOURS IN 34 DEGREE TEMP. OUTSIDE BECAUSE I WAS NOT WITHIN 30 MILES OF A MERCEDES TECH. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT IS PUSHED UPON PURCHASE...THEY TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HOW YOU WILL HAVE 24 HOUR COVERAGE WITH ANY PROBLEM YOU MAY HAVE AND A TECH. WILL COME TO YOUR AID (AND THIS IS TRUE, TRUST ME I HAVE USED THEM OFTEN ENOUGH) BUT WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU BREAK DOWN WITHIN 30 MILES OF A TECH. HERE IS A LIST OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST... I HAVE HAD 2 NEW RADIO/NAVAGATION SYSTEMS PUT IN I HAVE HAD 2 BATTERIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOILED OVER AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR.EW HEATING SENSOR IN PASS. SEATEW COMPUTER CHIP THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW I COULD TYPE FOR HOURS IF I LISTED EVERYTHING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DISSAPPOINTED IN A CAR PURCHASE AS I AM WITH THIS ONE. *AK

AT THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF HUMIDITY, SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP TO THE POINT THAT YOU CANNOT SEE OUTSIDE NOR USE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. FOLLOWING MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS ON DEFOGGING JUST IS TOO LATE. THIS FAILURE OF PROPER DEFOGGING IS THE WORSE THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING AND GOD KNOWS HOW MANY CARS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HARNESS STRAPS WERE TOO TIGHT AND THE RELEASE MECHANISM WAS JAMMED, AND WOULD NOT ALLOW SLACK TO THE STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OVER THE PHONE, BUT A REPLACEMENT SEAT WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS EVENFLOW. MAKE: EVENFLO. MODEL # 3891609P1. BUILD DATE: 8/24/2005. UPDATED 01/10/06. *JB

THIS HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY CAR POOL BUDDIES AND I THINK SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO EVERYONE WHO DRIVES A MERCEDES ML430 AND USES DOG RESTRAINTS THAT CLIP TO THE SEAT BELTS. HE HAS 2 LARGE LABRADOR RETRIEVERS, THE DOGS WERE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR (SEATS FOLDED DOWN AND A BED OF LUGGAGE) THE DOGS WERE CLIPPED TO THE REAR SEATBELTS USING ONE THE MANY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE. THESE ARE BIG ACTIVE DOGS. AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS DRIVING HE HEARD ONE OF THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTING A FEW HOURS LATER THE OTHER ONE DID THE SAME THING. WHEN WE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM, WE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CLEANLY CUT - NOT A SINGLE TOOTH MARK (HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE DOGS CHEWED THEIR WAY OUT). WHEN WE LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT THE CAR, THE REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED BECAME CLEAR - THE ML SEATBELTS COME OUT OF A SLOT IN THE DOOR PILLAR, THE TOP OF THIS SLOT IS VERY SHARP. THE DOGS ARE LARGE AND ON TOP OF BAGGAGE, SO THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE SLOT. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF WEAR, THE BELTS WERE SLICED CLEAN THROUGH. OTHER CARS IN OUR CARPOOL FLEET HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGN, TYPICALLY THE SEAT BELT EMERGES FROM THE DOOR PILLAR LOWER DOWN AND IS GUIDED OVER A ROLLER AT THE TOP, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SHARP EDGES, THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT IF THE ROAD TRIP HAD BEEN SHORTER THE BELTS COULD HAVE BEEN WEAKENED BY NOT SHEARED. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE. IF THEY HAD FAILED IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A CONNECTION BACK TO THE DOG RESTRAINTS. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS HAPPY TO TAKE HIS MONEY TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT (AS BY CARPOOL BUDDY PUT IT, THE REPAIR COST HIM $200 A PAW), BUT MERCEDES DID NOT SEE THIS AS A LARGER ISSUE. I THINK THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES AND IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. THANKS, RAY *LA

I WAS DRIVING HOME CAME TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD ABOUT 15 MPH THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING ENGAGED, I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF TURNED IT BACK ON THE ESP-BAS LIGHT CAME ON. EVER SINCE THEN THE CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY BUT WHEN IT WANTS TO. *TR

IN APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 2010, I HAD AN ESP LIGHT ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (3 HOURS AWAY) AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE APPROX 20 MINS WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT ALIGNED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO BRING IT BACK IN BECAUSE THEY FORGOT TO ALIGN THE WHEELS. STARTED OFF ON MY DRIVE BACK HOME, STOPPED FOR GAS AND ON THE WAY OUT THE DRIVEWAY (10 MPH), I HEARD A GRINDING/SQUEAKING NOISE. GOT MY CAR HOME AND FOUND THAT IT WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID FROM A CLAMP. I KEPT PS FLUID IN THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN APPROX. NOVEMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW PS PUMP AND RACK/PINIONS RESEALED, THE COST OF APPROX $1800.00, OF WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR, JUST KEEPING PS FLUID IN IT, BUT IT LEAKS OUT. I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL CLAMP REPLACE TWICE, ONCE IN 2003 AND THEN IN 2007. *TR

2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 430. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST PRESSURE DUE TO THE FUEL TUBE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING FLUID.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED, SLID SIDEWAYS, AND NEARLY ROLLED OVER. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE AND THE FUEL LINE CROSSED ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING BOTH TO FAIL OVER TIME. BOTH LINES ALSO CROSSED OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,686.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH BRAKE LIGHT AND THE AIR MASS SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE YAW RATE ELECTRICAL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,249 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,976. ..UPDATED 04/24/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THEM HAVE RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION # PE07007. UPDATED 06/13/13

I WAS DRIVING HOME CAME TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD ABOUT 15 MPH THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING ENGAGED, I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF TURNED IT BACK ON THE ESP-BAS LIGHT CAME ON. EVER SINCE THEN THE CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY BUT WHEN IT WANTS TO. *TR

MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML430 WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I FIGURED OUT THAT THE CLAMP HAD COME OFF SO I RETIGHTENED IT AND FILLED IT UP AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS EMPTY. 2 MONTHS AGO IT HAPPENED AGAIN I NOTICED THE CLAMP DID NOT TIGHTEN SO I REPLACED THE CLAMP THEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. AT THE SACRAMENTO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER GAYTON DEROSA (930382) HAD HELPED US ON 2/17/09 INVOICE NUMBER IS MCCS281762 WE HAD INFORMED HIM THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS EMPTIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLAMP AND WE REFILLED THE TANK WITH MERCEDES POWER STEERING FLUID ALONG WITH A COMPATIBLE POWER STEERING STOP LEAK FLUID HOPING IT WOULD SOLVE THE LEAKAGE WE ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE FLUID WAS UP TO LEVEL WHEN WE LEFT OUR HOME. THEY DID THE REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL#2003-040005 AFTER THE SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED I SAT DOWN A SECOND TIME AND HE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE HAS PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE POWERSTEERING RESERVOIR AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED WHICH COSTS $129 ALSO HE SAID THAT THE SEAL TO THE RESERVOIR IS LEAKING AND THAT IT WOULD COST $185 FOR THE RESERVOIR TANK AND SEAL. WE INFORMED HIM THAT ANY FAULTY PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AT NO COST THAT IF THE RESERVOIR TANK WAS EMITTED TWICE AND RUNNING WITH NO POWERSTEERING FLUID BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLAMP THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND THAT SEALS LEAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAPPENS SPORADICALLY WHEN I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK I NOTICED THAT THE RESERVOIR TANK WAS OVERSERVICED TO THE BRIM. I AM A QUALIFIED FAA RATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND A RETIRED 22 YEAR MILITARY AIR FORCE AVIATION MAINTENANCE MECHANIC. THERE IS NO WAY THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN MY POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TANK. THAT ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAD FILLED IT WITH THE WRONG TYPE OF FLUID AFTER REPLACING CLAMP AND HOSE I AM DISSATISFIED OF THE SERVICE RENDERED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO UNDER THIS RECALL PROGRAM. *TR

I HAVE HAD 5 INCIDENCES, WHILE DRIVING, OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE APPLICATION OF MY MERCEDES 1002 ML430. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, UP TO 40 OR 60+ MPH, MY SUV CAME TO A SUDDEN AND ABRUPT HALT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AND STOP. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE MERCEDES TO CONTINUE DRIVING I HAD TO SHUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RE-START IT, SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE INCIDENCES HAVE BEEN SCARY AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TODAY, OCTOBER 23RD, FOR A SECOND REPLACEMENT OF BAD PARTS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER TODAY, I WILL HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TO DEAL WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

I PURCHASED A MERCEDES ML 430 2001 IN MAY 2001. SINCE THEN A PART CALLED A STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAS GONE OUT 6 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES AND MILEAGE ON VEHICLE: 5/10/05 40,561 MILES, 9/28/06 47,767 MILES, 8/14/07 51,801 MILES, 4/10/08 55,151 MILES, 3/17/09 61,105 MILES, AND 1/28/10 65,465 MILES. ON AUGUST 14, 2007 WITH THIS STOP LIGHT SWITCH GOING OUT I COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE VEHICLE OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES UNTIL IT DISENGAGED BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT 60 MPH. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL ONE DAY KILL OR SERIOUSLY INJURE PEOPLE. *TR