2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500 Problems

There is a serious defect in the YAW rate sensors in these Mercedes ML W163's. Thank God I was driving down a secluded road and nobody was behind me, but my vehicles brakes locked up, on their own, even with my foot on the accelerator pedal, with no warning lights or warning signals. I have no error codes, and my vehicle is well maintained. There are many many people that are having the same issue with their Mercedes ML's. Some people have experienced this happening to them at freeway speeds. The YAW rate sensors are at fault, and send a signal to the ABS pump which in turn locks up the brakes without even touching the brake pedal! This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to everyone in the vehicle, and to ANY other vehicle in the area. People can DIE! Again.. This is a terrible defective function of a sensor that will spontaneously apply the brakes fully to lock up automatically with no persuasion from the driver. It is extremely dangerous and can cause fatal injuries. This has been researched thru many Mercedes forums including benzworld.org, mbworld.org, Mercedesforum.com, and ml w163 Facebook forum, all of which many ML owners have experienced the braking system lockup, and in some cases accidents have occurred. Another unfortunate issue in this happening, is that the brake lights do not light up when this sudden braking happens due to the YAW rate sensor malfunction. If there is a vehicle behind a Mercedes ML when this sudden braking occurs, there is NO WARNING LIGHTS, and can cause a serious accident and injury or death! Many people, including myself, do not feel safe behind the wheel of our Mercedes ML's for fear of the brakes locking up in their own because of this poorly programmed default function of a possible faulty YAW rate sensor. This is the worst default function to ever have a vehicle do. I now steer clear of other Mercedes ML's in the road knowing they can automatically lock their brakes for no apparent reason. Please research this and take action!

2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML 500. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING VEHICLE BRAKE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BRAKE LINES LEAKING. *JB

HOUSE FROM POWER STEERING POMP IS LEAKING , DURING DRIVE I LOOSE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ALMOST I HIT CAT FROM ANOTHER LINE.

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING IN SMALL DRIPS WHEN PARKED. HARD TO STEER AT TIMES AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. HAVE CONCERNS THAT STEERING MAY BE AFFECTED AND CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. *TR

THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME IT HAPPENED, THIS TIME ON THE FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA AND LASTED UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR WENT INTO BREAK MODE ON ITS OWN, THE CAR FISHTAILED AND CAME TO A STOP BEFORE RECOVERING. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO STOP, I HEARD BREAKS SCREECHING, BUT NO KNOWN CRASHES. I SCARED ME TO DEATH AS THIS COULD HAVE IT COULD HAVE CAUSE A MULTI-CAR CRASH. I PULLED OFF THE FWY AND INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION AND CALLED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES REPAIR CENTER. THEY CANNOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND I WILL NOT TAKE MY CAR BACK UNTIL I AM SURE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RE-OPEN THIS CASE AND FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED TO SLOW VEHICLE, CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE FORCING VEHICLE TO SPEED UP ALMOST CRASHING INTO VEHICLE AHEAD. CRUISE CONTROL COULD ONLY BE DISENGAGED BY PUTTING TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSING BRAKE. THIS IS FIRST TIME FAILURE OCCURRED. DEALER REPLACES STOP LAMP SWITCH (PART IS AVAILABLE), RECOMMENDED REPLACING BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR AND BAS RELEASE SWITCH AT A COST TO ME OVER $1,000. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES ML500. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OPTICAL DISTORTION ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHICH AFFECTED HIS VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE INTERIOR OF THE MIRROR CONTAINED LIQUID WHICH DETERIORATED OVER TIME AND CAUSED THE DISTORTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

I HAVE 2002 MERCEDES ML-500 AND MY CLIMATE CONTROL DOES NOT WORKS AND BLOWING COOLED AIR ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN I SELECTED TO FULL HOT. I DID BUY MERCEDES SHOP MANUAL AND AS I WAS READING THE SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY MERCEDES MANUFACTURER I FOUND THAT THE FACTORY IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THE A/C SYSTEM SOMETIMES DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT OR COOLED AIR. MERCEDES CONFORMED THAT CERTAIN CONTROL UNITS PART NUMBERS HAVE LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES THIS AND THE WANT THE CAR OWNER TO REPLACE THE A/C CONTROL UNIT WITH THE UPDATED PART NUMBER 163 829 57 89 AT THE CAR OWNER EXPENSE BECAUSE AS THEY SAY IT IS NOT SAFETY ISSUE? WELL CAN THAT BE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT IN THE VERY COLD / SNOW WEATHER AS WE HAVE HERE IN BOSTON? AS FAR AS I AM CONCERN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO HEATING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BAD WINTER STATES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF MY COMPLAIN MAKES CORRECT. *TR

I, 12 YEARS AGO WAS DRIVING MY ML 500 MERCEDES ON US 23 BETWEEN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN AND SYLVANIA, IN OHIO. MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. I HAVE SINCE SOLD MY CAR SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP IN SYLVANIA AT THE TIME, AND THEY CHECKED WITH MERCEDES, WHO RELAYED THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE KEYS ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS SOUNDED EERILY SIMILAR TO WHAT APPARENTLY HAS OCCURRED WITH THE GM CARS BEING RECALLED. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS ISSUE IS INVESTIGATED FURTHER SO THAT NO INJURIES THAT CAN BE PREVENTED HAPPEN . REGARDS, *TR

WHILE DRIVING, ML500 BEGAN TO BRAKE RANDOMLY . ALSO ABS TURNED ON WHILE STOPPING AND ACCELERATING. ALSO BRAKES WERE CONSTANTLY SCREECHING. WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS, BAS, AND WASHER FLUID. FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE. I TOLD DEALER ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND FOUND NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN SHOULD THE SAME EVENTS OCCUR. (THE RANDOM BREAKING BEGAN TO OCCUR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED). THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST AND WITH THE FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM, I BROUGHT THE ML500 BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER. AFTER TWO DAYS, I RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1100.00. "CONVENIENTLY" THEY FOUND THE SAME PROBLEMS I SPOKE OF BEFORE AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY TO RESTORE FUNCTION TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER TAKING IT HOME WE NOTICED THAT THE THERE WAS NO SOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND AND NAVIGATION VOICE WORKED PERFECTLY BEFORE GETTING SERVICE. AND AFTERWARDS IT DID NOT. WE CALLED THE SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK AT OUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, AND THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASSUME THAT THIS WAS A MISTAKE ON THEIR PART. WHEN I RETURNED TO RESTORE THE SOUND THEY APPROACHED ME AND TOLD ME THAT A "VOICE MODULATION UNIT" BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD GONE OUT, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $750.00 PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR. THEY TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT THIS WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE, AND THAT THE UNIT WAS IN NO WAY RELATED OR CIRCUIT LINKED TO THE SENSORS THEY REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THEY MUST HAVE MISTAKENLY SHORTED IT. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST $10,000.00 IN THE PAST YEAR FOR REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE AND ONE OTHER MERCEDES. THEY DID NOT GOOD WILL CREDIT THE WORK SO I DID NOT ACCEPT THE REPAIR SERVICE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A $750.00 COINCIDENCE. THE SOUND WORKED FOR ALMOST 80,000 MILES BEFORE SERVICE AND NOW RIGHT AFTER IT FAILED... I DON'T THINK SO. THE MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE LOW RANGE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS UPDATED AND AN OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WALTER'S MERCEDES-BENZ OF RIVERSIDE (3213 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504, (951) 441-6182) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 201,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AN HOUR LATER, HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THAT THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

THE GEARS JAMMED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM'S OR MOR BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE. THE DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE CONSUMED ALOT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK PROPERLY. STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION AND EXCESSIVE REFLECTION FROM GLARE SHIELD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. *PH *NLM

TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, THREE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY BY OWNER, FINALLY ON FOURTH ATTEMPT.(PLACING IN PARK AND TURNING OFF AN ON IGNITION) TRANSMISSION FINALLY WOKED NORMALLY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER THROUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOLD TO RETURN VEHICLE TO DEALER, CONTACTED DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL SEVERAL TIMES. THOUGHT I SHOULD ADVISE SOMEONE AT NHSTA. DT

FOUND IDENTICAL PROBLEM PER NHTSA ACTION # EA08009 DEFECT INVESTIGATION. CONSTANT LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED LOW BRAKE FLUID. FOUND FLUID UNDER CAR AND IN FRONT LEFT WHEEL-WELL. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND BRAKE HARD LINE FROM MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHAFFED FROM ADJACENT FUEL LINE, CAUSING SMALL PIN-HOLE LEAK IN BRAKE LINE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BRAKE FLUID WOULD SPRAY OUT, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT BRAKING PRESSURE TO HOLD VEHICLE AT STOPS. CONTACTED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE UN-AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR WAS >$1000. ($112 FOR PART, $975 FOR 6HRS LABOR) PART NUMBER: A1634201526 PURCHASED LENGTH OF HARDLINE MYSELF AT PARTS STORE. CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED MY OWN REPLACEMENT PART FOR $155 INCLUDING PURCHASE OF TOOLS TO COMPLETE JOB. *TR

I HAVE 2002 MERCEDES ML-500 AND MY CLIMATE CONTROL DOES NOT WORKS AND BLOWING COOLED AIR ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN I SELECTED TO FULL HOT. I DID BUY MERCEDES SHOP MANUAL AND AS I WAS READING THE SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY MERCEDES MANUFACTURER I FOUND THAT THE FACTORY IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THE A/C SYSTEM SOMETIMES DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT OR COOLED AIR. MERCEDES CONFORMED THAT CERTAIN CONTROL UNITS PART NUMBERS HAVE LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES THIS AND THE WANT THE CAR OWNER TO REPLACE THE A/C CONTROL UNIT WITH THE UPDATED PART NUMBER 163 829 57 89 AT THE CAR OWNER EXPENSE BECAUSE AS THEY SAY IT IS NOT SAFETY ISSUE? WELL CAN THAT BE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT IN THE VERY COLD / SNOW WEATHER AS WE HAVE HERE IN BOSTON? AS FAR AS I AM CONCERN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO HEATING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BAD WINTER STATES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF MY COMPLAIN MAKES CORRECT. *TR

Motor vehicle accident head on and the airbags did not deploy.