2004 Mercedes-Benz ML500 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE LOS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 360 DEGREES HOWEVER, THE WHEELS REMAINED IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE TO DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED MERCEDES BENZ OF CARY (2400 AUTO PARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, 919-380-1800) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000.

NHTSA ID

11406909

Incident

Apr 6, 2021

Mileage

248,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

10954293

Incident

Feb 13, 2017

Mileage

123,000 mi

SMELL GAS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. RUST AROUND FRONT AND REAR FENDERS

NHTSA ID

10862907

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

THIS COULD BE RELATED TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN ALL ML CLASS. 1. OBD SYSTEM CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY 2. STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR CAUSE TO REPORT INCORRECTLY 3. THE SPEEDOMETER OUT OF TOLERANCE IS REPORTING INCORRECTLY 4. OBD SYSTEM IS REPORTING INCORRECTLY CAUSING FAULTS IN SYSTEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668448

Incident

Dec 2, 2013

Mileage

125,500 mi

THE BOSE DVD STEREO HAS NO SOUND EVERYTHING WORKS JUST NO SOUND THIS APPEAR TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661074

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

Mileage

225,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTROL THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLENISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

10641841

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10548273

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MERCEDES ML 500 WITH MY 17 DAUGHTER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CAR STARTED TO SMELL AND MY DAUGHTERS SEAT FELT HOT TO HER. SHE TRIED TO MOVE HER SELF OVER AND BURNT THE PALM OF HER HAND ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN BURNING AT A VERY HOT TEMPERATURE AND WAS MELTING THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND OPENED THE WINDOWS TO HELP COOL IT OFF. IT TOOK 30 MINUTES OR MORE FOR THE SEAT TO COOL OFF IN THAT SPOT. MY DAUGHTER JUMPED TO THE BACK SEAT WHILE IT WAS STILL HOT SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT GET BURNED AGAIN. *TT

NHTSA ID

10445967

Incident

Jan 29, 2012

Mileage

141,000 mi

2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED / REPAIRED BY ZEMBRICK MERCEDES IN ADISON WISCONSIN ON FEB 3 2011. THE REPAIRS / SERVICE INCLUDED REPLACING A SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. WITHIN DAYS OF THE REPAIR THE POWER STEERING UNIT LEAKED ALL IT'S FLUID FROM A HOSE CLAMP. FOUND THE RECALL 08V465000 FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH PER THE RECALL COVERED ALL 1998-2004 MB ML'S . HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND MBUSA STATES THIS RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY STILL PRESENT AND ONGOING, HOWEVER MBUSA SEEMS TO BE APPLYING THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEIR INTERPRETATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THE HAZARDS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382577

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

DURING REGULAR VEHICLE USE THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOLDER HAD MELTED UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURES DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376372

Incident

Jan 10, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi

2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500 DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE SEAT CATCHING FIRE HE SUFFERED MILD BURNS ON THE LEFT HIP. *KB THE HEATING PAD IN THE DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE LEATHER AND SEAT CUSHION TO BURN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10217175

Incident

Nov 8, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WHILE THE WARMER FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE SEAT WAS RED AND SMOKING. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE HOME. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BURNS ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,200. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE DEALER STATED DEFROSTER NOT WORKING. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10210172

Incident

Nov 23, 2007

Mileage

50,200 mi

CAR GETS STUCK IN THE PARK GEAR AND HAS TO BE TOWED. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT, A MECHANIC PUT A PEN INTO A SLOT IN THE GEAR BOX AND IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A DEFECT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT, OTHERWISE HOW DID THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO? *JB

NHTSA ID

10175521

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

Mileage

1,500 mi

OVERLY EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD AND BRAKE ROTOR WEAR ASSOCIATED WITH 2004 MERCEDES ML500 SUV. REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST NOT COVERED BY MERCEDES NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY AND REPAIR COSTS IN EXCESS OF $1300.00. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155406

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

18,284 mi

DT:CONSUMER HAD TWO DUNLOP SP 5000 TIRES THAT WERE CUPPED. AS A RESULT OF THE CUPPING, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. CONSUMER HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING DONE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED POORLY AT LOW SPEED, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. AT 18 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE MADE HIM ILL TO DRIVE DUE TO THE VIBRATION. GOODYEAR GAVE CONSUMER MONEY BACK AND CONSUMER RETURNED THE TIRES TO GOODYEAR. CONSUMER WENT TO A MERCEDES DEALER AND THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, BALANCING AND DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER PUT SAME TIRES ON VEHICLE AND CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW TIRES AS WITH THE PREVIOUS SET. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10126282

Incident

Apr 29, 2005

Mileage

8,900 mi

I HAVE RETURNED MY SUV TO MERCEDES ABOUT 5 TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SQUEAL WHEN STOPPING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY MERCEDES THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE ALL DISC BRAKES SQUEAL. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MANY CARS WITH DISC BRAKES OVER THE YEARS. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON 2/3/05 AND IT WAS SQUEALING AGAIN ON 2/4/05. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109883

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

VEHICLE LOST POWER DUE TO THE ESM TRACKING SYSTEM. AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10073748

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

Mileage

4,000 mi

I WANT TO PROTEST IN THE LOUDEST VOICE THAT I HAVE AS A AUTOMOBILE DRIVER THE USE BY SOME RECENT MODEL CARS OF HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. I AM NOT REFERRING TO HIGH BEAMS.......THESE LIGHTS ARE FAR WORSE THAN HIGH BEAMS. I AM BLINDED BY THESE LIGHTS AND FIND MY EYES TURNING TO THEM INVOLUNTARILY. I FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY ACCIDENTS IF OTHER DRIVERS REACT AS I DO. I SEE ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR SUCH LIGHTS ON OUR HIGHWAYS. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLIANT I HAVE EVER SUBMITTED IN 57 YEARS OF DRIVING! *AK

NHTSA ID

10066383

Incident

Apr 17, 2004