1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 complaints

WINDSHIELD TANK CRACKED/DEFECTIVE PART/NO CLEANING OF WINDSHIELD IN WINTER/REPLACED TANK. *LA

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY/RUN OUT OF FUEL/ENGINE QUITS LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING MAY LEAD TO CRASH/DEFECT *LA

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

UPON PULLING ONTO THE INTERSTATE VEHICLE JERKED THEN STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

RIGHT REAR STRUT AND SPRING ON MY 1999 MERCEDES ML 320 IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED AFTER ONLY 53,000 MILES, NONE OF WHICH ARE"OFF-ROAD" MILES. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED ~$750 TO REPLACE JUST THE STRUT. *LA

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH UP A STEEP GRADE ON CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE 5 ON THE SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY KNOWN AS "THE GRAPE VINE" ELEVATION OF 3000-4000 FEET, HEADED NORTH KEEPING PACE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE (FAR LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE FREEWAY HIGHWAY ), IN THE AFTERNOON OF 2/16/04 AT 2 PM WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR ( 1999 MERZ, CLASS HD,, BODY TYPE UT [XXX]) AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR SENDING THE RPMS FROM 2500 TO 3000-4000, THIS NORMAL AUTOMATIC ACTION CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP ALL FORWARD MOTION REDUCING BOTH CAR SPEED AND RPMS TO ZERO IN THE FAST LANE, THE IMPACT A "FULL ENGINE SHUT DOWN" A HIGHLY DANGEROUS ACTION IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WITH A SHORT HAZARDOUS SIGNALING NOTICE. THE CAR IN JULY OF 2003 PERFORMED IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE SAME SECTION OF "THE GRAPE VINE" HEADED SOUTH IN THE FAST LANE WITH A DIFFERENT DRIVER, NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE STOPPED ALL FORWARD MOTION. SHORTLY ARRIVING IN PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA ON THE SAME DAY, THE CAR AGAIN PERFORMED IN THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE PALM SPRINGS MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND PRESUMABLY RESOLVED. THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED AS STATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER. IT HAS OCCURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS IS A CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION THAT DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RECTIFICATION. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY DETERIORATED ON MY MERCEDES ML320. IF IT HAD GOTTEN WORSE, I'M AFRAID IT WOULD HAVE DISINTEGRATED AND DONE MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND/OR CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STERRING.

MERCEDES BENZ, ML320,1999, HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE. DESTROYS THE WHOLE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE ENGINE INCLUDING MAKING POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. MAY CAUSE A REAL BAD ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A 2000 C280 WITH 47,500 MILES WHICH LOOKS LIKE CARRIES THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME POSSIBLE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE. THE CLAMP HOSES LOOSENED, ALLOWING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. *AK

I HAD TO REPLACE THE HARMONIC BALANCER, AND THE MAIN DRIVE SHAFT BEARING ON A 1999 ML MERCEDES WITH THE V-6 MOTOR VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V121000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING PUMP, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITIONS. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A STEERING PROBLEM. *AK

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE. *AK

SUN ROOF PARTS FAILED, WIND DEFLECTOR COMPONENTS FAILED WHILE MOON ROOF WAS BEING OPENED. WHEN I TRIED TO CLOSE THE ROOF, IT WOULD NOT DO SO UNTIL I REMOVED THE BENT PART ALONG WITH DEFLECTOR. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS ROOF. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHEN NEW TO GET THE HEIGHT ADJUSTED WITH ROOF LINE.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *JB *NLM

THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 ENGINE TYPE M112 FAILED AND RESULTED IN $4,000 TO REPAIR. THE PART FAILED WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING. EVEN THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING RECALL TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE DID NOT SPOT ANY PROBLEM AND THEY KNEW TO BE LOOKING. I WAS LUCKY THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE IN STEAD OF ON THE FREEWAY WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OR DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PULLEYS MAKING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A PULLEY WHICH WAS HITTING AGAINST THE OIL PAN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IF THE OIL PAN WAS REPLACED THE PULLEY WILL STILL HIT THE OIL PAN AND CAUSE A LEAK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *PH *NLM

1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 HAS DEFECTIVE WIND SHIELD WIPER WATER TANKS. THE LACK OF HAVING FLUID TO CLEAR YOUR WINDOW IN ADVERSE WEATHER OR ROAD CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS OR DEATH. *LA

CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WHEEL FLEW OFF. *LA

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STUCK OR STOPPED WHILE OPERATING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT ALL FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, LOST OF POWER STEERING FLUID. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE HOSES/CLAMPS AND CONNECTORS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNERS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. *SCC *JB

I HAVE BEEN AN OWNER OF A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320, BOUGHT USED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. RECENTLY, SOMETHING WENT WRONG ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT STARTED WOBBLING AND MAKING EXTERNAL ENGINE NOISE. SOON, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A NON-METALLIC PART, A RING, THE SIZE OF A PALM WAS FOUND IN MY ENGINE BAY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MB DEALER, MERCEDES BENZ OF CINCINNATI OHIO AND RECEIVED A QUOTE OF $3700.00. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME ITS NOT A PROBLEM COMMONLY SEEN BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE AWFULLY TOO POPULAR AS THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS WHEN I DESCRIBED ON THE PHONE. THE MERCEDES E320 ENGINE (SUPPOSEDLY 1998 THROUGH MID 2000) CALLED M112 AS WELL AS THE SAME ENGINE OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR ENGINE ON C280, ML320, E430 ETC., HAS A HARMONIC BALANCER, A RUBBER RING SANDWICHED BETWEEN 2 METAL PULLEY TO ISOLATE THE ENGINE VIBRATION FROM THE REST OF THE PULLEYS BEING DRIVEN BY THE ENGINE. THIS IS WHAT THE SERPENTINE BELT ROTATES ON.OVER TIME, THE POORLY DESIGNED HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY FAILS, THE RUBBER RING CRACKS, BREAKS OR FALLS OFF, DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND STRESS/LOAD. IT IS TYPICALLY SEEN ON ML320 IN THE RANGE OF 40,000 MILES, BUT IS NOT AS COMMONLY REPORTED AS TYPICALLY IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON E320, IT TENDS TO BE AROUND 60 ,000 MILES THOUGH, OFTEN IT COULD BE AS LOW AS 25000 MILES. THE ISSUE IS, WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THE ENGINE TIMING BELT COVER , OIL PAN ETC GET SERIOUSLY GOUGED BY THE ROTATING PULLEY. IN MY CASE THE DEALERSHIP

1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 - HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, OVERHEATING, DAMAGE TO FAN, AND OIL PAN. *LA

1999 M-B ML320 - HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED, RENDERING POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER SERPENTINE BELT DRIVEN ACCESSORIES INOPERATIVE WHILE IN MOTION. DAMAGED ENGINE FRONT COVER, TIMING COVER, OIL PAN AND ASSOCIATED PARTS.*AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD SHIFT TO OTHER GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BASED ON A DEALER RECCOMENDATION, I HAVE BECOME AWARE THE MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AND UNPUBLICISED "CAMPAIGN" TO ADVISE OWNERS OF CERTIAN OF THE ML SERIES SUVS OF THE DESIREABILITY OF "UPGRADING", AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING FILTERS AND LINES. THIS IS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP FAILURES, ASCRIBED BY MERCEDES TO "POOR QUALITY U.S. FUEL" THESE FAILURES HAVE THE EFFECT OF IMMOBILIZING THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THESE UNEXPECTED STOPPAGES CN HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY IMPLICATIONS IF THEY OCCUR IN A MOVING TRAFFIC FLOW SITUATION. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DIRECTLY INFORMED OWNERS AND TAKES THE POSITION THAT IT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, ASCRIBABLE TO FAULTY DESIGN OR MATERIALS THAT CAN LEAD TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

HARMONIC BALANCER SEAL CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY AT ~60 MPH! THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER(REGAL NISSAN/MERCEDES, HUNTSVILLE, AL, PH #256726-0077) CLAIMED THIS WAS A UNIQUE FAILURE AS FARAS THEY WERE CONCERNED. THE FIX INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PAN WAS ~$900. UPON SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER HAD POWER STEERING HOSE SERVICED BY DEALER IN 01/03. ON 06/12/03 EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND RACK & PINION HAD FAILED. CONSUMER THEN HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BEEN PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR WHEN DEALER PREVIOUSLY SERVICED CAUSING THE CURRENT FAILURE.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY STEERING FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN. *AK

CAR WAS IN PARK AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE TO STOP. THE CAR MAKER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT (AFTER A MONTH) WHO DETERMINED IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. (I AM AWAITING THEIR REPORT TO ME) CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55MPH ON AVERAGE, ENGINE MISFIRED. CONSUMER STATED HAS TO PULL OF THE ROAD, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT AS SOON AS REACHING HIGH SPEED, WILL BE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT YET NOTIFIED. VEHICLE IS WITHOUT WARRANTY.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATIC IN COLD WEATHER. *JB DURING THE FIRST 5-6 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR IN COLD WEATHER. ABLE TO SHIFT AFTER WARM START (ABOUT 5 MINUTES). *TT

1.) BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACING AFTER 10,000 MILES. 2.) FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT REQUIRES NEWLY DESIGNED PART AND ADDITIONAL HOSES, CLAMPS ETC TOTALING OVER $300. BECAUSE PREVIOUS PART CAUSES FUEL LEAKS(?) AND NOT AVAILABLE. SHOULDN'T MB PAY FOR PART OF THIS?? *NLM

THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT.*JB

THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM

THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON BUT NO RECALLS YET. *NLM THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON BUT NO RECALLS YET. CAUSE: POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOLUTION: NEW HOSE CLAMP INSTALLED AND SYSTEM HAD TO BE BLED AND FLUSHED. *MR

STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF, LOST ALL FLUID AND POWER STEERING ASSIST. HAVE TO TOW TO DEALER. REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.*JB

THIS IS THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE SITE. IF THE OTHER MESSAGES DO NOT COME THROUGH, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT HER MERCEDES BENZ TRUCK, ONE BEING THAT THE TRUCK WILL NOT HOLD AN ALIGNMENT, WHICH CAUSES HER TIRES TO WEAR OUT FAST. SECOND ONE IS THAT THE DOOR LOCK REGULATOR DOES NOT WORK AND THE THIRD IS THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT FAILED AT 24,000 MILES CAUSING IT TO BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE TRUCK. SHE ALSO SAYS THAT THE TRUCK LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID. TS

WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN OR JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT STEERING WHEEL STUCK UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONSUMER HAS HIT A WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS.....*AK

1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 SUV. ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" FAILED (BECAME DETACHED), CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A DISABLED VEHICLE AND LEAVING MY WIFE AND FAMILY STRANDED. THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS THE MAIN PULLEY WHEEL WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS PULLEY WHEEL IN TURN DRIVES ALL OTHER BELT-DRIVEN ITEMS, SUCH AS POWER STEERING PUMP, AC, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, ETC. FIRST, THIS ITEM SHOULD BE SO RESILIENT THAT FAILURE IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND SECOND, BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE DEALER WHO IS REPAIRING IT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS "NOT AT ALL SURPRISING OR UNCOMMON" ON THE MB ML320 SUV. WHILE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCURRED IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMS THAT IF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE RESULTING LOSS OF POWER COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT WE HAVE VERY CAREFULLY FOLLOWED ALL OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE, A CHECK SHOULD BE PART OF THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. BUT TO BE DIRECT, THE DESIGN OF THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS FAULTY, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE (UPWARDS OF $1500) AND THE RESULTS ARE POTENTIALLY DEADLY. LET'S NOT WAIT FOR AN INJURY OR DEATH TO RESULT BEFORE SOME ACTION IS TAKEN ON THIS! TS

CAR WAS STOPPED PUT INTO PARK POSITION ON THE TRANSMISSION. CAR LURCHED FORWARD, CRASHED THRU GARAGE ADJOINING PORCH AND DECK AND ROLLED OFF DROPPING 10 FEET AND TURNING ON IT'S SIDE. DT

THE DOOR LOCK ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. IT WAS REPAIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN WITH EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COMMIT TO REPAIR THIS WITHOUT CHARGING ME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MERCEDES ML320'S AS EVIDENCED BY INFORMATION ON MERCEDES DISCUSSION WEB PAGES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR COULD OPEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER NOTICE AFTER MAKING A STOP VEHICLE POWER DOOR LOCKS PULSATE UP AND DOWN SOON AFTER DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

THE FAILURE OF THE CENTER PULLEY RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BELT COMING LOOSE. IT RESULTED IN ALL POWER MECHANISMS (POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES FAILING). THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THE BELT GOT RIPPED BY THE FAN WHILE IT WAS WORKING. THE FAN ALSO STOPPED WORKING AND ELEVATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF THIS ON THE DASH PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE METAL PULLEY WAS SITTING LOOSE AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. IF THE PULLEY HAD FALLEN DOWN OR HIT THE FUEL LINE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IT HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER. MERCEDES HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN LATER MODELS BUT NOT LETTING OWNERS OF PREVIOUS MODELS KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768016

CREAKING NOISE NOTED AT LEFT REAR OVER BUMPS. MBZ SAYS NO COVERAGE DUE TO MILEAGE.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 FEET AND CRASHED INTO A CHERRY TREE. UPON EXAMINATION GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS STILL IN PARK GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT *AK *SLC

TRUCK SHAKES, SHUDDERS AND MAKES THUNKING NOISE DURING EVEN MODESTLY SHARP LOW SPEED TURNS (IE PARKING, ETC) DUE TO BINDING OF DIFFERENTIALS/DRIVELINE OR BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. COULD LEAD TO DRIVETRAIN OR BRAKE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE THOUGH IT DIDN'T OCCUR EALIER DURING OWNERSHIP.