2000 Mercedes Benz ML320

I was driving full freeway speed when the brake assist system suddenly engaged which slammed on my brakes immediately and sent me skidding all over the freeway trying to maintain control of the vehicle and not crash into anything. All the while the cars behind me had to veer out of the way. Several accidents were almost caused by this incident. This safety feature is now a safety hazard. This should never ever happen. This I'd comparable to an airbag suddenly deploying while driving. An absolutely terrifying experience. The bas fct light came on which is how I learned of the brake assist system. This problem is repeatable because it happened 2 more times as I had to get my vehicle home but luckily I didn't date take the freeway again. Problem just started 5/7/23 without any warning at all.

Hard braking suddenly activated without driver input, smoke coming from front wheels. YAW SENSOR malfunction indicated by OBD scanner (checked after incident)

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE AUCTION IN ALGONA NAMED WHITEY'S PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION AND THAT VERY DAY I HAD TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES TO LEAK. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND STARTED TO RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL.

STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. OVER HEATS AND WILL NOT KEEP COOLINAT DOWN

THE METHOD IN WHICH A FUEL TANK IS FASTENED TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS USES A STEEL STRUT TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF STAINLESS STEEL STRAPS. THE DISSIMILARITY IN METALS USED IN FASTENING THE HARDWARE OF BOTH COMBINED WITH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS WILL CAUSE THE STRUT TO CORRODE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FUEL TANK TO DROP ONTO THE ROADWAY WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNING. THE CORROSION AT THE CRITICAL FASTING POINTS IS NOT OBVIOUS WITH ROUTINE INSPECTION. WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1998 THROUGH 2005 STILL ON THE ROAD TODAY, OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

SRS. ETS. ABA LIGHTS ON. BUZZING. *TR

AS I NOTICED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ALL FOCUS IN THE POWER STEERING ISSUES, FUEL / OIL LEAKS AND LOSS, ESP OPTION , ELECTRICAL MAIL FUNCTIONS THAT RELATE WITH THE ECU, PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. ALL THESE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY CAR AND IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AS THE CAR IS NOT IN SPEED MOTION UNLESS YOU USE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL , THE ESP IS NOT WORKING AT ALL , THE SHIFTER IS NOT CHANGING TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU OVERRIDE IT AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO START IT AND THE FUEL ALONG WITH THE OIL IS LEAKING AND ALL THE FLUIDS ARE DISAPPEARING IN NO TIME . ALL THESE ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND NOT JUST A SIMPLE PROBLEM . THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REPAIR FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES ASAP FREE OF CHARGE FROM MERCEDES FOR THE OWNERS OF THE PARTICULAR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

ONGOING ISSUE THAT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE. VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DIE WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, WITHOUT WARNING, AND TAKE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO RESTART. IGNITION WILL SOMETIMES STICK AND NOT START. VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ONE INSTANCE WHERE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE APPROACHING STOP LIGHT.

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ALOT AND AS WELL LEAK ONTO THE GROUND I FIND IT VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR AT TIMES . THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG IT'S BEEN FIXED 1 AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST .

DIFFICULT TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. USES LOT OF FORCE TO MOVE THE STELRING

TAKATA RECALL I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 MERCEDES ML 320. MY AC STOPPED WORKING AND TOOK IT TO A MERCEDES CERTIFIED MECHANIC. TOLD ME IT WAS A PRESSURE SENSOR. HE THEN CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD FALLEN APART AND ALL WIRES WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER MAKING SHORTS THRU OUT THE CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT THE SHORTS HAD FRIED MY COMPUTER AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX ALL THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. AT ALMOST $2000.00 FOR THE REPAIR IT SEEMS THAT MERCEDES INTENTIONALLY DID THIS TO MAKE MONEY. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AS THEY DID IT SO THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD BIO DEGRADE WHEN THE CAR WAS JUNKED. NOT A GOOD PRACTICE TO SELL CARS IN THE UNITED STATES.

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRACKED EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CRACKED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND DOCUMENTED THAT RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *JS

ON APRIL 21, 2016 WE PURCHASED TWO USED TIRES FROM A LOCAL COMPANY CALLED TIRE TRACKS FOR OUR SON'S CAR. THEY WERE GENERAL TIRES CALLED "GRABBERS", P255/65R16. THE REAR TIRES WERE MOVED TO THE FRONT AND THE TIRES THAT WE PURCHASED WERE PUT ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A "COURTESY INSPECTION" WAS PERFORMED. ON MAY 12, 2016 OUR SON HAD A LEFT REAR BLOWOUT AS HE WAS EXITING I-49 SOUTH. HE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WHERE THE STEEL BELT HAD REPEATEDLY HIT HIS CAR UNTIL HE COULD PULL OVER SAFELY. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE TIRE. THEN ON JUNE 15, 2016 I WAS FOLLOWING MY SON HOME FROM LITTLE ROCK. WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-49. HE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING 70-75 MPH AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT WITH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THANKFULLY, HE WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WAS MORE SEVERE. HIS RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS BUSTED AS WELL AS HIS BUMPER. AGAIN, THE RIGHT REAR FENDER SUSTAINED DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE STEEL BELT REPEATEDLY HITTING HIS CAR. THE COMPANY

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES DUE TO BREAKAGE OF FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINES, LOST ALL FLUID, FORTUNATELY HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOT DURING A RECENT TRIP TO MASS AND NEW YORK CITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE ABS, BRAKE FAILURE SWITCH, AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN USING THE POWER STEERING TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE COMPLETING THE TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

WAS DRIVING TRUCK AT HIGHWAY, WHEN BRAKES ACTIVATED BY ITSELF, ABS, TRACTION LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP AND HAZARDS FLASHED. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD, WHILE BRAKES WHERE ACTIVATING. FELT AS IF ABS WAS ACTIVATING AS IF I WAS SLIDING ON AND ICY ROAD. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE MORE THAT 5 FEET

BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY SUDDENLY WHEN MY MECHANIC WAS MOVING AUTO FROM HIS GARAGE AFTER SERVICING MY TRANSMISSION I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I PICKED UP MY CAR WITHOUT THAT HAPPENING TO HIM NEVER EXPECTED A BRAKE LINE TO RUST AND CAUSE BRAKES TO SUDDENLY BE GONE I AM SO WORRIED ANOTHER CAR WILL CAUSE DEATHS IF THIS DEFECT IS NOT KNOWN TO OWNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF A SITUATION WHERE THE ABS, ESP, AND ETS LIGHTS COME ON AND A NOISE OCCURS WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE STOPS ONLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS THAT CAN BE FELT BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE NOISE CONTINUES AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN DOES NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, A NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOTOR OR A FAN THAT IS RUNNING. THIS CONTINUES FOR HOURS. THE HOOD OF THE CAR BECOMES WARM TO HOT TO THE TOUCH. AT SOME POINT THE FAN OR MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. IF THE CAR BATTERY HAS NOT BEEN DRAINED, THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY--UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS. AFTER A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, I FOUND MANY SIMILAR REPORTS OF THESE SYMPTOMS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. THE VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE RECEIVED DIAGNOSES OF A BAD ABS CONTROL MODULE, A BAD ABS PUMP, BAD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY'S CIRCUIT BOARD, OR BAD RELAYS IN THE FUSE BOX. REPAIRS HAVE COST IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY, A KNOWN DEFECT. DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS WHERE THEIR SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY THEIR VEHICLES. I REALIZE THAT THE LAW GOVERNS SAFETY DEFECTS IN CARS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE LAST 10

VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES OFF ITS ANTI-LOCK-BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC-STABILITY-CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR UNKNOWN REASON, THEREBY ENDANGERING ITS DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. *TR

DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR TURNS AIRBAG AND SEAT-BELT TENSIONER OFF WHENEVER THERE'S A PASSENGER RIDING IN THE CAR, PREVENTING THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING AND THE SEAT-BELT FROM WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS USING MY CRUISE CONTROL (LUCKILY JUST AFTER HEAVY TRAFFIC HOURS) JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. A CAR SLOWED IN FRONT OF ME, SO I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES. AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES NOT ONLY DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE BRAKES GOT STIFF AND WOULD NOT WORK NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THEM. AT THE SAME TIME THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED AND THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GO WHAT SEEMS LIKE 130-140 MPH. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TRY AND KEEP IT AT AN APPROPRIATE SPEED. LUCKILY MY PASSENGER TOLD ME TO STAY CALM AND TRIED TO HELP ME DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SLOWEST LANE AND SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THAT WAS THE ONLY OPTION I HAD BESIDES CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM EXTREMELY SHAKEN FROM THIS EVENT, I HAVE ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS WHENEVER I DRIVE ANY VEHICLE NOW. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A PHYSICIAN TO HELP ME WORK OUT SOME KIND OF TREATMENT/THERAPY.

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP FOR 5-10 SECONDS AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF SEVERAL CARS IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS INJURED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS! AFTER STOPPING, AND SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, AT AN EXIT FOR SO I COULD SEE IF I COULD SPOT ANYTHING I TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY HOME (OFF THE INTERSTATE). THE BAS/ESP LIGHT WAS OFF, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE ALRIGHT. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AGAIN. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH, BUT I WAS FORCED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND ME SAFELY. *TR

THE VEHICLE BRAKES, WITHIN A FIVE SECOND PERIOD, VIOLENTLY ENGAGE AT SEEMING RANDOM PATTERNS AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS HAPPENED TWICE ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS ROUGHLY A MONTH APART, AND ONLY TWICE, IN THE SAME LOCATION AT EXACTLY THE SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS (VEHICLE SPEED, WEATHER - SUNNY DAY NO RAIN, STRAIGHT ROAD, LIGHT TRAFFIC, SAME 25-30 MPH SPEED). I WENT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER IN TYSONS CORNER AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW OF A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE LOCATION IS THAT IT IS IN WITHIN 50M OF HIGH CAPACITY POWER LINES WHICH GO OVER THE ROAD, AND WITHIN 300M OF AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL RADIO ANTENNA TRUCTURE TOWER. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONICS OF ONE OR BOTH OF THESE ARE CAUSING THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC STABLILITY CONTROL /BRAKE ASSIST COMPUTER TO GO HAYWIRE AND CAUSE A COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE LOCATION IS ON ROUTE 29 LEE HIGHWAY, VA RIGHT BEFORE THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES OVER THE BELTWAY GOING WESTBOUND, JUST PAST WHERE YOU CROSS UNDER THE POWER LINES THAT GO OVERHEAD. THE RADIO TOWER IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BRIDGE. 95% OF THE TIME I DROVE THIS EXACT ROUTE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN, SO IT IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TWICE SEEMS TO RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE. ALSO NOTE THAT THESE POWERLINES, WITHOUT FAIL, ALSO CAUSE THE SAME CAR'S ALARM TO GO OFF 100% OF THE TIME WHEN I PARK WITHIN 100M OF THEM. THE DEALER DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR

I WAS DRIVING AND ABRUPTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SKID AND IT ALMOST CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

WHILE PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AS IT SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER. AS I DROVE ON AND TURNED AGAIN STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY IT LASTED A WAS BIT LONGER. THE MORE RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON 12-22-13. NOW ITS VERY HARD TO STEER SO HARD THAT TO DRIVE IS TOO RISKY. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS OK. NOW THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT MAY BE THE RACK. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ ML 320. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE 2000 MODELS YEARS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS, DUE TO A FAULTY PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ASKED ABOUT THE PUMP AND HOSE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE PUMP WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL AND IT WOULD COST $ 1190 TO REPLACE IT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT JUST THE RECALL PARTS BE REPLACED. BUT, THE DEALER STATED IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

FIRST INCIDENT IN AUGUST 2012 DRIVING 20-30 MPH JUST GOT ON HWY AND CAR SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON BRAKES. COULD NOT GO OVER 1000RPM WITHOUT BRAKES ENGAGING BUT FORTUNATELY A POLICEMAN WHO WITNESSED THIS ESCORTED US TO SAFETY ON SINGLE LANE HWY VERY DANGEROUS. REPLACED YAW RATE SENSOR FOR $1000. NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN 2/27/13 AND IS UNDRIVABLE. MOST LIKELY FACING ANOTHER REPLACEMENT OF YAW RATE SENSOR FOR ANOTHER $1000 THAT ONLY LASTED 6 MONTHS LAST TIME. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE SAME STORIES ONLINE AND RIDICULOUS THAT MERCEDES BENZ WITH ITS CLASSY REPUTATION WOULD NOT RECALL SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED TO JUSTIFY A RECALL?! I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ANYMORE AND STILL OWE ON THIS HUNK OF JUNK SO I AM STUCK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55-58 MPH FOR NO REASON BRAKES ENGAGED AND LOCKED WHEELS. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TIRES AND ESP LIGHT CAME ON. MY WIFE (SHE WAS DRIVING) AND TWO SMALL KIDS AS WELL AS I WERE SCARED TO DEATH. WE WERE LUCKY, NOBODY WAS RIGHT BEHIND US AND WE AVOIDED ACCIDENT. AFTER THE ESP LIGHT COME ON EVERYTHING WENT TO NORMAL. WE FINISHED OUR TRIP WITH NO MORE BRAKE INCIDENTS. NEXT DAY AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR LIGHT WAS OFF BUT BRAKES LOCKED IN THE MOMENT RPM WENT OVER 1000. SPEED AT THAT TIME WAS ONLY 5-10 MPH. AFTER COMPLETE STOP ESP LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE MY TRIP. NONE OF THE MERCEDES BENZ MECHANICS WANTED TO TELL ME WHAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE LIKE THAT FOR THE NEXT YEAR. EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE WITHOUT THE ESP LIGHT ON THE BRAKES WILL LOCK IN AND BRING THE CAR TO COMPLETE STOP. I ALSO LEARN THAT IF I START THE CAR AND WAIT FIVE MINUTES LIGHT WILL COME ON AND I CAN RIDE WITHOUT BRAKES LOCKING IN. THIS WORKED FOR A WHILE BUT THEN ESP LIGHT STOPPED COMING ON BEFORE DRIVING AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE AND CAUSE THE LIGHT TO COME ON. AT THAT TIME ON APRIL 2011 I HAD THE CAR TESTED AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT HAS FAULTY YAW RATE SENSOR AND THE PART COST IS ABOUT $550.00 NOT COUNTING LABOR. I DIDN'T HAVE THIS REPLACED BECAUSE THE COST OF IT AND BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID TRAGEDY ONE DAY. SOME

WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50MPH ON THE BQE ROAD (NY), SUDDENLY THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON, ALL THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP. WARNING LIGHT ON A DASHBOARD WAS FLASHING AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE DIED. *TR NOT REALIZING WHAT IS HAPPENING, I TRIED TO ADD POWER/GAS TO THE CAR, BUT THE ENGINE DIDN'T WANT TO GO PAST 1000 RPM. BEING IN A FAST LANE AND HAVING HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR, I??VE NOTICED OVERPOWERING SMELL OF THE BRAKES. I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED BY THE EVENT AS THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND I WAS JUST HOPING NO ONE WILL REAR ME. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD ALMOST NO RESULT EVEN THOUGH THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING. IT THEN STARTED TO ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY WHEN MY FOOT WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. SOME 5-10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND BEHAVING AS NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. HOWEVER, 15 MINUTES INTO THE RIDE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THIS TIME, I WAS DRIVING IN A SLOW LANE - SOME 30-35 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND LET THE CAR REST FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IT STARED FINE AND DROVE FINE FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING. ONCE I PARKED THE CAR, THE BAS ESP LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR VERY NEXT DAY TO A CAR MECHANIC, BUT THE COMPUTER READING DIDN??T GIVE ANY ERRORS, FAULTS NOR NOTIFICATIONS. BY THAT TIME, THE ESP LIGHT WAS OFF ONCE AGAIN. THE INCIDENT RECURRED 3 DAYS LATER WHILE COMING TO A STOP DUE TO A TRAFFIC LIGHTS - SOME 15-20 MPH. MY MECHANIC (AND MY INTERNET SEARCH) ADVISED ME TO

THE BATTERY FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. A "GROUP 49" BATTERY IS SPECIFIED BY THE BATTERY MANUFACTURER'S CATALOG. A GROUP 49 BATTERY WAS PURCHASED, BUT DID NOT FIT. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE SUBJECT BATTERY WAS ACTUALLY A GROUP 93 BATTERY, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH SHORTER. RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES THAT SEVERAL MANUFACTURERS ARE NO LONGER MAKING GROUP 49 BATTERIES BUT ARE EITHER RECOMMENDING GROUP 93 BATTERIES AS THE REPLACEMENT OR, AS I FOUND, APPLYING GROUP 49 LABELS TO THE GROUP 93 BATTERY. IN MY CAR INSTALLING A GROUP 93 BATTERY IS UNSAFE, FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, THE BATTERY HOLD-DOWN STRAP IS A NON-ADJUSTABLE, SNAP-FIT TYPE INSTALLATION THAT WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LOWER BATTERY HEIGHT. SECOND, THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL MUST CONNECT TO TWO HEAVY CABLES (MAIN POWER AND ACCESSORY POWER CABLES) WHICH MUST BE FORCED DOWN TO INSTALL ON THE REPOSITIONED (LOWERED) POSITIVE BATTERY POST. FORCING THE CABLES DOWN CAUSES THEM TO RIDE HARD ON NEARBY INSTALLATIONS AND MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THE INSULATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SHOCK HAZARD OR FIRE. THE INITIAL INFORMATION ON THE TRANSITION FROM GROUP 49 TO GROUP 93 BATTERIES CAME FROM THE AAA REPRESENTATIVE WHO ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST ME WITH THE FAILED BATTERY. THE MIS-LABELED BATTERY WAS PURCHASED AT O'REILLY AUTO PARTS ON BEACH BOULEVARD IN WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA. *TR

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WAS PARKED AND ENGINE SECURED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART VEHICLE, STARTER ENGAGED BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS AFTER RELEASING THE KEY. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME TO LET THE VEHICLE REST FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES AND THEN RESTART. VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTE REST. DIAGNOSIS DID NOR RESULT IN ANY COMPUTER CODES. MECHANIC SAID THE YEAR VEHICLES 1998-2002 WERE EXPERIENCING CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURES. SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ARRIVED AT THE SCENE TO ASSIST. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DEEMED AS HAVING BEEN DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INCREASED AND SMOKE RELEASED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,700.

MY ML 320 YEAR 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS GOING 30 MILES AND HOUR. NO SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM (THAN ENGINE STALLED). THIS IS SCARY AND MUST BE INVESTIGATED. I ALMOST HIT A CAR. IT DID NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTED. IT WILL CRANK-START FOR 20 SECONDS AND ENGINE WILL STOP AGAIN. CAR STARTED WORKING FINE AFTER 45 MINUTES WAIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CAUTION AND ESP LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL AND WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS RELACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT ANOTHER SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.

I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF A 2000 MERCEDES ML320 FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES. TODAY IT HAS APPROX 73,000 MILES. SINCE OWNING IT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH WERE ALL OUT OF WARRANTY AND WHICH I FEEL WERE UNWARRANTED AND WERE NOT SERIOUSLY ATTENDED TO BY MB OR THE DEALER: THIS COMPLAINT FORM WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE ACCORDING TO THE FIELDS PROVIDED. THE EQUIPMENT INFORMATION INCLUDED IS NOT CORRECT AND WAS INCLUDED JUST TO GET TO THE FORM. I FELT THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHOULD BE REPORTED SPECIFICALLY THE ESP LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 51,000 MILES, THE AIRBAG BECAME INOPERATIVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2000 TO REPAIR AND CORRECT. DEALER OFFERED A SMALL ADJUSTMENT. I CHOSE NOT TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT. AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES, I BEGAN HAVING VERY LOUD NOISES THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND APPEARED TO BE A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALER DID TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS, BUT COULDN'T ISOLATE THE PROBLEM UNLESS "HE HAD TO TAKE THE WHOLE CAR APART" THERE WAS A RELATED PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY THAT THE DEALER ADVISED COULD NOT BE ISOLATED UNLESS I DID THE WORK ON THE BRAKE AND THE CRANKSHAFT:" AT ABOUT 72,000 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED OIL LEAKS FROM THE MOTOR. EST. COST OF REPAIR WAS $2000. WE ARE WATCHING AND WAITING. IN MAY, I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL OF THE CAR. NO WORD ON THAT ISSUE SINCE. BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND WHEN SHE TAPPED ON THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE COMPONENT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AS OPPOSED TO DECELERATING. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IDENTICAL, DIAGNOSIS WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER SUDDENLY. OTHER OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I FOUND THIS OUT BY SEARCHING THE INTERNET. I FOLLOWED WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE. I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACE THE CPS-CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESOLVED. I SUSPECT FAULTY DESIGN OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER UNTIL STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY GAS TANK. THE LIGHT SHOWS EMPTY UNTIL AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING. I HAVE TO TOP THE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 1-2 MONTHS AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BREAK LAMP SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. ALSO, WHEN THE SWITCH WENT OUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY BREAK LAMP SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 360,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SOME SMALL TREES WHICH DAMAGED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE CARRIER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

RE: YOUR CASE # NHTSA ACTION NUMBER :PE07007, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DOES HAPPEN.....& FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH MBUSA.COM & MANY OTHER WEBSITES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX CONSIDERING THE YAW RATE SENSOR & THE LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR CAN COST CLOSE TO $1000. *TR

I OWN A 2000 ML320 MERCEDES BENZ. IN 4 DIFFERENT EVENTS THE CAR APPLIES BRAKES ON TIRES RANDOMLY AND THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND PULLS AND JERKS TO THAT SIDE THE ESP LIGHT BLINK ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND BAS/ESP LIGHT COMES ON. MY WIFE TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL FROM STOCKTON TO LATHROP ON I-5 HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO AND IT REALLY SCARED THEM LUCKILY THE RIGHT LANE WAS EMPTY AND THEY MANAGED TO SOMEHOW PULL OVER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THE BRAKES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY APPLIES ON BY ITSELF RANDOMLY CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK OR STOP AND PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOT MAKE THE CAR MOVE DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER AND CAR WON'T PASS 1000RPM RESTARTING THE ENGINE RESETS THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT OCCURS AGAIN. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THIS IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO A BAD "YAW RATE SENSOR" I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS DRIVING AROUND 30-40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AND THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WAS CLEAN ON A STRAIGHTAWAY ROAD. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL THEY WANT $300 TO LOOK AT THE CAR $500 FOR YAW SENSOR AND $600 FOR LABOR AND THEY WILL NOT GUARANTEE IF IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE AND KIDS GET IN TO A CAR ACCIDENT BUT THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR. *TR

I PURCHASE A MY 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 USED WITH APPROX. 78K MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 105K MILES, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE NORMAL, AND NO OFF ROAD ACTIVITY THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON WHICH SIDE HAD BEEN ACTIVATED WITH NO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. THE INCIDENT WOULD LAST ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE SECONDS IN DURATION AND LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES 5 TO BE EXACT ALL AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE LAST EPISODE I WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND JERKED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, THANK GOD, NO ON WAS COMING AT ME AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A YAW SENSOR ORDERED. I HAVE READ PREVIOUSLY THAT A SIMILAR COMPLAINT HAD BEEN FILED AND CLOSED BACK IN 2007. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT ANY SPEED! *TR

POWER LOST ON STEERING WHEEL. *TR

2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE AXLE. *BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0239-90. *JB

2000 ML320 VEHICLE ENGAGES BAS / ESP SYSTEM DURING LEFT TURN AFTER WHICH THESE WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ON. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES BRAKES CAUSING LOSS OF SPEED. OCCURS IN WET OR DRY CONDITIONS. *TR

I AM THE OWNER IF A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THIS MORNING AS I CAME HOME ON THIS CAR AND SUDDENLY IT SPED UP AND LOST CONTROL WHEN IT CAME TO THE DRIVEWAY. I LEG WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN I CAME TO THE DRIVEWAY NO WAY I COULD HAVE PUT MY LEG ON THE ACCELERATOR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN ITS DESIGN AND CAUSE IT TO SUDDENLY SPEED UP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SINCE IT CAN BE A SERIOUS MATTER. MY OTHER 2 CARS IN THE GARAGE WERE BADLY DAMAGED IN ADDITION TO THE THIS ML320.*TR