2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 complaints

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY IN FOR SERVICE FOR RELATED REPAIRS. *SC *JB

11-03, 12-03 & 1-04 MY CAR WOULD STUTTER AND STALL AND FAIL TO ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH . I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE EACH TIME ,AND FINALLY 1-04 THEY REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM WAS BAD. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN 1-25-04 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE CAR STALLED AND STUTTERED THIS TIME I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A SPEEDING VEHICLE AND WAS HIT. THIS TRUCK WAS IN FOR SERVICE A TOTAL OF 13 TIMES IN 2003. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MBUSA ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND TO THE SERVICE DEPT BUT NO HELP WAS AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ONGOING AND CONSTANT PROBLEM . *AK

VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS BEING SERVICED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER AND CAUSED DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH SIDES OF THE DOORS WERE SMASHED AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, ENGINE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WINDOWS WERE ERRATIC WHEN GOING DOWN, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REAR CARGO ACCESSORY PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TRIM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT CRACKED, THERE WAS A BULDGE ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, LUG BOLTS WERE MISSING ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND THE REAR PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A NOISE HEARD IN THE REAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE POWER SUPPLY PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LIGHT BEHIND THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INTERMITTENT, THE LEFT FRONT PARK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING DUE TO THE LATCHING, THE REAR ELECTRICAL PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MATERIAL ON THE CENTER CONSOLE WRINKLED, THE SUNROOF WOULD BIND WHEN OPENED, THE REAR TIRE HAD A KNOT ON THE SIDEWALL, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD GO DOWN, THERE WAS A NOISE IN HE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WAS STIFF. *SC

INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES WHEN THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM IS ENGAGED IT WILL DISENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN COME BACK ON. THIS REDUCES THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEFROSTER SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY DOES THIS UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUEL TANK GAUGE SHOWS ONLY 3/4 FULL. DEALER STATED THAT INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAULT IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. FUEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED. *LA

VARIOUS PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 / ALSO AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*MR CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL THE DOORS WERE SMASHED IN YET NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE MECHANIC MANY TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD LIKE TO EXCHANGE OR GET MONEY BACK. *PH

THE 2000 MERCEDES ML 320 HAS A OPTION SIDE-STEP BAR THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT IS INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR SO THAT PEOPLE SLIP OFF OF IT. IT IS ALSO ROUND, CHROME, SMOOTH AND SLIPPERY. MY SISTER OWNS THIS TYPE OF CAR WITH THE SIDE STEP BAR AND I HAVE SLIPPED AND FALLEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR (AND I AM A YOUNG WOMAN IN MY 30'S). I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME SIDE BAR WHEN THEY RIDE THE MERCEDES ML 320 WITH SIDE BARS. MERCEDES HAS SINCE MODIFIED THE SIDE-STEP BAR, BUT THEY HAVE MANY OLDER CARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE BAR. MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE ALL THE OLDER MODELS WITH THE NEW ONES, OR REFUND THE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED WHEN THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WAS INSTALLED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE WHILE DOING THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. CONSUMER STATED A WEEK LATER SHE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAW OIL/FLUID ON THE GROUND. SHE THEN CALLED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER AN THE APPOINTED TIME. 2 DAYS AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PROPERLY. *AK

CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, (THEY HAVE DONE NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS), CAR VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND HAS BEEN FIXED 2 TIMES. DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ABOUT 7 TIMES AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. WE ARE CURRENTLY FILING SUIT UNDER THE LEMON LAW.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO FOUND HARMONIC BALANCER DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE OIL PAN, RESULTING IN AN OIL LEAK AND SMOKE. *AK

I WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHEN MY 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 FAILED TO STEER IN AN ATTEMPTED U-TURN RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH A TREE. I WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH THREE FACIAL FRACTURES (EYE SOCKET, JAW, AND NOSE). THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE CARS STEERING MECHANISM WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN RECALLED. I ALSO FEEL THE DEALERSHIP LIED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR (SUV) SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. I HAVE AN ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER LOCKS MOVED UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES. *AK ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF TWICE. ALL THE TIRES AND HUB CAPS ARE BLACK FROM THE BRAKE FLUID SPLATTERING. THE SUNROOF MAKES A LOT OF NOISE WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *PH

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER HOOD ON RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE. *AK

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF HOSE CLAMP. NAR 07/18/2003.*MR *CB *JB

TRANSMISSION KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICED, THEY WOULD INITIALLY TELL ME NO COMPUTER ERRORS WERE SHOWING. A COUPLE TIMES LATER I DROVE TO THE DEALER WITH IT STUCK IN THIRD, ALLOWING THEM TO DRIVE IT THAT WAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO NEARLY REAR END US. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN BUT VERY SPORADICALLY AND THE DEALER HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. THEIR RESPONSE NOW IS THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 25/30 MINUTES AND TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK *TS *JB

THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS. THE SUN ROOF BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE, THE ABS FAILED, THE DOOR LOCKS, HANDLES AND SIDE MIRRORS WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY SHATTERED AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *TS *JB

VEHICLE ENGAGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, AND THEN INTO REVERSE AND ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS A HUMAN ERROR. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THEN PLACED IN REVERSE, BACKED UP A COUPLE OF FEET, AND THEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE TO GO FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT IN ORDER TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MORE EASILY. THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE, ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS SPEED AND HAD GONE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY OUT OF CONTROL, VEERED RIGHT ONTO THE LAWN AND HIT THE TREE. THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON IMPACT. *SCC *JB

WHILE TURNING LEFT ONTO A SIDE STREET THE VEHICLE STEERED STRAIGHT, WOULD NOT TURN LEFT. *AK

THE VEHICLE BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL OR MORE, AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LEAKING OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL JERK WHILE IN GEAR. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. LIGHT WILL FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 30 OR SO MINUTES, STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE "AIR BAG OFF" AND "SRS" WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. PER VEHICLE MANUAL, WHEN THESE TWO LIGHTS ARE ON IT MEANS THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE AIR BAGS MAY GO OFF WHEN THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OR THEY MAY NOT TRIGGER WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THE MANUAL SAYS THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD ASSURE ME THE AIR BAGS WOULD WORK PROPERLY OR NOT, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SAY THAT EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 10 TO 12 MONTHS. *JB

THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY WENT INTO REVERSE, ACCELERATED AT TREMENDOUS SPEED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, UP ONTO MY PROPERTY WHERE IT HIT A TREE - STILL IN DRIVE. DAMAGE WAS IN ACCESS OF $16,000. MERCEDES DENIED ANY DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION AFTER THEIR INSPECTION. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT AN ALMOST IDENTICAL ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED IN 2000 TO ANOTHER CAR - SAME YEAR, MAKE & MODEL AS MINE. *NLM

AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN IN A DRIVEWAY THE PRESSURE HOSE FOR POWER STEERING FAILED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MR SCC *NLM

THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF, WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP. *JB

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. INFORMED THAT POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP FAILED. REPAIRED BY MERCEDES-BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER CHANGES, BUT FAILURE WAS COMMON.*JB

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAS LEAKED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FIRST TIME (FEB 2002) THE DEALER TERMED IT AS FAULT OF "CLAMP" AND NOW THE SECOND TIME (MARCH 2003) THE DEALER IS TERMING IT AS PROBLEM WITH "POWER FLUID HOSE" FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AS HAPPENED WHILE CAR IN MOTION AT 60 MILES / HOUR ON FREEWAY. LUCKILY BEING SUNDAY MORNING THERE WAS LOW TRAFFIC AND MANAGED TO PULL IT TO SIDE. SECOND TIME COULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGES AS CAR WAS BEING PULLED OUT OF GARAGE AND COULD HAVE HIT THE CAR PARKED NEXT. IN BOTH CASES THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATION FOR FAILURE. *NLM

3 POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMPS LOOSE ON 2000 MERCEDES ML320 WITH ~45,000 MILES. ONE ON LOWER RADIATOR REQUIRED 3 FULL TURNS TO TIGHTEN. HAD THIS HOSE COME OFF POWER STEERING FLUID WOULD HAVE LEAKED OUT AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER AT SLOWER SPEEDS. CAUSE: HOSE CAME OFF POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND FLUID WAS LOST.

I OWN A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THE CAR RECENTLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO POWER. ONCE YOU STOP THE CAR, PLACE IT IN PARK, IT WILL RE-START.

I OWN A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320. WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003, THE ENGINE QUIT TWICE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. THE FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED AS SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STREET. SHE HAD TO RUN INTO THE CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A ML 320 THAT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES BY OWNERS OF ML 320S THAT REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. FROM MY LIMITED RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO FIND OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING, AND FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND MAY REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD.

POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE FLUID WAS GUSHING OUT. DEALER REPAIRED WITH NEW POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMP. TS

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CAR WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT TO DEALER THEY CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER, AND CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS. PICKED UP CAR, WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN SAME PROBLEM HAPPEND AGAIN. CALLED DEALER FOR A TOW. BECAUSE AT THE TIME I WAS TO DRIVE TO DEALER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING CAR INOPERABLE. DEALER SAID THE CLAMP THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THAT PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FIXED. MY DEALER ADDRESSED MY ORIGINAL PROBLEM BY THINKING THAT MY KEYS TO THE CAR WERE TRIGGERING SOME KIND OF ANTITHEFT DEVICE IN THE CARS COMPUTER TO KEEP IT FROM STARTING, THEY GAVE ME TWO NEW KEYS, WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 30 MILES WHEN THIS TIME WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD, I WAS GLAD TO BE IN A TURN LANE AT THE TIME. THE TWO PREVIOUS TIMES IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR FOR THE CAR TO RESTART THIS THIRD TIME IT TOOK ONLY ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THE DEALER STILL REMAINS BAFFLED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE ENGINE . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE KEYS CAUSED THE IGNITION TO FAIL WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STALLING. *MR *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROMBLEM.. TS

ENGINE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ( AROUND 5 TIME WITHIN 4 MOS.) ON FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS. DT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TRASMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY FUEL TANK LEAKED, APPARENTLY DUE TO BEING STRUCK BY AN EXTERNAL OBJECT. DURING NON OF THE OCCASIONS, DID I RUN OVER AN OBJECT OR NOTICE ANY LARGE SHARP OBJECT ON THE FREEWAY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSES, SO I HAD TO FILE A CLAIM THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH COST APPROX. $2000 WITH THE TOW AND RENTAL. HOWEVER, WITHIN 10 MONTHS IT OCCURED AGAIN AND I AGAIN HAD IT TAKEN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, WHICH THEY FIRST CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. I CALLED THE MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER REGARDING THE MATTER, AND MADE THEM REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE FUEL TANK TO BE SO FRAGILE AND OBVIOUSLY NOT DURABLE THAT IT CAN BE RUPTURED SO EASILY DURING NORMAL FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SINCE THIS IS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OFF-ROADING AND INTO MOUNTAINS WHICH COULD CONTAIN ROCKY ROADS OR DIFFICULTY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THAT I EXPECT THE CAR TO WITHSTAND THE DRIVE. THE PUT IT INTO MY RECORD. I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND MERCEDES DECIDED TO COVER ALL MY EXPENSES THIS TIME, SO I DID NOT HAVE TO PUT IN A CLAIM. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THIS MODEL AND THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE RESEACH AND LET ME KNOW AS I DO NOT WANT TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON 04/24/02 MY CAR STARTED STALLING OUT AND NOT STARTING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP.THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL LINE, AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPAIRED BY 04/25/02.A TERRIBLE FUEL SMELL TOOK OVER THE CAR AND I RETURNED IT ON 04/26/02.IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO ME ON 4/30/02.IT STARTED BREAKING DOWN AGAIN ON 05/05/02 AND I TOOK IT IN ON 05/06/02.THEY HAD IT FOR 10 DAYS (UNTIL 05/16/02) AND IT BROKE DOWN OUT OF TOWN ON 05/25/02 WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 21 DAYS (UNTIL 06//15/02).IT THEN BROKE DOWN ON THE DRIVE HOME (05/15/02)AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWO DAYS LATER (05/17/02, DEALERSHIP CLOSED).ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM RELATED TO THIS BUT I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD UNRELIABLE MERCEDES BENZ I AM NOW PAYING TO REPAIR.I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS' REPAIRS BUT I BELIEVE I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T SELL, TRADE IN OR DRIVE NOW AND I PAID $38,000. FOR IT A YEAR AGO.PLEASE INSTRUCT ME ON THE BEST PLAN OF ACTION AT THIS POINT.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, CONSUMER HIT A CURVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT HOSE CARRYING POWER STEERING FLUID BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS IF TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT ON DRIVE SIDE AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *TT

WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED." I PUT THE WORD "LOCKED" IN QUOTES, BECAUSE THE HOSE SYSTEM TO THE POWER STEERING BROKE AND THE POWER WAS LOST. A MERCEDES M-CLASS IS A HEAVY VEHICLE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS LUCKY. THERE WAS NO PERSON OR CAR TO THE RIGHT OF US AND I DROVE THE CAR INTO THE RIGHT HAND CURB. THIS HAPPENED IN 4/02. THE CAR WAS TOWRED TO W.I. SIMONSON, A MERCEDES DEALORSHIP IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER ON MAY 10, 2002. THIS TIME I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND I COULD SEE BROWN FLUID IN A BIG PUDDLE. IT WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS EITHER 1)SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE METAL PIECE ATTACHED TO THE HOSE; OR 2) A DEFECTIVE CLAMP WHICH DID NOT HOLD THE HOSE TO THEPIPE. ANYHOW, I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR. I KNOW I WAS LUCKY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED/INJURED OR KILLED/INJURED SOMEONE ELSE IF THE FAILURES HAD NOT HAPPENED IN SUCH SAFE PLACES. I NOTICE ONE OTHER STEERING WHEEL FAILURE LISTED FOR THE 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING BECOMES VERY ERRATIC, WHICH MAKES VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANUVER. TOOK TO DEALER. PROBLEN HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AS OF YET. *AK DEALER WAS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM AND REPLACED A LEAKING POWER STEERING HOSE. *TT

BOTH FRONTAL SEAT BELTS WOULD CONTINUE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. BOTH SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED / SERVICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY DEALER. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND THEN HE NOTICED THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE THREAD STARTED SEPARATING AND SMOKING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 15 MPH STEERING LOCKED, DRIVER WAS WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. ON DEC 20, 2001 WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 30 MPH STEERING LOCKED AGAIN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER BOTH TIMES, CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, NOT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK