2001 Mercedes Benz ML320

The failed component is the YAW rate sensor, original part number A1635426340 (ATE part number 10.0980-0454.2), manufactured by ATE. I have experienced multiple incidents of sudden, unintended braking at highway speeds. These events occurred without warning and created an immediate and significant risk of a serious collision, endangering not only myself and my family but also other motorists sharing the roadway. While the defect has not been reproduced or confirmed by either a Mercedes-Benz dealer or an independent repair facility, the absence of a successful diagnosis does not diminish the seriousness of the safety hazard. In fact, your agency opened an investigation into this issue in 2007, yet no corrective action was ultimately taken despite reports indicating that more than 100,000 vehicles may have been affected. According to publicly available information, Mercedes-Benz inspected and evaluated the YAW rate sensor in May 2007 as part of its review of this issue. The continued occurrence of sudden, unintended braking events raises concerns that the underlying defect may not have been fully addressed. Most concerning is that there were no warning lamps, fault messages, or other observable symptoms prior to the braking events. The vehicle operated normally until the moment the unintended braking occurred, leaving the driver with no opportunity to anticipate or prevent a potentially catastrophic situation.

The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated that the front passenger’s door failed to open more than 6 inches. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that when they entered their vehicle and turned it on, the vehicle's passenger front door air bag made a sudden boom sound and then deployed. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.

AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION

ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.

MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER

THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM ON MERCEDES BENZ ML320 LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

STEERING FLUID LEEKS.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TANK.THE STEERING IS VERY HARD.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS TO COME TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION

THIS IS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME (JAN 2017) HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BUT BEFORE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I SAT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES WITH CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY DRIVE HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA BUT STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE ALL THE WAY HOME. 2ND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEORGIA. PULLED OVER AND LET IT SET FOR AWHILE. FINISHED RIDE TO ATLANTA AIRPORT. WEEK LATER I DRIVE HOME FROM ATLANTA AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I BRING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CANT FIND ANYTHING DIAGNOSTICALLY. 3RD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH. I BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC AND HE KEEPS IT FOR A WEEK. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF MY LAST OCCURENCE; I AM DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 327 AND THIS TIME IT IS THE WORSE OCCURENCE YET; DOING 45 MPH AND BRAKES LOCK UP LIKE AS IF I HAD SLAMMED THEM ON. CAR BEHIND ME SWERVES AROUND ME AND GIVES ME THE 'ONE FINGER' HELLO.....THANK GOD HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND NOT TEXTING. CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANIC AND HE IS LOOKING AT REPLACING A $800 SENSOR. EVEN THEN I WILL NOT LET MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME EVER AGAIN. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET REARENDED (KILLED) EVENTUALLY IF YOU DONT GET MERCEDES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT AS ID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE 'BAS ESP" (BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP RELEASE AND LOCK UP AGAIN.THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND HEAT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT'S BROTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, MY 2001 MERC BENZ ML320 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DRAMATICALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STAND STILL. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. FINALLY, THE LAST TWO TIMES OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH. IN ALL INSTANCES, THE FRONT BRAKES ABSOLUTELY LOCKED AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO AN APPROXIMATELY COMPLETE STOP WHILE PULLING THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. EACH EVENT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EPISODE. ALTHOUGH I KEPT TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. I HAD JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM SO THAT I COULD VEER TO THE SAFETY OF THE SAFETY LANE. THE EVENTS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A TWO (2) WEEK PERIOD...FAR, FAR TOO FREQUENT FOR COMFORT. IN ALL OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT GET RAMMED BY THE VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND ME. NOW THAT I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT TAKEN THIS ISSUE MORE SERIOUSLY AS IT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN AN ISOLATED ISSUE BUT RATHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AMONG FELLOW ML 320 VEHICLE OWNERS. LASTLY, I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, AND IT HAS TERRIFIED ME IN THIS SHORT TIME.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH UNINTENDED BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND CONDITION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CURVES AND STRAIGHT ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MAY 2016 AT LEAST 15 TO 20 TIMES.

VEHICLE CAME TO A DEAD STOP WHEN BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 40MPH IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET VEHICLE OFF ROAD ONTO SHOULDER. ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME AND REMAINED ON UNTIL IGNITION TURNED OFF. NOW NO WARNING LIGHT NOR DIAGNOSTIC CODE DETECTED. BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED BY MB DEALER ON MONTH AGO. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

DURING BRAKING THE BAS/ESP WILL COME ON CAUSING NO ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. ALMOST RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS. ONLY TUNING OFF AND THE THE VEHICLE WILL TEMPORALLY FIX THE ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, VEHICLE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING (WARNING FOR ESP AND ABS) AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT... I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASSUMED I HAD A BLOW OUT... BUT ALL TIRES WERE FINE AND NO ISSUES... TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 13 MILES THEN TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 -15 MINUTES CAME OUT AND GOT IN VEHICLE... WHEN I STARTED TO GO... ORANGE TRIANGLE WAS STILL ON AND IF I EVEN TOUCHED BRAKES THEY ALL LOCKED UP AND WOULD EVEN SQUEAL WHEN EVEN TOUCHING BRAKE PETAL. IT WAS 79 DEGREES, DRY ON A HIGHWAY THAT WAS A SMOOTH ROAD, IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES APPLIED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ UPDATED 04/12/16.*JB

WHILE DRIVING TODAY AT APPROX 20-25 MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED ON THEIR OWN AND MY VEHICLE SWERVED AND CAME TO A HALT. WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DROVE ON THE 101 AND 405 FREEWAYS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DROVE LATER ON THE SAME DAY, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY? I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ONLINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SHE BURNED RUBBER ON THE ROAD BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP, HOWEVER SHE WAS IN THE OTHER LANE. I WAS JUST THANKING GOD ANOTHER CAR WAS NOT COMING THE OTHER WAY. I WON'T LET HER DRIVE IT AND ORDERED A YAW SENSOR FOR IT BECAUSE WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO READ WAY THIS WOULD HAPPEN IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAPPENS A LOT TO THE 2001 AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE YAW SENSOR. WHEN WE GET IT IN WE WILL TRY TO DRIVE IT IN AND GET THE CODES BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS PART. I ALMOST LOST MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, IT'S AND EASY FIX BUT THE PART IS EXPENSE. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

SAME STORY AS I'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF TIMES ON THE INTERNET AND YOU CLAIM NOT ENOUGH OCCURRENCES! I'M ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING 70 MPH. WEATHER IS GOOD, TRAFFIC IS LIGHT (THANK GOD!) AND MY BREAKS SLAM ON. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, SO I'M ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE BEING REAR ENDED. THE TRIANGLE WARNING LAMP IS LIT AND THE BAS / ESP LAMP IS LIT. I TRY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, LIGHTS GO OUT, I MOVE FORWARD, GET UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE BREAKS SLAM ON AGAIN. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I GOT OUT AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE TIRES AND BREAKS. GET BACK IN, START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE ANOTHER 45 MINUTES. GET INTO TOWN, DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THEY SLAM ON AGAIN. I'M ABLE TO LIMP HOME WITH THE ABS GOING ON AND OFF. I PARK IT FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT DAY I DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FOLLOW ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND DISCONNECT MY BATTERY. FIXED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE GOING AROUND AN 18 WHEELER WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. ME AND MY 8 YEAR OLD WAS ALMOST KILLED ALONG WITH OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE ESB WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,557.

THIS IS A SEQUEL REPORT TO MY ODI 10664733 OF 12/16/2014. TWO INCIDENTS ARE IDENTICAL. THE EARLIER INCIDENT HAPPENED AT ODOMETER READING 118,714; THIS SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 118,832, 118 MILES LATER. I WAS ON I-280 SOUTHBOUND APPROX. 53 MILES SOUTH OF SF. AROUND 1PM, A SUDDEN EXTRAORDINARILY FORCEFUL BRAKING ? THE MERCEDES OWNER?S MANUAL CALLS THIS MAXIMUM BRAKING CAPABILITY POWER BOOST WHICH EXCEEDS DRIVER?S MANUAL BRAKING STYLE ? THE ?BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM BAS? HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT DRIVER?S COMMAND. I WAS GOING STEADY AT 65 MPH, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKING. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY WITH A LARGE BRAKING NOISE AND CAME DOWN TO NEAR HOLT. I COULD STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE EMERGENCY AREA BY TRAVELING PERHAPS 15 FEET WHILE THE BAS WAS FIRMLY IN FORCE. THIS IS COUNTER TO THE NHTSA ACTION PE07007 REFERENCE ATTRIBUTED TO MERCEDES AS THE ESP ELECTRICAL FAULTS DURATION BEING 0.3 SECONDS OR LESS. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THIS IS INCORRECT. IT LASTED AS LONG AS I WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR. WHEN THE BAS ACTIVATED, THE ESP ALARM SIGNAL AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. THE BAS/EPS LIGHT CAME BACK ON BUT THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY OTHERWISE. DROVE BACK TO SF WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. WERE THE TRAFFIC HEAVY AND THE ROAD WERE WET AND SLIPPERY, MY MERCEDES ML320 WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAF

I WAS ON CALIF HWY1 NORTHBOUND APPROX 20 MILES SOUTH OF SF, DOING 45MPH, AROUND 1:00PM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED IN A FIERCE FORCE, WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO TRAVELING TWO TO THREE FEET. I FELT ALL THE FOUR WHEELS WERE LOCKED FIRM. I DID NOT EVEN TOUCH THE BRAKES. MY CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY BUT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME OR TO MY SIDES. AS I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA OF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE ESP/BAS LAMP WAS ON. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED A MINUTE LATER. THE ESP/BAS LAMP CAME BACK ON. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. DROVE BACK HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENCE. *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY APPLIED STRONG BRAKING FORCE BY ITSELF (MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THAT TIME). DURING THAT INSTANCE, THE CAR ALSO WENT OUT OF STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME WITHOUT REAR ENDED INTO MY CAR. I WAS THINKING IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY, ME AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE GOT KILLED. *TR

RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LOCKING UP WHEN I'M DRIVING AND MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN REAL FAST .I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND . I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HWY SO WHEN IT LOCKS UP I CAN TRY TO GET OFF ROAD. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL LOCK UP. ITS SCARY. *JS

THEN ON DEC 28, 2012 I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO MY HOME IN SAN LEANDRO, CA. I WAS ON THE 580 FREEWAY IN LIVERMORE GOING AROUND 75 MILES IN THE FAST LANE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE ON ITS OWN. THIS TIME IT WAS A SUDDEN AND SEVERE BRAKING ACTION. IT CAUSED THE TIRES AND BRAKES TO SMOKE. MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME.WHAT I NOTICED THIS TIME WAS THE UPSIDE DOWN EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON RIGHT AS THE CAR WAS BRAKING. THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MPH TO GET MY FAMILY HOME. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. MY ADVISOR AT MB OF PLEASANTON. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS ON AND OFF SINCE NOV 2012. IT WILL GO SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT THIS "SELF-BRAKING" ACTION THEN IT WILL DO IT ON AND OFF FOR WEEKS.I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND EVEN MORE AFRAID WHEN I HAVE MY KIDS IN THE CAR. RECENTLY (APRIL 2014) I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG ON THE FREEWAY AS A RESULT OF THE SUDDEN BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN IN SAN JOSE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE YAW SENSOR AND THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. MY THIS TIME I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND TIRES AS A RESULT OF THE WEAR FROM THE BRAKING. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED BACK TIRES TOO. THE YAW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON A FRIDAY (APRIL 25TH) AND IT DROVE FINE. ON MONDAY(APRIL 28TH) I WAS GOING TO LUNCH AND THE CAR BRAKED ON ITS OWN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH BC I WAS AT THE LIGHT. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IF IT

I AM HAVING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 WITH A ESP BAS LIGHT COMING ON AND LOCKING FRONT BRAKE CAUSING THE ABS TO COME ON AND STOP SUV. TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED WITH MY KIDS IN CAR. CONTACTED MERCEDES DEALER AND CANT GUARANTEE WHAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY CHANGED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH 2 TIMES SAID IT COULD BE ABS PUMP {800} OR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS {1200} OR YAW SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH, MAYBE EVEN COMPUTER BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. SPOKE TO BENZ AT CORPORATE AND THEY ONLY SAY BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOPE I CAN GET A ANSWER TO THIS SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND AN EXCLAMATION POINT ICON ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN BRAKING FROM VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO SEIZE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I ALMOST GOT KILLED TODAY!!! I WAS DRIVING MY MERZ ML320 WHEN I FELT THE CAR VIBRATE, HEARD A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS STUCK, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALL BY ITSELF AND THEN FELT THE CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY AND INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF A BIG TRUCK BARELY MISSING HIM. THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK BLEW HIS HORN AT ME AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. MY ABS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRIANGLE BRAKE LIGHT. AT FIRST, IT SOUNDED AS IF I BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT SOUNDED. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE WHEEL OR BRAKES. THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED RIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAD BOTH MY SONS WITH ME. THE PULLING OF THE CAR INTO THE NEXT LANE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I SAT THERE FOR 10 MINS IN SHOCK BEFORE TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE ABS/ESP LIGHT IS STILL ON. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY HOME AVOIDING THE FREEWAY. I AM CALLING MERCEDES TOMORROW. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOCKS UP AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL. *JB

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP. MY VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND I HEARD THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. I WAS NARROWLY MISSED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS THE JERK SLAMMED MY VEHICLE TO A HALT AND TURNED MY WHEELS CAUSING MY STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT THERE FOR A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO PROCEED AHEAD AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT THE YAW SENSOR CAME UP AS FAULTY DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND AS THE TECH DROVE IT UP IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING. $1000 LATER THE YAW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY 18 MONTH OLD SON WASN'T IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME AS HAD HE BEEN AND SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE ABRUPT STOP, HE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY AND RECALLED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD DEEM THIS A RECALL, FIXING THE ISSUE FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED IT AND REIMBURSING THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO SPEND $1000 REPLACING WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE FOR SAFETY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 45MPH, THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM AND YAW RATE SENSOR FAILED. I WAS NARROWLY ABLE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER SEARCHING MANY ONLINE MERCEDES FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR 2000-2001 ML MODELS AND IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN PE07007 THAT WAS CLOSED IN 2007. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY NOW AND GROUNDS FOR A RECALL. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL FIXED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL . ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO TOTALLY APPLY THE BRAKES ALL BY ITSELF AND LUNGED TO A STOP . THE CAR BEHIND ME BARELY MISSED HITTING THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE . I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY . FEARFUL TO CONTINUE DRIVING , I THEN CALLED A TOW SERVICE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP . A FEW DAYS LATER , THEY CALLED ME AND SAID ONE OF THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM HAD FAILED (YAW RATE SENSOR - DTC C1120) AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM . THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE ABOUT $900.00 . I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPONENT OF A SO CALLED SAFETY SYSTEM COULD FAIL RENDERING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT CAN IN ITSELF CAUSE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION . FORTUNATELY IN MY CASE THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE BEEN JUST THE OPPOSITE . THE ASE MASTER CERTIFIED TECHNITION WHO TAKES CARE OF MY CAR STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN TYPE OF FAILURE (DEFECT) OF MY MODEL MERCEDES . MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO COVER THIS REPAIR FOR ME AND DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENNING AGAIN ON MY VEHICLE OR ANY OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD . WE ALL PUT FAITH IN THESE SAFETY SYSTEM THAT MERCEDES MANUFACTURES BUT ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES WE ALL ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE CONCEQUENCES OF DEFECTIVE DESIGNS . I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN A COMPONENT IN A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO TURN ON

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/23/13*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER, THE FAILURE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OTHER FAILURES SUCH AS THIS. VIA THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURES. CAR INSURANCE COVERED THE DAMAGE. UPDATED 05/29/2013 *JS

WHILE I AM DRIVING I NOTED IT IS HARD TO ACCELERATE AND YELLOW HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AN DI HEARD NOISE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I WAITED FEW MINUTES I NOTICED THE BAS/ESP CAME ON AND I RESUME DRIVING. THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES, I NOTICED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACH BETWEEN 85-90, IF THE BAS;ESP WILL NOT COME ON, YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING STUCK ON THE BRAKE AND IT DOES NOT MOVE. FIRST THE DEALER IN CHICAGO CHANGE IT AND IT DOES NOT HELP SO I ASK ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT. I STILL HAD THE BRAKE REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER. . THE SITUATION IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE BUT VERY SCARY. I COULD NOT DRIVE TOO LONG OR MAYBE DANGEROUS IN THE EXPRESSWAY. SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET TOLD IT IS THE YAW SENSOR RATE SHOULD BE REPLACED. I CHANGE MINE SUCH NEW BATTERY, GAS PUMP,.NEW RADIATOR, NEW OIL CHANGE. IF SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE WILL COME AND I WILL SHOW HOW MY CAR IS ACTING STRANGELY WITH THE BAS/ESP. HOW COME THE BAS/ESP MUST LIGHT ON AND YOU CAN DRIVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IF THE BAS/ESP WILL NOT ON, IT DOES NOT MOVE OR ACCELERATE. WHY?????? PLEASE MANDATORY THAT DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY THE DEALER SHOULD BE FREE AND CHARGE TO MERCEDES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP WAS REPLACED IN 2005 DUE TO AN UNUSUAL NOISE BEING EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. MOST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT COMPLETED A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CHARGE TO FIRST PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

BAS/ESP CAME ON AGAIN HAD A 2001 MERCEDES ML 320 ( BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2001) 63K MILES, BAS/ESP ON ACTING STRANGELY . FIRST IT WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER IN ILLINOIS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON BUT THEN LATTER IT COMES AGAIN. BEFORE THE PANEL DASH BOARD BAS/ESP CAME ON, IT SEEMS THE WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR IS NOT MOVING AND LATTER ON IT BAS/EXP LIGHT ON SO IT IS OKAY TO DRIVE THE CAR. WHAT I DID I WENT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND THEY REPLACED AGAIN THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON (REPLACED BY MERCEDES DEALER IN 10/10/12) INTO NEW ONE ORIGINAL PARTS. I NOTICED SOMETIMES THAT THE BAS/ESP IS ON AFTER 90 TEMPERATURE AND STAY ON UNTIL YOU SHUT DOWN THE CAR ENGINE. SOMEONE TOLD THAT IN THE MB FORUM THAT YAW RATE SENSOR IS THE ONE THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM OF THE BAS/ESP ON. I WONDER HOW NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS DOING THIS.YOU SHOULD RECALL THAT ASIDE REPLACEMENT OF BAS/ESP, YAW RATE SENSOR,ESP MODULE AND ABS RELAY SHOULD BE RECALL ALSO AND REPLACE NO CHARGE TO THE DRIVER PLUS FREE DIAGNOSTIC. I BRING TO MERCEDES DEALER IN CHICAGO IN 0CT. 2012 TO RECALL BAS/ESP, YET AFTER A DAY IT CAME ON AND REPEATED AGAIN EVEN TODAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESSWAY. NHTSA SHOULD DO THE RECALL SOONER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY IN MODERATE TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING VIOLENTLY APPLIED UNEVEN POWER TO DIFFERENT WHEELS, BRAKE AND SPED UP. ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE AS I WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER CAR. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS AS I SLOWED CAR RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ABOUT 10 MILES LATER THE ACTION REPEATED MAKING ME FEAR A CRASH OR ROLL OVER AS I WAS FIGHTING TO REGAIN CONTROL AND EXIT FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND GAIN CONTROL. ENDED UP HAVING CAR TOWED 175 MILES HOME. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE YAW SENSOR DESIGNED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ESP TO PREVENT A ROLL OVER. HOWEVER THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED A ROLL OVER OR A CRASH WITH A LESS EXPERIENCED AND PHYSICALLY STRONG DRIVER. INDEED, HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER SHE COULD HAVE CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE. HAD THERE BEEN ONE OF THE MANY 18 WHEELERS IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO ME I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I COULD HAVE AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER THE FACT IN REVIEW ON GOOGLE I NOTED MANY VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME 2001 MBZ ML320. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

MY DAD WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WE HAD JUST COME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HE ACCELERATED AND JUST AS WE CROSSED THE INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. I THOUGHT MY DAD HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND STARTED TO BRAKE ON ITS OWN VOLITION---EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO. THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND AND A FEW SECONDS LATER YOU CAN SMELL THE STENCH OF BURNING RUBBER. THANKFULLY, THE CAR BEHIND US WAS NOT TAILGATING OR THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE RUN STRAIGHT INTO US! MY FATHER THEN LET GO OF THE GAS PEDAL AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO DECELERATE UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WE THEN SAW THAT TWO INDICATORS WERE LIT ON THE DASHBOARD: A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK AND A YELLOW SQUARE WITH THE LETTERS BAS/ESP IN IT. HE THEN SHIFTED TO "PARK" AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WE WAITED FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE STARTING UP THE CAR AGAIN. BOTH OF THE INDICATORS (YELLOW TRIANGLE AND THE BAS/ESP SQUARE) WERE NO LONGER LIT AND MY FATHER SLOWLY ACCELERATED THE CAR (ABOUT 10-15 MPH). THE BRAKES DID NOT LOCK UP AND WE CAUTIOUSLY DROVE HOME. WE'LL BE TAKING THIS CAR TO THE MECHANIC TODAY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM. NONETHELESS, I FEEL THE NEED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SINCERELY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A CAR CAN BRAKE ON ITS OWN WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING IT. I WOULD BE MORE UNDERSTANDING IF THIS WAS GOOGLE'S AUTONOMOUS CAR, BUT UNF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ESP AND BAS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE ABS AND THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVED IT IS A FAULTY YAW RATE SENSOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,970 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

ON OR ABOUT MAY 14, 2012, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SELF-INITIATED A CONTINUOUS BRAKE ACTIVATION WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE BRAKES OR TAKING ANY OTHER ACTION. THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED AND SUSTAINED BRAKING ACTION RESULTED IN A NEAR-COLLISION WITH A SEMI-TRUCK TRAVELING BEHIND ME WHICH THE TRUCK-DRIVER WAS FORTUNATELY JUST ABLE TO PREVENT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER AS THE UN-COMMANDED BRAKING ACTION BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING FOR ME, AND IT WAS ONLY SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (?ESP?) CONTROL MODULE AND YAW RATE SENSOR HAD FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY IN AN INOPERABLE CONDITION. REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA (CAMPAIGN # PE07007). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT ENGAGED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT LATER THAT DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

REFERENCE ODI 10457817 I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES CORP. STATING THE FUEL PUMP FIRE IS DUE TO AGE AND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I ASKED HOW A FIRE INSIDE A FUEL TANK CAN BE NORMAL FOR ANY REASON. THEY WOULD ONLY REPEAT THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT GET RID OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW FOR FINANCIAL REASONS . HOWEVER I DON'T HAVE TO LET MY FAMILY RIDE IN IT. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I HAVE THE LETTER FROM MB STATING THE ABOVE. *TR

MY ML320 VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS ROUND TRIP THEN PARKED FOR THE EVENING. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER DOING AN EXHAUSTIVE DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE. I REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP FROM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. I SAW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS/CONNECTOR FOR THE HOT LEAD WAS BLACK AND BROWN IN COLOR AND THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HARNESS HAD MELTED. I TOOK PICTURES AND STORED THE PUMP. I EMAILED MERCEDES AND ASKED THEM TO GET BACK WITH ME SINCE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAD BEEN IN THE VEHICLE AND THIS IS THE FAMILY VEHICLE. I ALSO READ SEVERAL FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REFERENCE MERCEDES FUEL PUMPS INCLUDING MY SPECIFIC MODEL. I READ HOW THEY HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I ALSO SAW A PICTURE OF A FUEL PUMP OUT OF A ML 320 IN 2006 THAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND ALMOST LOOKED IDENTICAL TO MY FUEL PUMP I HAD REMOVED. I HAVE LOOKED FOR RECALLS AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM MERCEDES. I AM AT A LOSS ON WHAT TO DO OR IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO. I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT HEY ARE UNLIKELY TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE COST. I WANT TO REPORT THIS IN CASE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. IT WILL BE ON RECORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COAST TO A STOP, WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ONCE MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO BE EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.