2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 Complaints

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 A WARNING LIGHT AND TURN IT SELF OFF . NOT LIKE IN MY CASE THE FAILED SENSOR CAUSED THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM TO RANDOMLY TURN ON THE BRAKES . WITH ALL OF THE CRAZY COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS IN THE MODERN CARS I AM NOW NERVOUS ABOUT BLINDLY TRUSTING THEM WITH MY LIFE. *TR

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