2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 Complaints

I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES ML320. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS ON, IT STARTED TO SMOKE, WAS VERY HOT IN ONE SPOT, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF MELTING THE LEATHER. THE HEATER HAD ONLY BEEN ON FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. COULD ALSO FEEL AN ELECTRICAL PULSING, LIKE A CURRENT AT THE SIGHT.WE PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, FOR FEAR OF IT STARTING ON FIRE. CONTACTED BLACK FOREST MOTORS THE NEXT DAY, THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT WE COULD ORDER A NEW SEAT AT OUR COST. THIS TOOK PLACE ON 1-27-05. ON 2-8-5, IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, THERE IS AN ARTICLE OF THIS HAPPENING IN 2003 MODELS.*AK

I OWN A MERCEDES BENZE ML320 SUV. IT IS NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING (AT THE SEED OF EVEN AT 35 - 40 MILE PER HOUR) IF THERE IS ANY WATER ON THE ROAD THERE OCCURS A HUGE FASH AND MOST OF IT COMES TO THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKES THE DRIVER VIEW OF SIDE AND FRONT BLIND. WE HAVE EXPERIMENTED THE SAME WITH OTHER MINI VAN AND CARS THAT WE OWN, NONE OF THEM DOES IT LIKE THIS ONE. WE ALMOST HAD FEW ACCIDENT BY LUCKY TO BE SAVED OUT OF IT. WE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SUGGESETED EITHER NOT TO DRIVE OR TO DRIVE BELLOW 25 MILE PER HOUR. WHICH WE FELT IS NOT A VALUABLE SUSSESSION. SPECIALLY THE CITY I LIVE (HOUSTON, TX) ROADS WILL HAVE SOME WATER IF IT JUST RAINS FOR FEW MINUTS. WE WOULD LIKE APPROPRIATION ACTION AND WARINGS TO BE GIVEN TO ALL OWNERS / DRIVERS AS WELL AS FIX THE PROBLEM TO AVOID MAJOR ACCIDENTS. *AK

OIL SENSOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING A QUART OF OIL EVERY THREE DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

THE POWER STEERING ON THE ML320 DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND TO ABRUPT CHANGES OF DIRECTION IN LOW SPEED MANEUVERS. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I HAVE STEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED (<10MPH) AND THEN QUICKLY TRIED TO STEER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE POWER STEERING REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO CHANGE THE INITIAL STEER DIRECTION AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE DIRECTION. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS BEHAVIOUR IS UNIQUE TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BUT IS INSTEAD A COMMON TRAIT OF ALL MLS.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS DEFECTS, AND HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF TIMES. MB PROMISED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE IF THEIR FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE COULD VERIFY MY COMPLAINTS. THEY ABSOLUTELY FOUND NUMEROUS, REDUNDANT DEFECTS AND NOW ONLY WANT TO FIX THE VEHICLE, RATHER THAT REPLACE THE VEHICLE. WHAT A BUNCH OF LIARS. THE VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM, THE WHEEL RUBS AND THE POWER STEERING FADES OUT, THE RADIO AND CD CHANGER MALFUNCTION CONSTANTLY, FUMES FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, AND WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP, THE CAR ALMOST GOES OUT OF CONTROL, EVEN THE ESP LIGHT COMES ON. *JB

EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE UNLESS STEPPED ON GAS TO FORWARD OR REVERSE. A DAY LATER AFTER WHEELS WERE WASHED AND DRIED UP, EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE TOTALLY UNTIL STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. YOU CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE(FEEL LIKE HITTING YOUR BUMPER TO SOMETHING) WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL DURING THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKES. LOCAL DEALER SAID THEIR REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. IT'S MY REPSONSIBILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE BRAKE PADS ARE DRIED UP, THEN PARK THE CAR. I TOLD THEM IT IS DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT KNOW AND THOUGHT THE CAR WON'T MOVE AND STEP ON THE GAS EXCESSIVELY. THEY DID NOT SEEM CARE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY TOLD ME THE PADS HAVE TO BE DRIED UP BEFORE PARKING. I TOLD THEM SERVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CALLED THEIR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND CAME TO MY HOUSE TO VERIFY IT. THEY EVENTUALLY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM AT THEIR SHOP. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO COMEUP WITH A SOLUTION EXCEPT TO TELL ME THAT IT'S MY REPSONSIBILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE PADS ARE DRIED UP BEFORE I PARK THE CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO VEER OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT. *JB

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AFTER MAKING A SLOW, 180 DEGREE TURN WHEN EXITING A CAR WASH--I WAS TURNING INTO THE STREET WHEN I NOTICED IT. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PART. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (THAT I CAN REMEMBER) AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THIS WAS NOT POINTED OUT. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC COMING IN EITHER LANE. I HAD THREE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2001 MERCEDES BENX ML320, MY WIFE EXPIERENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING AND WAS THROWN OFF THE ROAD.