2002 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Complaint Log

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

FRONT END- SUSPENSION COMPONENTS/ BODY EXPERIENCING KNOCKING NOISE..

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

DASH BOARD BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE BRAKES FAILED. *LA

WARRANTY ISSUES AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. ON OCTOBER. 21, 2003 TOOK MY ML500 YEAR 2002 TO DEALER FOR SQUEALING AND SCRAPING BRAKES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THE SQUEALING AND SCRAPING AND TOLD ME THAT BRAKE DISC AND PADS LOOKS FINE. HOWEVER THEY ADVISED ME TO BUY NEWER VERSION OF BRAKE PADS, WHICH WOULD NOT SQUEAL. I REFUSED TO BUY BRAKE PADS, AS THEY SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOT SATISFIED, THEREFORE TOOK THE VEHICLE AGAIN NEXT DAY (OCTOBER 22,2003) AND TALKED TO THE SALES PERSON FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. HE AND SERVICE MANAGER PERFORMED TEST DRIVE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND TOLD THE SQUEALING AND SCRAPPING WAS DUE TO A ROCK STUCK BETWEEN BRAKE PADS AND DISC. SINCE YESTERDAY, I HAD DRIVEN MY VEHICLE ONLY 24 MILES BUT NOW THE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE AND UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $348.04 FOR MY 18 MONTHS OLD VEHICLE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP AND MERCEDES BENZ DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. SAME DAY, ANOTHER CUSTOMER CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM, HIS MERCEDES ALSO HAD A ROCK STUCK BETWEEN BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE MERCEDES THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. *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

ONE DAY AFTER WASHING THE CAR, THE REAR BRAKE STICKS UNTIL PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND FORCE THE BRAKE TO RELEASE. IT MAKES A LOUD CRACKING NOISE DURING THE FORCE RELEASE. THE NOISE IS SO LOUD THAT YOU MAY THINK YOU HIT SOMETHING FROM YOUR BUMPER IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM. MBZ SAID THAT'S NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE RUST OVERNIGHT. THEY DID TOOK THE BRAKE APART, CLEAN AND PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER. THEY TOLD ME IT'S MY RESPONSIBLITY TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER I WASH TO CAR TO GET RID OF THE EXCESS WATER WITHIN THE BRAKE PADS. YESTERDAY, IT WAS A RAINLY DAY AND I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AFTER DRIVING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN NEXT DAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW CAN I DRIVE THE CAR TO GET RID OF THE WATER WHEN THERE IS A RAINLY DAY. I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE MANAGER TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER AND I DON'T THINK THEY WILL DO ANYTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY CLAIMED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS BRAKE.

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 BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. *NLM

I, 12 YEARS AGO WAS DRIVING MY ML 500 MERCEDES ON US 23 BETWEEN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN AND SYLVANIA, IN OHIO. MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. I HAVE SINCE SOLD MY CAR SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP IN SYLVANIA AT THE TIME, AND THEY CHECKED WITH MERCEDES, WHO RELAYED THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE KEYS ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS SOUNDED EERILY SIMILAR TO WHAT APPARENTLY HAS OCCURRED WITH THE GM CARS BEING RECALLED. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS ISSUE IS INVESTIGATED FURTHER SO THAT NO INJURIES THAT CAN BE PREVENTED HAPPEN . REGARDS, *TR

TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, THREE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY BY OWNER, FINALLY ON FOURTH ATTEMPT.(PLACING IN PARK AND TURNING OFF AN ON IGNITION) TRANSMISSION FINALLY WOKED NORMALLY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER THROUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOLD TO RETURN VEHICLE TO DEALER, CONTACTED DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL SEVERAL TIMES. THOUGHT I SHOULD ADVISE SOMEONE AT NHSTA. DT

AFTER PARKING THE CAR A SMELL OF SMOKE WAS NOTED. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY WELL AND WAS RECENTLY SERVICED BY A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED A NEW BATTERY AMONG OTHER THINGS. BLACK SMOKE WAS NOTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. AS IT WAS ATTEMPTED TO POP OPEN THE HOOD, FLAMES DARTED INTO THE COMPARTMENT THROUGH A CREATED HOLE JUST UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE NOTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, AROUND THE TIRES AND SOON ENGULFING THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND IT'S COMPONENTS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED, THE INTERIOR FILLED WITH BLACK SOOT AND ODOR. THIS WAS A HUGE SHOCK AND SURPRISE TO THE OWNER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING SO WELL AND NEVER HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE.

REAR SEATS DO NOT FOLD DOWN. *TR

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

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE SENT MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 TO THE DEALER WITH SPONGY BRAKES. IN FACT, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I BELIEVE IT TO BE UNSAFE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *JB

TGHE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS STICKY AND NOTCHY. THIS CONDITION MADE SMOOTH ACCELERATION EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. *AK *TS

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SIDE MIRROR PROBLEMS.*AK *JB

THE GEARS JAMMED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM'S OR MOR BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE. THE DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE CONSUMED ALOT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK PROPERLY. STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION AND EXCESSIVE REFLECTION FROM GLARE SHIELD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. *PH *NLM

WARRANTY ISSUES AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. *PH AT THE FIRST 10,000 MILES, THE CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE TRAVEL WAS TOO LONG AND WAS ADVISED BY AN SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER AT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES, THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT ADEQUATE AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN BRAKING. THIS TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE GONE AND THE ROTORS WERE SCORED DUE TO TOO MUCH CITY DRIVING AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR WOULD NOT HONOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. *TT *JB

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