2007 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-50 mph, the vehicle started shuddering and lost stability. The ABS warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact stated she veered to the side of the road and then drove the vehicle to her residence at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS system and the power steering system had failed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 132,945.

Losing power steering pressure while driving the car: safety issue it appears Hard to steer the ML350

SERPENTINE BELT SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED, ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS LOCKED UP DUE TO THE FAILED BEARING, LEADING TO DAMAGING/BRAKING SERPENTINE BELT. THAT LED TO LOSS OF STEERING (LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND OVERHEATING THE ENGINE. CREATED A VERY DANGER SITUATION AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED MANY MILES AWAY FROM HOME. VERY COSTLY TOWING SERVICE AND REPAIR.

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

POWER STEERING BEGAN MAKING LOW PITCHED HUMMING NOISE, WHICH LED ME TO DISCOVER A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, AND TALKING TO MERCEDES TECHS, I'VE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. IT CAN AND HAS LED TO POWER STEERING / RACK FAILURE AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 65,556 MILES, MY POWER STEERING PUMP AND RESERVOIR AS WELL AS THE FRONT END SWAY BAR ENDS AND LINKS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ON A HIGH QUALITY TRUCK SUCH AS THIS 2007 ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ, THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT SO QUICKLY. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . TAKE TO REPAIR SHOP,CRANK SENSOR BAD,CHANGED CRANK SENSOR, LIGHT CAME ON BACK,O2 SENSOR BAD, CHANGED O2 SENSOR,LIGHT CAME BACK ON,FINALLY SAID WORN SPRACKETT IN ENGINE SENDING FALSE READING. STEERING PUMP WENT BAD AT 59000. AC PUMP PULLEY BROKE OFF AT 54,000 MILES. AC/HEAT COMES ON BY ITSELF, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURN OFF. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2007 MERCEDES ML320 CDI ON MARCH 12. AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING - I INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (I USUALLY DO). I NOTICED ENGINE OIL DRIPPING (SMALL BUT NOTICEABLE AMOUNT) ON THE SERPENTINE BELT. I DID NOT THINK IT WAS URGENT - SO I TOOK PICTURES SO I CAN SEND IT TO MY SELLER TO CLAIM WARRANTY. ON MARCH 23, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON I-65. SUDDENLY, STEERING BECAME VERY HARD. IT WAS A CURVING HIGHWAY SO I WAS FORCED TO GO INTO OTHER LANES. LUCKY, TRAFFIC WAS NOT HEAVY SO I DID NOT SWERVE INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ON TIME TO MOVE AWAY SAFELY. ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME WE LOST STEERING, THE BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON. AFTER STOPPING, WE POPPED THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE SAME BELT MENTIONED EARLIER HAD DISINTEGRATED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. WE CALLED FOR A TOW VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR $300 AND ASSURED ME THAT THERE IS NO OIL LEAK. 200 MILES LATER, I GOT HOME - AND SAW THE SAME LEAK, SAME SPOT. OIL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE TURBO TO INTERCOOLER HOSE JOINT (WHICH WAS JUST ABOVE THE SERPENTINE BELT). I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THE ONLY SIMILAR ISSUE I FOUND LED TO DTB S-B-09.20/29. I ASKED MERCEDES, BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SO I AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. *TR

NOTICED POWER STEERING BINDING ON OUR 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350 ON 10/15/2010. THIS WAS A FIRST TIME OCCURRENCE. TOOK TO DEALER ON 10/20/2010. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS U JOINT ON STEERING COLUMN CONNECTED TO POWER STEERING PUMP NOT FUNCTIONING. DEALER REPLACED LOWER SECTION OF STEERING COLUMN. *TR

2007 MERCEDES ML 350: POOR DESIGN OF SHIFT LEVER, LOCATED ON STEERING COLUMN PUSH UP FOR REVERSE, PUSH DOWN FOR DRIVE, PUSH IN FOR PARK (WHEN DOING SO SYSTEM MAKES NEAR INAUDIBLE SOUND.) MY WIFE PUT CAR IN PARK, GOT OUT CAR ROLLED IN REVERSE CAUGHT HER LEG AND DRAGGED HER UNDER, CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL BACK AND CRUSHED HER LEFT LEG, MBENZ SAID TOO BAD BE MORE CAREFUL THIS IS A DESIGN FAULT DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. MBENZ TOLD ME ALL OF THEIR MODELS ARE BEING CHANGED TO THIS DESIGN TO KEEP COFFEE ETC FROM SPILLING FROM CONSOLE CUP HOLDERS INTO STANDARD CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER. I GUESS MBENZ NEEDS DEATHS BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IDIOTIC DESIGN ALMOST GOT MY WIFE KILLED AND NOW SHE HAS PERMANENT LEG DAMAGE AFTER SURGERY AND NEARLY 12 MONTHS REHAB. *TR