2008 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond as designed. The contact drove the vehicle safely off the road. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware of a power steering rack leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred several times. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V682000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

See attached document for complaint

STEERING WHEEL GET HARD THEN SOFT ON TURN CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND SAID ITS THE RACK & PINION I LOOK ONLINE FOR RECALL THIER IS ONE FOR STEERING RACK SO I CALL THE DEALER THEY SAID MINE IS NOT

MILEAGE 80K AND A STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN PIN. I SEE A RECALL 2008120011 AND FOLLOWING THE DOCUMENTATION THIS VIN QUALIFIES FOR IT BUT THE MB DEALER IS SAYING THAT THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL FOR THIS CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED STEERING FLUID, WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR ABOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONTACTED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF JACKSONVILLE, 10231 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225), BUT NO REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

MY POWER STEERING PIN BROKE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT THING AND MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED

STEERING FEELS WEIRD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND A SQUEALING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE AND THE POWER STEERING CONTROL HEAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,745.

NHTSA 08V682000 DEFECT IN POWER STEERING OIL PRESSURE DRIVING PIN. THE NHTSA SHOULD REEVALUATE ACCEPTING MERCEDES BENZ UNDERESTIMATING OF THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES THAT WERE EFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THERE ARE STILL VEHICLES THAT ARE LOOSING POWER STEERING PRESSURE DUE TO THE DRIVING PIN THAT IS USED TO CONTROL POWER STEERING OIL PRESSURE BEING DEFECTIVE AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS. THE PIN BREAKS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE TURNING SO THE STEERING ASSIST WILL NO LONGER OPERATE EFFECTIVELY IT ALSO CAUSES OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE HARD STEERING DEFECT AS A RESULT OF THE PIN BREAKING. WHEN DRIVING COLD THE VEHICLE HAS POWER STEERING AVAILABLE, WHEN WARM VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING, FLUID IS CIRCULATING IN POWER STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE CHECKS FINE. AS A RESULT DUE TO HARD STEERING LEAKS DEVELOP DUE TO POWER STEERING PRESSURES VARIANCES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OVER TIME A FIRE AND OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS CAN ARISE. THERE IS ALSO A POPPING SOUND FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT DUE TO TIE RODS.

THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING SINCE APRIL 2015. CHECK BY THE DEALER AND SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT RECALLED. BUT WHEN CHECK THE CONSUMER REPORT MECERDEZ BENZ 2008 ML 350 HAS POWER STEERING RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE R&R STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WHERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,483.

WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN TO GROWL AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL REPLACED AT A DEALER. IT SEEMS IT IS PREMATURE FOR A BEARING TO FAIL, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED AT ABOUT 121000 MILES. *TR

CONSUMER RECENTLY NOTICED HARD, WHINING SOUNDS FROM STEERING/TURNING THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. SEEMS LIKE NOISE COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN. NOISE DISSIPATES AFTER CAR WARMS UP OR WHEN YOU SHUT IT OFF AND START UP AGAIN. *TR

AT 57,000 THE RACK AND PINION SEALS WENT OUT ON THE STEERING MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. REAR SEAT BELTS HAD NEVER BEEN USED UNTIL 12/1/14 AT WHICH TIME I FOUND THEY WERE NOT USABLE. THEY WERE LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID HE OWNED THE SAME MODEL AND HAD TO REPLACE HIS TWICE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSED TO REPAIR EITHER ITEM. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED OR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THOUGH TOTAL LOSS DID NOT HAPPEN YET, THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 1998-2004 CLASS WAS RECALLED FOR THAT VERY REASON; WHY NOT THE MODEL YEARS THEREAFTER THAT HAVE SAME PROBLEM; LIKELY IN SAME FREQUENCY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE ORIGINAL SYMPTOMS WERE THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO GET JERKY (FLAT SPOTS) MEANING THERE WAS POWER ASSIST FROM 12 O'CLOCK TO 2 O'CLOCK, THEN HARD EFFORT FROM 2 -4 O'CLOCK AND SO ON. IT INITIALLY WAS DRIVABLE BUT AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MORE MILES IT HAS BECOME DANGEROUS, AS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT MUST BE USED WHEN TURNING, THEN GETS EASY, THEN TIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO FLUID LEAKS AND THE RESERVOIR IS FULL. MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, AND HE SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE STEERING RACK IS BAD. HE RECOMMENDED WE FLUSH AND CHANGE ALL THE FLUID WITH MBZ APPROVED:236.3 FIRST TO SEE IF IT IMPROVED. IT DID NOT AND HE SAID I WAS LOOKING AT $2000+ TO REPLACE THE RACK. AFTER OWNING TWO MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I'VE BEEN LOYAL BUT HAVING ONLY PURCHASED THIS 2008 ML350 FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND ONLY 65K MILES I FIND IT DISCONCERTING THAT I'VE READ SO MUCH ON THESE PREMATURE STEERING RACK PROBLEMS ON THESE VEHICLES. I CHECKED WITH MB, ONLY TO LEARN THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR 'RECALLS'. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND MB NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED BEFORE MB IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE??! *TR

LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, DURING MONTH OF APRIL 2014, DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGES STARTED TO APPEAR ON DASH INCLUDING ABS (BRAKE SYSTEM), SRS (AIR BAGS), AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, HARD TO TURN WHEEL, A FEW TAIL/PARKING LIGHTS NOT WORKING. AT SHOP, THEY SAID SENSORS WERE BAD, AND DUE TO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ($272) BUT SAID TO REPAIR THE AIR BAGS WOULD COST $800. A DIFFERENT MECHANIC SAID UNDER $100 TO FIX AIR BAG SENSORS. NOW, AUGUST 2014, TRUNK LIFT MOTORS ARE KONKING OUT AND THE LOCK IS NOT LATCHING, POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING, HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT BEFORE EVERYTHING FALLS OUT. ALSO OTHER MOTORS FOR WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN TURNING LEFT THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT POPS UP ON DASH....ALSO OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY THE WHOLE GPS SYSTEM WAS BLANK, TOTALLY WIPED OF ALL INFO DESTINATIONS, HISTORY ETC FROM PAST YEAR, ONLY A MAP SHOWS NOW. *TR

RACK AND PINION LEAKED ALL THE FLUID DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. I REPLACED THE POWERSTERING PUMP FEW MONTH AGO AND PAID CLOSE TO $1200 (POSSIBLE THE BACK RACK DAMAGE IT THEN). NOW THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER WANTS CLOSE TO 2,000 TO FIX IT, THEY ARE USING REFURBISHED PARTS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER MB IS NOT SUPPLYING NEW STEERING RACKS ANYMORE, MB ONLY SUPPORTS REPAIRING KITS TO REFURBISH DEFECTIVE ONES. THIS IS COMPLETELY INSANE, FIRST THEY PUT A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE VEHICLE, THAT THEY CHARGE YOU AN ARM AND LEG TO REPLACE IT WITH A REFURBISHED ONE. E RECALL IS A MUST AND MB SHOULD BE FORCED TO PUT NEW PARTS AS THE STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY CRUCIAL TO SAFETY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP SAID MY POWER STEERING FLUID WAS EMPTY AND I HAD A LEAK. I DECIDED TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED MY POWER STEERING RACK HEAD RESEALED. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MERCEDES NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS BESIDES MINE LISTED ON HERE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SUCH SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, ITS RIDICULOUS. *TR