1999 Mercedes Benz M Class recalls & complaints

Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
Summary: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MEANS OF DEACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE DRIVER PUMPS THE BRAKES RATHER THAN APPLYING CONSISTENT PEDAL FORCE, THE LEVEL OF FORCE REQUIRED MAY BE UNUSUALLY HIGH.
Consequence: DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Notes: MERCEDES-BENZ CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 2011090001. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Summary: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Notes: MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2003040005. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. IF THE PLASTIC COVER IS LOOSE DURING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUCKLE TONGUE TO THE LATCH MECHANISM, THE BUCKLE COULD UNLATCH.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IF EITHER THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 29, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Summary: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Notes: MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2003-040005. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

09/06/2011 · Brakes
DRIVING ON TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEAR NYC AND SLOWED DOWN TO APPROX 15 MPH FOR TOLL BOOTH AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE TOLLS. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LOUD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND I ALMOST CRASHED TRYING TO PULL OVER AS THE EZ-PASS IS ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER I GOT OUT…

01/03/2011 · Seat belts
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V328000. SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL. SEAT BELT BUCKLE EVEN AFTER THE RECALL INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE, THE CONNECTION IN BETWEEN METAL SPRING AND PLASTIC IS UNSAFE AND UNSAFE, IT IS MADE OUT OF CHEAP PLASTIC, EVENTUALLY PLASTIC WILL FAIL AND SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH. IT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES IN A CRASH OR HARD STOP, MERCED…

10/12/2010 · Electrical system
MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH SHOWED A MARGINAL PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANAGER THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" WAS ILLUMINATED. HE SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME PLUGS MISFIRING, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE NO BEARI…

02/13/2010 · Wheels / tires
TIRE ALMOST NO TREAD AFTER 31,000 MILES WARRANTY FOR 65,000 MILES. *TR

11/17/2009 · Steering
WHEN TRYING TO TURN MY VEHICLE FROM A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SO HARD TO TURN. THE CAR WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND I TOWED IT TO MY NEAREST SERVICE STATION. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP WERE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING GOOD NOW. LATER I FOUND THAT THIS IS A…

07/17/2009 · Transmission / drivetrain
1999 ML 320 BEGAN JERKING ON MEDIUM GRADES. JERKING WAS REPORTED TO KNOXVILLE TN. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. THEY REPORTED THE TRANSFER CASE IS FAILING. THEY INDICATED THAT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE ON AN ML 320. I HAD THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4300.00. *TR

03/16/2009 · Steering
MY CAR STOPPED STEERING. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13,2008. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MEINEKE SHOP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT MY HOSE AND CLAMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO MY CLOSEST MERECEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER IN GREENWICH, CT THE NEXT WEEK. THEY COMPLETED THE REPAIR. I SUBMITTED MY MEINEKE BILL OF $50.35 F…

01/20/2009 · Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER EXERTED MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCO…