1998 Mercedes Benz ML320

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE DOOR LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK CONTINUOUSLY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT WHILE THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THERE WAS NO RECALLS AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

LAUNDRY LIST OF FAILURES. JACK HAS ALMOST KILLED ME WHILE CHANGING TIRE. VEHICLE FELL, ALMOST HITTING ME BUT CATCHING SIDE OF VEHICLE BEFORE LANDING ON ME! HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED ON A FEW OCCASIONS, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AIR MASS METER FAILED. HAS REQUIRED 5 (FIVE!) ALIGNMENTS IN TWO YEARS. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A MONTH LATER REQUIRES ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES, WHICH HAS CAUSED HYDROPLANING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWERVES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN HITS ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLAT ROAD. TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FIXED BY DEALER WITHOUT CONSULTING. AFTER REPAIR, TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FAILED. DEALER STATES OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS. HAS HAD REPAIR OF HARMONIC BALANCER ON FRONT OF ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP LEADING TO OIL LEAK AND FAILURE OF BELT TENSIONER. WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE FAILED TWICE AND FIXED AT EXPENSE OF OWNER. SIX DIFFERENT KEYS HAVE FAILED @ THE COST OF $220/KEY. REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSES LOSS OF STEREO RECEPTION. REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED. FRONT END MAKES NOISE.*AK

MY 1998 MLK 320 IS GOING INTO THE SHOP FOR THE TENTH TIME IN 31 MONTHS, AND THE ONLY REASON IT HASN'T BEEN IN MORE OFTEN IS I LIVE 30 MILES FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE PROBLEMS ARE NUMEROUS; MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT STARTED NOT LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR (NEW) IS, WHEN I START IT THE CAR DIES. I HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCESS AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL START. THERE ARE ALSO A MYRIAD OF SMALL, CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS; WINDOWS THAT WON'T GO UP, LOCKS THAT LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, PLASTIC PARTS THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF. IT HAS IS AWFUL. IT MAKES MY 95 FORD RANGER TRUCK SEEM LIKE A DREAM AUTO.