1999 Mercedes Benz ML320

MY WIFE DROVE FROM LAS VEGAS ON 15 FWY BACK HOME WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SO SHE STEERED TO THE RIGHT BUT IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING, SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT IT SEEM LIKE THE VEHICLE WENT FASTER AND FASTER. SHE HEARD A SOUND "SHHH" SOUND LIKE A VACUUM LEAKS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING TOO HARD TO THE LEFT SO SHE COULD NOT HOLD ON ANYMORE. THE CARE THEN WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED OVER, LANDING IN THE SECTION SEPARATING THE CARS GOING TO LAS VEGAS AND THE CARS GOING BACK. AFTER LANDING SHE SCREAMED HOW THE BABY, HOW THE BABY, HE WAS 14 MONTHS, HOW EVERY BODY--HER DAUGHTERS AND PARENTS...ALL 4 TIRES ARE SUV MICHELIN, JUST REPLACED ABOUT A MONTH. WE BELIEVE SOME THINGS WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

(1)VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. (2) CRANKSHAFT DAMPENER BECAME SEPARATED AT POINT OF RUBBER VULCANIZED AND CAUSED SERPENTINE BELT TO COME LOOSE LEAVING POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING ALONG WITH ALL OTHER PULLEYS RUN BY THE SAME BELT. (3) DAMPENER AND BELT WERE REPLACED. (OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE) THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY. NEW TYPES OF REPLACEMENT DAMPENERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SIX (6) TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE PARTS BOOK. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS SAY IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY WONDER WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ORDERED. IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO FIND OUT HOW MANY CRANKSHAFT DAMPENERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND REPLACED BY BOTH DEALERS AND PARTS SALES. AGAIN, LET ME SAY THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS VERY COMMON. MY PRIMARY WORRY IS THAT A SMALL PERSON WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IF THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AS IN THESE BROKEN DAMPENER CASES. I'M A 225 LB MAN AND I COULD BARELY BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP AT ONLY 25 MILES PER HOUR. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD? PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY. THANK YOU!! *LA

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V121000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING PUMP, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITIONS. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A STEERING PROBLEM. *AK

THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON MY 1999 MERCEDES ML320 ENGINE TYPE M112 FAILED AND RESULTED IN $4,000 TO REPAIR. THE PART FAILED WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING. EVEN THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING RECALL TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE DID NOT SPOT ANY PROBLEM AND THEY KNEW TO BE LOOKING. I WAS LUCKY THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE IN STEAD OF ON THE FREEWAY WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OR DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STUCK OR STOPPED WHILE OPERATING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT ALL FOUR WINDOW CLUSTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, LOST OF POWER STEERING FLUID. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE HOSES/CLAMPS AND CONNECTORS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNERS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. *SCC *JB