NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
125 reports70,150 miles · Jan 13, 2005
Steering
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10107391
78,000 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Power TrainSeat BeltsCrash
CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE COULD SHIFT THE GEAR LEVER TO ALL GEARS WHEN THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND ENGINE IN AN OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND RAN OVER A MAILBOX DAMAGING THE VEHICLE AND BACK WHILE THE GEAR…
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CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE COULD SHIFT THE GEAR LEVER TO ALL GEARS WHEN THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND ENGINE IN AN OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND RAN OVER A MAILBOX DAMAGING THE VEHICLE AND BACK WHILE THE GEAR LEVER WAS STILL IN PARK. THE REAR SEAT BELTS DOES NOT RETRACT AND HAD TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED BACK INTO THE MECHANISM. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10099784
73,000 miles · Nov 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAILURE OF HARMONIC BALANCER, AN EVENT THAT HAS OCCURRED ON MANY MERCEDES WITH THIS DESIGN FOR THE HARMONIC BALANCER. NEW COVER, OIL PAN. AND BALANCER NEEDED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10100735
78,000 miles · Nov 16, 2004
Seat Belts
REAR SEAT BELT BEHIND DRIVER DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT. CLAIMED IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR SEATS ARE USED INFREQUENTLY THUS, THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE USED INFREQUENTLY. REAR SEAT BELTS TO BE VIRTUALLY USELESS TH…
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REAR SEAT BELT BEHIND DRIVER DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT. CLAIMED IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR SEATS ARE USED INFREQUENTLY THUS, THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE USED INFREQUENTLY. REAR SEAT BELTS TO BE VIRTUALLY USELESS THREE TIMES ON THE SAME VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100042
87,000 miles · Sep 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE CRANKSHFT PULLEY HAS FAILED MAKING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. THE PULLEY AND THE OIL PAN WERE REPLACED AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS KIND OF PREMATURE FAILURES HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS MODEL. THE DEALER WILL NOT PICK UP THE FULL COST FOR REPA…
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WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE CRANKSHFT PULLEY HAS FAILED MAKING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. THE PULLEY AND THE OIL PAN WERE REPLACED AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS KIND OF PREMATURE FAILURES HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS MODEL. THE DEALER WILL NOT PICK UP THE FULL COST FOR REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAD 85000 MILES. I THINK MB REALIZES THAT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURES BUT WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10093066
93,000 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
1999 MERCEDES ML320 HARMONIC BALANCER. I WAS AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION BEING PERFORMED AND HAD MERCEDES CHECK THE BALANCER IN JANUARY. THEY SAID IT'S FINE. ON 9/6/04, IT FAILED CAUSING $1500 IN DAMAGE. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE I KNEW NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER FAILURE. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL THE HARMONIC BALANCER. …
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1999 MERCEDES ML320 HARMONIC BALANCER. I WAS AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION BEING PERFORMED AND HAD MERCEDES CHECK THE BALANCER IN JANUARY. THEY SAID IT'S FINE. ON 9/6/04, IT FAILED CAUSING $1500 IN DAMAGE. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE I KNEW NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER FAILURE. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL THE HARMONIC BALANCER. IT IS FAILING ON MOST VEHICLES AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090612
64,000 miles · Aug 22, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
1.SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL. MAKING RIGHT TURN AT @ 5 M.P.H. IN PARKING LOT. MOMENTARY PAUSE IN ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY UNASSISTED ACCELERATION. 2. IMPACT PARKED CAR AND CONCRETE MEDIAN "CURB". NO INJURIES. DAMAGE LEFT DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND BUMPER OF ML 320. DAMAGE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE OF OTH…
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1.SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL. MAKING RIGHT TURN AT @ 5 M.P.H. IN PARKING LOT. MOMENTARY PAUSE IN ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY UNASSISTED ACCELERATION. 2. IMPACT PARKED CAR AND CONCRETE MEDIAN "CURB". NO INJURIES. DAMAGE LEFT DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND BUMPER OF ML 320. DAMAGE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE OF OTHER CAR'S FENDER AND BUMPER. 3. TOWED CAR BY VALLEY TOWING TO SCHMACHER EUROPEAN IN SCOTTSDALE AZ. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10088341
66,000 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAULTY HARMONIC BALANCER IN FLY WHEEL 1999 ML 320, 66,000 MILES NHTSA ACTION NO.PE03058. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10086740
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. …
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THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10083445
61,230 miles · Jul 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
(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.…
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(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
NHTSA ODI #10081155
NHTSA investigations
2PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure
Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
PE03006 · Power Steering Hose Assembly Leakage
Opened Feb 13, 2003 · Closed Apr 4, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THE CONNECTION.THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST (I.E., INCREASED STEERING EFFORT) OVER TIME, WITH POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OF HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FITTING, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MORE RAPID REDUCTIONS OF POWER STEERING.TESTING CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ INDICATES THAT THE LEAKED FLUID IS NOT LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.THERE ARE NO KNOWN ALLEGATIONS THAT THE DEFECT CONDITION HAS CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUBJECT M-CLASS VEHICLES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
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