Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

136 reports

60,000 miles · Jun 15, 2014

Service Brakes

RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LOCKING UP WHEN I'M DRIVING AND MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN REAL FAST .I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND . I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HWY SO WHEN IT LOCKS UP I CAN TRY TO GET OFF ROAD. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL LOCK UP. ITS SCARY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598396

145,000 miles · May 7, 2014

Service Brakes

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THEN ON DEC 28, 2012 I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO MY HOME IN SAN LEANDRO, CA. I WAS ON THE 580 FREEWAY IN LIVERMORE GOING AROUND 75 MILES IN THE FAST LANE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE ON ITS OWN. THIS TIME IT WAS A SUDDEN AND SEVERE BRAKING ACTION. IT CAUSED THE TIRES AND BRAKES TO SMOKE. MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME.WHAT I NOTICED THIS TIME WAS THE UPSIDE DOWN EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON RIGHT AS THE CAR WAS BRAKING. THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MPH TO GET MY FAMILY HOME. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. MY ADVISOR AT MB OF PLEASANTON. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS ON AND OFF SINCE NOV 2012. IT WILL GO SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT THIS "SELF-BRAKING" ACTION THEN IT WILL DO IT ON AND OFF FOR WEEKS.I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND EVEN MORE AFRAID WHEN I HAVE MY KIDS IN THE CAR. RECENTLY (APRIL 2014) I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG ON THE FREEWAY AS A RESULT OF THE SUDDEN BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN IN SAN JOSE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE YAW SENSOR AND THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. MY THIS TIME I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND TIRES AS A RESULT OF THE WEAR FROM THE BRAKING. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED BACK TIRES TOO. THE YAW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON A FRIDAY (APRIL 25TH) AND IT DROVE FINE. ON MONDAY(APRIL 28TH) I WAS GOING TO LUNCH AND THE CAR BRAKED ON ITS OWN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH BC I WAS AT THE LIGHT. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IF ITS STILL BRAKING IT MUST BE THE AAM AND THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $1000 REPAIR. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE NO ONE HAS DIED YET, IT IS NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY. I NEED HELP AND RESOLUTION BEFORE THE FATALITY IS ME, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587074

134,850 miles · Dec 15, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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I AM HAVING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 WITH A ESP BAS LIGHT COMING ON AND LOCKING FRONT BRAKE CAUSING THE ABS TO COME ON AND STOP SUV. TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED WITH MY KIDS IN CAR. CONTACTED MERCEDES DEALER AND CANT GUARANTEE WHAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY CHANGED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH 2 TIMES SAID IT COULD BE ABS PUMP {800} OR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS {1200} OR YAW SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH, MAYBE EVEN COMPUTER BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. SPOKE TO BENZ AT CORPORATE AND THEY ONLY SAY BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOPE I CAN GET A ANSWER TO THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556140

150,000 miles · Dec 4, 2013

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND AN EXCLAMATION POINT ICON ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN BRAKING FROM VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO SEIZE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10554846

120,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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I ALMOST GOT KILLED TODAY!!! I WAS DRIVING MY MERZ ML320 WHEN I FELT THE CAR VIBRATE, HEARD A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS STUCK, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALL BY ITSELF AND THEN FELT THE CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY AND INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF A BIG TRUCK BARELY MISSING HIM. THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK BLEW HIS HORN AT ME AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. MY ABS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRIANGLE BRAKE LIGHT. AT FIRST, IT SOUNDED AS IF I BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT SOUNDED. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE WHEEL OR BRAKES. THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED RIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAD BOTH MY SONS WITH ME. THE PULLING OF THE CAR INTO THE NEXT LANE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I SAT THERE FOR 10 MINS IN SHOCK BEFORE TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE ABS/ESP LIGHT IS STILL ON. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY HOME AVOIDING THE FREEWAY. I AM CALLING MERCEDES TOMORROW. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOCKS UP AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541732

125,000 miles · Aug 8, 2013

Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP. MY VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND I HEARD THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. I WAS NARROWLY MISSED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS THE JERK SLAMMED MY VEHICLE TO A HALT AND TURNED MY WHEELS CAUSING MY STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT THERE FOR A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO PROCEED AHEAD AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT THE YAW SENSOR CAME UP AS FAULTY DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND AS THE TECH DROVE IT UP IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING. $1000 LATER THE YAW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY 18 MONTH OLD SON WASN'T IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME AS HAD HE BEEN AND SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE ABRUPT STOP, HE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY AND RECALLED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD DEEM THIS A RECALL, FIXING THE ISSUE FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED IT AND REIMBURSING THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO SPEND $1000 REPLACING WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534293

94,527 miles · Jul 29, 2013

Service BrakesSuspension

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WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 45MPH, THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM AND YAW RATE SENSOR FAILED. I WAS NARROWLY ABLE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER SEARCHING MANY ONLINE MERCEDES FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR 2000-2001 ML MODELS AND IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN PE07007 THAT WAS CLOSED IN 2007. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY NOW AND GROUNDS FOR A RECALL. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532334

108,258 miles · May 15, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL . ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO TOTALLY APPLY THE BRAKES ALL BY ITSELF AND LUNGED TO A STOP . THE CAR BEHIND ME BARELY MISSED HITTING THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE . I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY . FEARFUL TO CONTINUE DRIVING , I THEN CALLED A TOW SERVICE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP . A FEW DAYS LATER , THEY CALLED ME AND SAID ONE OF THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM HAD FAILED (YAW RATE SENSOR - DTC C1120) AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM . THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE ABOUT $900.00 . I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPONENT OF A SO CALLED SAFETY SYSTEM COULD FAIL RENDERING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT CAN IN ITSELF CAUSE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION . FORTUNATELY IN MY CASE THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE BEEN JUST THE OPPOSITE . THE ASE MASTER CERTIFIED TECHNITION WHO TAKES CARE OF MY CAR STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN TYPE OF FAILURE (DEFECT) OF MY MODEL MERCEDES . MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO COVER THIS REPAIR FOR ME AND DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENNING AGAIN ON MY VEHICLE OR ANY OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD . WE ALL PUT FAITH IN THESE SAFETY SYSTEM THAT MERCEDES MANUFACTURES BUT ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES WE ALL ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE CONCEQUENCES OF DEFECTIVE DESIGNS . I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN A COMPONENT IN A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILS THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO TURN ON A WARNING LIGHT AND TURN IT SELF OFF . NOT LIKE IN MY CASE THE FAILED SENSOR CAUSED THE ABS/ESP SYSTEM TO RANDOMLY TURN ON THE BRAKES . WITH ALL OF THE CRAZY COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS IN THE MODERN CARS I AM NOW NERVOUS ABOUT BLINDLY TRUSTING THEM WITH MY LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512228

55,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013

Visibility

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/23/13*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER, THE FAILURE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OTHER FAILURES SUCH AS THIS. VIA THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURES. CAR INSURANCE COVERED THE DAMAGE. UPDATED 05/29/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10507518

63,000 miles · Mar 24, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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WHILE I AM DRIVING I NOTED IT IS HARD TO ACCELERATE AND YELLOW HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AN DI HEARD NOISE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I WAITED FEW MINUTES I NOTICED THE BAS/ESP CAME ON AND I RESUME DRIVING. THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES, I NOTICED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACH BETWEEN 85-90, IF THE BAS;ESP WILL NOT COME ON, YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING STUCK ON THE BRAKE AND IT DOES NOT MOVE. FIRST THE DEALER IN CHICAGO CHANGE IT AND IT DOES NOT HELP SO I ASK ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT. I STILL HAD THE BRAKE REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER. . THE SITUATION IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE BUT VERY SCARY. I COULD NOT DRIVE TOO LONG OR MAYBE DANGEROUS IN THE EXPRESSWAY. SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET TOLD IT IS THE YAW SENSOR RATE SHOULD BE REPLACED. I CHANGE MINE SUCH NEW BATTERY, GAS PUMP,.NEW RADIATOR, NEW OIL CHANGE. IF SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE WILL COME AND I WILL SHOW HOW MY CAR IS ACTING STRANGELY WITH THE BAS/ESP. HOW COME THE BAS/ESP MUST LIGHT ON AND YOU CAN DRIVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IF THE BAS/ESP WILL NOT ON, IT DOES NOT MOVE OR ACCELERATE. WHY?????? PLEASE MANDATORY THAT DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY THE DEALER SHOULD BE FREE AND CHARGE TO MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504335

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE10050 · Brake Lamp Switch Failure.

Opened Dec 21, 2010 · Closed May 4, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

ODI opened the investigation based on reports that the subject vehicle brake lamp switch (switch) failure caused 1) inoperative brake lamps (stay on or fail to illuminate), and/or 2) shift interlock failure (shifter locked in park), and/or 3) the cruise control to fail to cancel with brake application.Consumers also reported the illumination of a warning lamp on the instrument panel.The switch contains three sets of electrical contacts and a (normally extended) spring loaded plunger that actuates the contacts as it moves.As installed in the vehicle, the plunger contacts the brake pedal arm and is pushed into the switch; as the driver applies the pedal the plunger extends.One set of contacts (BLS) operates the stop lamps, a second set (EWM) controls the shift interlock system, and a third set (BS) is used by an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system to monitor switch operation.The cruise control monitors the BLS signal to determine when the brake is applied, the primary way the system is disabled when set.The relative timing of contact actuation in response to plunger movement allows the OBD system to detect a switch fault.When a fault is detected a malfunction indication lamp (MIL) is illuminated (driver alert), a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored (for the service technician), and cruise control operation is inhibited (as a failsafe).In its response to ODI's January 2011 information request letter, MB explained its assessment of switch failures which was based primarily on evaluation of field return failures.MB identified both 1) electrical contact and 2) mechanical switch failure mechanisms.According to MB's analysis, electrical contact failure is the predominate failure type and the failure consequence depends on which contact fails.For instance MB claims that BLS contact failures are momentary in nature and do not affect brake light operation but are nonetheless detected by the OBD system, resulting in a DTC and subsequent replacement.Electrical contact failures of the BS and EWM contacts result in a DTC also, and EWM contact failures result in the shifter being stuck in the park (which can be overridden by the consumer).Accordingly MB maintains that electrical contact failures of the switch have no safety consequence since the brake lamps remain operational and the cruise control is always disabled.MB determined that mechanical failures of the switch, which are rare in their assessment, can result from internal wear and/or increased switch operating temperatures.High temperatures occur due to overheating of the BLS contacts and can cause the internal plastic components to melt.In one scenario overheated BLS contacts may melt to the extended plunger and are damaged when the brake pedal is released resulting in the brake lights staying on.In another scenario the increased temperatures and/or internal wear can cause the plunger to stick in the fully depressed position.In this case the cruise may not cancel when the brake is applied and the driver may have to use high brake pedal forces or other means (shifting to neutral or using the cruise master switch) to disengage the cruise.Additionally the vacuum assist can be depleted if the driver pumps the brakes resulting in reduced braking effectiveness and even higher pedal forces.In its March 31, 2011 defect notification, MB stated that to remediate the potential need for excessive brake force it would conduct a safety recall (11V-208) to replace the switch with a more robustly designed component.The recall includes 136,751 model year 2000 - 2002 M-Class and model year 2000 - 2004 M-Class AMG vehicles.Owner notification letters will be mailed

Additional source detail variants (4)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

Vehicle Speed Control

PE07007 · Electronic Stability Control Malfunction

Opened Feb 1, 2007 · Closed Jul 11, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electronic Stability Control:automatic (asc)

ODI OPENED PE07-007 AFTER RECEIVING 4 COMPLAINTS WITHIN A 6 WEEK PERIOD ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE APPLICATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2001 MERCEDES M CLASS SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS OR GATHERED IN SUBSEQUENT CONSUMER INTERVIEWS INDICATED THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FAULTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) SYSTEM WHICH WERE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE YAW RATE SENSORS.ALTHOUGH THE SAME YAW RATE SENSOR IS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 800,000 OTHER MERCEDES M-CLASS, C-CLASS AND SLK MODELS, TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE RELATED COMPLAINT TO ODI IN THOSE VEHICLES. DURING THIS INVESTIGATION MERCEDES BENZ PROVIDED ODI WITH 327 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ESP SYSTEM IN THE MY 2000 THROUGH 2001 M CLASS VEHICLES.SEVEN OF THE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNCOMMANDED BRAKE ACTIVATION WHILE DRIVING, WITH TWO OF THESE INVOLVING VEHICLES IDENTIFIED IN THE ODI COMPLAINTS.NONE OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN CRASH OR INJURY.HOWEVER, THE OWNERS DID EXPRESS SAFETY CONCERNS DUE TO THE SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN VEHICLE SPEED AND DIRECTION. ON MAY 10, 2007 MERCEDES BENZ MET WITH NHTSA TO PROVIDE A TECHNICAL PRESENTATION AND CONDUCT A DRIVING DEMONSTRATION OF THE ESP SYSTEM PERFORMANCE WITH SIMULATED ELECTRICAL FAULTS IN THE YAW RATE SENSOR.MERCEDES SHOWED THAT THE ESP SYSTEM IS PROGRAMMED TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL FAULTS AND THAT BRAKE APPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM YAW RATE SENSOR ELECTRICAL FAULTS ARE VERY SHORT IN DURATION (0.3 SECONDS OR LESS) AND DO NOT AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY. NINE OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES ALLEGED BRAKE ACTIVATIONS LONGER THAN 0.3 SECONDS, WITH SEVERAL ALLEGING THAT THE INCIDENT LASTED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.A COMPLAINT VEHICLE THAT ALLEGED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WAS EVALUATED BY ODI AT THE VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TEST CENTER (VRTC) IN EAST LIBERTY, OHIO.VRTC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION.DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT TO ODI OR MERCEDES SINCE JANUARY 2007, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND OTHER MERCEDES PRODUCTS USING THE SAME YAW RATE SENSOR AND MERCEDES WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ON FIELD EXPERIENCE (COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS) THROUGH THE END OF 2007.

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

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid