2008 Mercedes Benz ML320

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE AUTOMATED CAR WASH CONVEYOR AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

AT 57,000 THE RACK AND PINION SEALS WENT OUT ON THE STEERING MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. REAR SEAT BELTS HAD NEVER BEEN USED UNTIL 12/1/14 AT WHICH TIME I FOUND THEY WERE NOT USABLE. THEY WERE LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID HE OWNED THE SAME MODEL AND HAD TO REPLACE HIS TWICE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSED TO REPAIR EITHER ITEM. *TR

MY WIFE NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WOULD NOT "CATCH" OR RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY VERIFIED THE TENSIONER WAS BAD AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER & SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY $551. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON THIS LOW OF MILES. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT BASIC SAFETY DEVICE. THEY HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK WHICH MADE ME THINK THIS COULD BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

2008 MERCEDES ML320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACHED 50,000 MILES, HE BEGAN TO HEAR AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT THE NOISE WOULD SOON RETURN. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL. HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING RACK.

TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING GEARS. WOULD "REV" UP THEN NOT SHIFT AND NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING CARS TO BACK UP BEHIND ME AND PUTTING ME IN DANGER. AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO EVEN ACCELERATE. HAVE TO CONSISTENTLY RESTART MY CAR IN DANGEROUS PLACES ON THE ROAD TO GET IT TO EVENTUALLY WORK. WENT BY BODY SHOP AND TURNS OUT TO BE A SPEED SENSOR CODE ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NEEDS SOME FORM OF A VALVE BODY REPAIR, BUT UNSURE TO WHAT EXTENT. THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED. THESE FAILURES INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A REAR END COLLISION. WHEN THE LEFT ASSEMBLY FAILED IN 2011, I ATTRIBUTED IT TO BAD LUCK. WHEN THE RIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED AT 66000 MILES IN 2012, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MERCEDES MAY HAVE A PROBLEM THAT DESERVES A RECALL ACTION. INSTEAD OF COSTING ABOUT $5 TO $10 FOR LIGHT BULBS THESE ASSEMBLIES COST ABOUT $300 EACH TO REPLACE AND INSTALL. $600 IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO NOT REPAIR THEM AND THUS CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD. AT 65000 MILES I ALSO ENCOUNTERED SOME VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR OIL LEAKS THAT MAKE MESSES ON MY DRIVEWAY AND CAUSE WATER POLLUTION WHEN THE OIL RUNS OFF. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPORTS OF REAR SEAL LEAKS, OIL PAN LEAKS OR OIL COOLER LEAKS ON THIS VEHICLE?

BOTH SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS), OR AIRBAG SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED WITH 15 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER DURING AN ORDINARY DRIVE TO MY BUSINESS LOCATION DURING A BUSINESS TRIP WITH MY MANAGEMENT. THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED TO THE "CRASH" CONFIGURATION, THE CABIN FILLED WITH ACRID, BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL AND THE RED SRS DASH LIGHT LIT. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE CABIN ONCE-AGAIN WAS FILLED WITH THE ACRID BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE. THE SECOND TIME THE DRIVER SIDE MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND NO CRASH. *TR