TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID OVER TIME. THE POWER STEERING PUMP…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID OVER TIME. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD COST $1,050 TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10253972
186,000 miles · Dec 10, 2008
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN HOWEVER, HE STILL FELT RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING. IN …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN HOWEVER, HE STILL FELT RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING. IN ADDITION, THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR AND STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAS INVOICES TO SUPPORT HIS COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
NHTSA ODI #10251317
78,000 miles · Jan 17, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringUnknown Or Other
MERCEDES BENZ 1999 ML 430. HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. DRIVING 65+ ON THE MASS. PIKE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AND THEN THE ENGINE BEGIN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE WRESTLED FROM THE LEFT LANE, ACROSS 3 VERY BUSY LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE STATE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. I LA…
Read full complaint
MERCEDES BENZ 1999 ML 430. HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. DRIVING 65+ ON THE MASS. PIKE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AND THEN THE ENGINE BEGIN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE WRESTLED FROM THE LEFT LANE, ACROSS 3 VERY BUSY LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE STATE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAD BROKEN APART AND CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION OF FAILURES ULTIMATELY LEADING TO THE ABOVE. * CB
NHTSA ODI #10054362
83,353 miles · Nov 6, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON THE CRANKSHAFT OF MY MERCEDES ML430 VIN# 4JGAB72E7XA09375 FAILED W/O WARNING CAUSING THE FAN BELT TO FAIL AND THE BALANCER STARTED CUTTING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. THIS FAILURE JUST BY "LUCK" DID NOT CAUSE A MOVING ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING, OR AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. THIS C…
Read full complaint
THE HARMONIC BALANCER ON THE CRANKSHAFT OF MY MERCEDES ML430 VIN# 4JGAB72E7XA09375 FAILED W/O WARNING CAUSING THE FAN BELT TO FAIL AND THE BALANCER STARTED CUTTING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. THIS FAILURE JUST BY "LUCK" DID NOT CAUSE A MOVING ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING, OR AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. THIS COST ME $500 TO GET FIXED WHEN A $70 PART COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IF I HAD ONLY BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS FREQUENT FAILURE ON MERCEDES MODELS LIKE MINE. THE DEALER WAS LITTLE HELP IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10045578
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2003
Steering
PARTS FOR THE STEERING RECALL IS NOT AVAILABLE AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT. # 203-04-005. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024922
63,000 miles · Feb 24, 2003
Steering
THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AT THE CLAMP, AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #10009190
Official recalls
0
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
2
EA08009 · Brake Line Chafe
Opened Apr 28, 2008 · Closed Dec 16, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THAT RESULTED IN ALLEGATIONS OF REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, THE RATE DROPS EVEN FURTHER (22.3 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.04 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE). MERCEDES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING THAT IN THE RARE INSTANCES WHEN CHAFING DID PROGRESS TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THE DRIVER WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED TO A PROBLEM BY ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT YELLOW ESP/BAS WARNING LAMP AND CHANGES IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WOULD RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT RED BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME DUE TO LOW MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR LEVEL. CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WOULD ULTIMATELY DRAIN THE RESERVOIR FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE CIRCUIT AND AN APPROXIMATELY 80% INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES. SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND VRTC INDICATE THAT ROUTING ANOMALIES MAY BE MORE COMMON THAN THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SUGGEST FOR THE SUBJECT LINE BUNDLE, WITH LINE CONTACT OR OTHER ROUTING ANOMALY NOTED IN 13 OF 51 VEHICLES SURVEYED BY ODI AND VRTC (25.5%).WHILE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND SUBJECT BRAKE IN A PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT NECESSARILY PREDICTIVE OF EVENTUAL LINE FAILURE/LEAKAGE, SIGNIFICANT CHAFING WEAR WAS NOTED IN TWO SURVEY VEHICLES (3.9%).TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH LINE ROUTING AND ENSURE THAT LINES WITH EVIDENT CHAFING DO NOT PROGRESS TO A LEAK CONDITION, MERCEDES WILL CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR A FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR.LINES THAT DO NOT HAVE A SPACER (RUBBER GROMMET OR OMEGA-CLIP) BETWEEN THE SUBJECT FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WILL HAVE AN OMEGA-CLIP SPACER INSTALLED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LINES.BRAKE LINES WITH CHAFE MARKS WILL BE REPLACED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-009 CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THAT RESULTED IN ALLEGATIONS OF REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, THE RATE DROPS EVEN FURTHER (22.3 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.04 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE). MERCEDES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING THAT IN THE RARE INSTANCES WHEN CHAFING DID PROGRESS TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THE DRIVER WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED TO A PROBLEM BY ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT YELLOW ESP/BAS WARNING LAMP AND CHANGES IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WOULD RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT RED BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME DUE TO LOW MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR LEVEL. CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WOULD ULTIMATELY DRAIN THE RESERVOIR FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE CIRCUIT AND AN APPROXIMATELY 80% INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES. SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND VRTC INDICATE THAT ROUTING ANOMALIES MAY BE MORE COMMON THAN THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SUGGEST FOR THE SUBJECT LINE BUNDLE, WITH LINE CONTACT OR OTHER ROUTING ANOMALY NOTED IN 13 OF 51 VEHICLES SURVEYED BY ODI AND VRTC (25.5%).WHILE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND SUBJECT BRAKE IN A PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT NECESSARILY PREDICTIVE OF EVENTUAL LINE FAILURE/LEAKAGE, SIGNIFICANT CHAFING WEAR WAS NOTED IN TWO SURVEY VEHICLES (3.9%).TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH LINE ROUTING AND ENSURE THAT LINES WITH EVIDENT CHAFING DO NOT PROGRESS TO A LEAK CONDITION, MERCEDES WILL CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR A FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR.LINES THAT DO NOT HAVE A SPACER (RUBBER GROMMET OR OMEGA-CLIP) BETWEEN THE SUBJECT FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WILL HAVE AN OMEGA-CLIP SPACER INSTALLED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LINES.BRAKE LINES WITH CHAFE MARKS WILL BE REPLACED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-009 CLOSING REPORT.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MERCEDES AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA SUBMITTED BY MERCEDES INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW RATE (36.5 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.29 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE), WITH NO DISCERNABLE DEFECT TREND INDICATING THAT THE RATE OF CHAFING RELATED BRAKE LINE FAILURES IS INCREASING.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW COMPLAINTS SINCE JANUARY 2009.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THAT RESULTED IN ALLEGATIONS OF REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, THE RATE DROPS EVEN FURTHER (22.3 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND 0.04 PERCENT WARRANTY CLAIM RATE). MERCEDES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING THAT IN THE RARE INSTANCES WHEN CHAFING DID PROGRESS TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE THE DRIVER WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED TO A PROBLEM BY ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT YELLOW ESP/BAS WARNING LAMP AND CHANGES IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WOULD RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE BRIGHT RED BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME DUE TO LOW MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR LEVEL. CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WOULD ULTIMATELY DRAIN THE RESERVOIR FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE CIRCUIT AND AN APPROXIMATELY 80% INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES. SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND VRTC INDICATE THAT ROUTING ANOMALIES MAY BE MORE COMMON THAN THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SUGGEST FOR THE SUBJECT LINE BUNDLE, WITH LINE CONTACT OR OTHER ROUTING ANOMALY NOTED IN 13 OF 51 VEHICLES SURVEYED BY ODI AND VRTC (25.5%).WHILE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND SUBJECT BRAKE IN A PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT NECESSARILY PREDICTIVE OF EVENTUAL LINE FAILURE/LEAKAGE, SIGNIFICANT CHAFING WEAR WAS NOTED IN TWO SURVEY VEHICLES (3.9%).TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH LINE ROUTING AND ENSURE THAT LINES WITH EVIDENT CHAFING DO NOT PROGRESS TO A LEAK CONDITION, MERCEDES WILL CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR A FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR.LINES THAT DO NOT HAVE A SPACER (RUBBER GROMMET OR OMEGA-CLIP) BETWEEN THE SUBJECT FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WILL HAVE AN OMEGA-CLIP SPACER INSTALLED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LINES.BRAKE LINES WITH CHAFE MARKS WILL BE REPLACED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-009 CLOSING REPORT.
PE03058 · 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.
1999 Mercedes Benz ML430 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration