2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350

My name is [XXX] My vehicle cut off on me 3 times twice while stationary and once at an intersection. Found oil in engine control module due to failed cam position sensors. Oil has traveled through the engine harness to ECM causing oil to get into module and cause it to shut down but it did start back up. This is very dangerous and could cause serious injury to someone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Turn signals will not operate, dealership quoted me $1400 3 years ago, had the work performed and now the issue is happening again and I am being quoted the same amount of money. This is a safety concern if I cannot signal to others where I am turning!!!!! This could cause an accident!!!!! This is highly unsafe!!! What if my kids were in the car?! Talking to customers in waiting lounge at dealership other people have had same issue!! The one time they stopped working I had a person hit me going 30 mph, could have been much much worse.

The steering column does not operate properly. The column no longer adjusts positions and more importantly, the turn signals work ad-hoc. When you start the vehicle, the turn signals tend to operate properly; however, after driving for approximately 15 minutes, the turn signals operate sporadically. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN as it's impossible to know when the turn signal will operate correctly or not, thus creating a hazard to me and others on the road. It is my understanding from investigating this online that this is a systemic issue with this model and not unique to my vehicle (just google "2012 Mercedes ml350 turn signal problems"). I discussed this with Mercedes Benz USA and they told me that the only way to resolve this issue is to replace the steering column (part #: 166-460-62-00) at the cost of $3,373.81. I hope that the NHTSA investigates this further as Mercedes-Benz has decided to ignore this safety issue that may cause harm or death. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The following has been happening over the last 2 - 3 yrs. Also confirmed with other customers on MB world blog site. After traveling in the car for 5-15 minutes, and sooner if connected to cell phone via bluetooth, the indicators stop working. This leads to deactivation of the blind spot assist as well. The problem is temporarily resolved after switching the vehicle off and then on again, only to recur after driving it again for 10-15minutes, and earlier if attached to iPhone via Bluetooth. The blind spot assist is then permanently inactivated. 2 Mercedes dealerships in 2 separate states where I took the vehicle could not even identify a problem, let alone resolve it. When I called MBUSA, they claimed ignorance to the issue and told me to repair or change the vehicle myself. Since this is an issue with multiple vehicles, a recall needs to be issued for this model. It’s unknown how many collisions can be attributed to this since the problem has not been acknowledged by Mercedes’. The problem has occurred almost everyday over the last 3 years. I have narrowly missed being involved in collisions because of the inactivation of blind spot assist and changing lanes. I have almost been rear ended a bunch of times because of the indicators getting inactivated. All this has happened with my family traveling me with. Please lets not wait for loss of life before a recall is initiated. thank you.

HELLO, REF: ML350 CAMSHAFT SOLENOID LEAK! I AM SEEKING OUT FOR YOUR HELP WRT TO A SITUATION WITH 2012 ML350. ENCLOSED HEREWITH IS AN INSPECTION REPORT FROM A RECENT SERVICE VISIT REQUIRING CLOSE OF $8K IN REPAIRS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ENGINE HARNESS (OIL LLED HARNESS AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS HAVE OIL IN THEM, ALL COMPONENTS WITH OIL SHOULD BE REPLACED, QUICK INSP FOUND A FEW COMPONENTS BUT THERE MAY BE MORE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED) AFTER REVIEWING THE INSPECTION REPORT, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND CAME ACROSS CAMPAIGN NO. 2012070002, SEPTEMBER 2012 (COPY ENCLOSED FOR YOUR REFERENCE), WHEREIN MERCEDES HAD IDENTIFIED IT AS A PART OF RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND AGREES TO COVER THE COST AND LABOR DAMAGES TO ANY DOWNSTREAM COMPONENTS DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID LEAK. THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INITIATED BECAUSE DAIMLER AG (DAG), THE MANUFACTURER OF MERCEDES- BENZ VEHICLES, HAS DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE SETTLING PROPERTIES OF THE SEAL, OIL MAY LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT SOLENOID. DEALERS WILL RETROFIT FOUR ADAPTER HARNESSES ONTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR. APPROXIMATELY 557,108 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. MERCEDES IS NOT OWNING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THIS REGARD.

THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN REQUIRES STOPPING THE CAR, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT WHICH IN TURN RESETS THE COMPUTER. THIS EFFORT DOES NOT PERMANENTLY FIX THE ISSUE AND THEY USUALLY QUIT WORKING AGAIN WITHIN TWO TO TEN MILES. THIS IS THE FIFTH COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA WITH THIS ISSUE AND THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS WITH THIS CAR. TODAY WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN OFF OF A TWO LANE ROAD WITHOUT A DESIGNATED TURN LANE.

THE TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. VEHICLE MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET SIGNALS TO WORK AGAIN WHICH ONLY LASTS FOR AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF TIMES. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WITH GRANDCHILD IN CAR WHEN TURN SIGNAL THAT WORKED MOMENTS EARLIER FAILED AND CAR BEHIND ME CONSEQUENTLY ALMOST HIT ME. MERCEDES USA WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNWILLING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN MODULE THAT NEEDE TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE WAS ALMOST $1300. THE CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES ON IT AND BASED ON RESEARCH OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES BASICALLY INDICATED THAT I WAS NOT A LOYAL ENOUGH CUSTOMER TO WARRANT COMPENSATION. I AM FORCED TO VIOLATE TRAFFIC LAWS AT TIMES BECAUSE I TRY TO NOT USE SIGNALS WHEN ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AS I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WON'T WORK. IN ADDITION I CANNOT LET ANYONE ELSE USE THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, SAFETY, LIABILITY, ETC. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ANYONE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

ON OCCASION THE BLIND SPOT ASSIST BECOMES INOPERATIVE. FREQUENTLY WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT ALSO DEACTIVATES THE TURN SIGNALS CREATING, IN MY OPINION, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED IN MOTION ON AN EXPRESSWAY. I'VE CONTACTED THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WHO TELLS ME THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS INCONVENIENT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE BLIND SPOT ASSIST; HOWEVER, NOT WITH INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS. THIS IS A 6-YEAR OLD CAR SO I AM NOT WILLING TO INVEST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECTIFY AT NO CHARGE. I AM A 72 YEAR OLD AND HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD ONE WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS BECOME INOPERATIVE.