NHTSA Complaint #10043368 — 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

I WAS DRIVING MY ML430 ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT AND MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I MANAGED TO "STRONG ARM" THE CAR, (HOPPED A CURB MID-TURN) AND PULL OVER INTO A LOCAL GROCERY STORE. WHAT MY DEALER HAD DIAGNOSED WAS THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSEMBLY CAME APART. I'M AFRAID THAT IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE. SINCE THE PULLEY CAME APART AT SUCH FORCE IT ALSO MANAGED TO RIP A HOLE INTO MY OIL PAN. ALL IN ALL I'M LOOKING AT A $3000 REPAIR TO A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO PRESENT THE ISSUE TO MB AND REQUEST HELP FOR THE REPAIR. "COMMON PROBLEM!" .. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF. MB CAME BACK WITH NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP MB IS TAKING ON THEIR BRAND. THE WHOLE REASON I PURCHASED THE CAR WAS FOR QUALITY. I'M SADDENED TO WONDER HOW MANY LIVES ARE POTENTIALLY IN DANGER DUE TO THIS COMMON PROBLEM AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR MB TO BECOME PROACTIVE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *LA