NHTSA Complaint #10262792 — 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT STILL EXPERIENCED FAILURES. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, IT WOULD MAKE A NOISE AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SECOND RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000), WHICH STATED THAT AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED MAY BE INSUFFICIENT IN PREVENTING A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003 WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAD THE REPAIRS PERFORMED IN 2004 AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EXTENSION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.