2001 MERCEDES BENZ M CLASS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REPAIRED IN 2003 ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); HOWEVER, THE STEERING WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY. THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE AND SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,642.

I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER DOOR SIDE ON 8/6/05 BY A CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT. MY CAR WAS HIT SO HARD IT ROLLED OVER RESTING ON IT'S ROOF. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOT EVEN SIDE ONES. I CALLED MB-USA TO COMPLAIN. THEY DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THE EVENT. *NM

SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IT CONTINUES TO HESITATE AND STALL OUT GIVING A "START ERROR" ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAD CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, GERRY GRIFFITH (CAR PURCHASED IN INDIANAPOLIS, RECENT MOVE TO ALABAMA), THAT THE MODEL M-CLASS HAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. JUST HAD TO SPEND $1000+ ON A "FIX" AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASING THE CAR. DETAILED SERVICE RECORDS ARE NOT GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER ONLY A BRIEF SYNOPSIS AND ALL WORK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT, I.E., THE ACTUAL TESTING CODES, ETC. *JB

JUST AS REPORTED IN CONSUMER REPORTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSING ALL SAFETY SYSTEMS (IE., BRAKE ASSIST, SAFETY BELTS, AIR BAGS) TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR WHEN THE 4,400 LB. VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP. OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE ALSO FAILING. FURTHER, THE REAR GATE LATCH WAS NOT LOCKING AND THE DEALER NEVER VERBALLY TOLD US WHEN WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM BEING SERVICED, NOR DID THEY EVER ASK IF WE WANTED IT FIXED. WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. ONE WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A MERCEDES PRODUCT. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS "FIXED" TWICE, WE THEN PAID TO HAVE IT GONE OVER ($300) AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEMS WHICH HAD BEEN NOTED AS BEING FIXED PREVIOUSLY. IT WAS A $100 STOP SWITCH. MEANWHILE, WE WILL PAY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. MERCEDES USA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY JUST BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG. I THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING A QUALITY PRODUCT. I GUESS NOT.*JB

JUST AS REPORTED IN CONSUMER REPORTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSING ALL SAFETY SYSTEMS (IE., BRAKE ASSIST, SAFETY BELTS, AIR BAGS) TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR WHEN THE 4,400 LB. VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP. OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE ALSO FAILING. FURTHER, THE REAR GATE LATCH WAS NOT LOCKING AND THE DEALER NEVER VERBALLY TOLD US WHEN WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM BEING SERVICED, NOR DID THEY EVER ASK IF WE WANTED IT FIXED. WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. ONE WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A MERCEDES PRODUCT. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS "FIXED" TWICE, WE THEN PAID TO HAVE IT GONE OVER ($300) AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEMS WHICH HAD BEEN NOTED AS BEING FIXED PREVIOUSLY. IT WAS A $100 STOP SWITCH. MEANWHILE, WE WILL PAY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. MERCEDES USA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY JUST BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG. I THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING A QUALITY PRODUCT. I GUESS NOT.*JB