2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML430 Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE IN THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND UPON INSPECTION A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE IS A RECALL MANUFACTURER RECALL # 2005060014 ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MANUFACTURER RECALL; HOWEVER THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER.

2000 MERCEDES ML 430: CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE AT 59,750 MILES. MERCEDES SERVICE IN HOUSTON HAS THIS ITEMS ON A TWO WEEK BACK ORDER. THE SERVICE REPS FEEL THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. THE "OLD" PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ABOUT $700. NOW, THE NEW, IMPROVED, IMPORTED FROM GERMANY PART IS NOW $1,140. I FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT IDENTIFIED AS A WARRANTY ITEM, MERCEDES SHOULD TREAT THIS AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE LEAK FROM THE CATALYTIC COVERTER ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES TO BE SUCKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM IS ON.*AK