2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 1500 Steering Problems

THE VEHICLE IS A WINNEBAGO REVEL RV BUILD ON A MERCEDES 4X4 SPRINTER. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE RADIATOR, DUMPED ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UP A WINDING GRAVEL MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH VERY SHARP CURVES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AS I WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES SPRINTER, WELL-KNOWN TO THE WINNEBAGO REVEL 4X4 FACEBOOK GROUP. THE HIGH-PRESSURE HOSE IS TOO SHORT AND THE SPRING CLAMP INSUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE HOSE ON TO THE RADIATOR FITTING.

THE 2019 SPRINTER HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE ("ALKA") A FEW WEEKS AGO I DROVE THE VAN FROM SAN DIEGO TO MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN (BISHOP, CA. I DIDN'T FEEL THE CROSSWIND WAS A DANGER BUT I HAD TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO BE PREPARED JUST IN CASE AS I HAD EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE IN THE PAST AND IT CAN NOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. A BURST OF WIND HIT ME AND IT PUSHED ME ONTO THE RIGHT SOLID WHITE LINE. I HAD A FAIR AMOUNT OF TARMAC OUTSIDE THE LINE TO MY RIGHT SO I WASN'T THAT CONCERNED WITH MY TIRES BEING ON TOP OF THE LINE BUT THE VAN HAD OTHER IDEAS FOR ME. ALKA KICKED IN SUPER HARD AND CORRECTED ME BACK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME AS THE...

CLAMP ON THE POWER STEER HOSE CAME OFF. THE SPRING CLAMP DID NOT HOLD AND THE HOSE IS STRETCHED TOO TIGHT. WE LIVE IN FAIRBANKS, AK AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS -30 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ANOTHER CLAMP ON, WITH ONLY GETTING MINOR FROSTBITE ON FINGERS. WE WERE LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN TOWN. THIS VEHICLE IS BEING PROMOTED AS A VEHICLE TO ACCESS MORE REMOTE LOCATIONS. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. WE WERE LUCKILY PARKED IN A WALMART PARKING LOT, AND WHEN WE STARTED TO DRIVE OUT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. AS WE HAD BEEN WARNED OF THIS HAPPENING, WE KNEW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. THERE WAS A POOL OF POWER STEERING FLUID BENEATH THE ENGINE. SHOULDNT THIS BE A RECALL ISSUE?