2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 Electrical System Problems

ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.

Mileage: 200,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND HEAT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT'S BROTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210.

Mileage: 210

ON OR ABOUT MAY 14, 2012, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SELF-INITIATED A CONTINUOUS BRAKE ACTIVATION WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE BRAKES OR TAKING ANY OTHER ACTION. THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED AND SUSTAINED BRAKING ACTION RESULTED IN A NEAR-COLLISION WITH A SEMI-TRUCK TRAVELING BEHIND ME WHICH THE TRUCK-DRIVER WAS FORTUNATELY JUST ABLE TO PREVENT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER AS THE UN-COMMANDED BRAKING ACTION BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING FOR ME, AND IT WAS ONLY SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (?ESP?) CONTROL MODULE AND YAW RATE SENSOR HAD FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY IN AN INOPERABLE CONDITION. REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA (CAMPAIGN # PE07007). *TR

Mileage: 182,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND AN INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING; THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, IT WOULD PERFORM AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 01V061000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 20,000

MY 2001 MERCEDES ML320 SUV DEVELOPED A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHEREBY THE KEY CAME OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION. IN JUNE 2009, THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE KEY CAME OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF PARK. AFTER A WHILE THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT A NEIGHBORS CAR AND THE GARAGE DOOR OPPOSITE MY DRIVEWAY. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MERCEDES AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE DEFECT CANNOT BE COVERED FREE BY THE MANUFACTURER AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I PAID ALMOST $1000 TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 97,950

SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE, INCLUDING BRAKING ASSIST, SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS AND TEL-AIDE DUE TO COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE. CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS AFTER WHICH CUSTOMER PAID TO HAVE VEHICLE REVIEWED BUMPER TO BUMPER AND THE FAILING CHIP WAS REPLACED. DURING THIS TIME, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO WARN OF THE FAILURE WHICH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER DOCUMENTED 15 TIMES IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD (BETWEEN THE TWO ACCIDENTS). APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AGAIN. DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES SYSTEM HAD FAILED SINCE IT WAS 'FIXED.' TRADED IN VEHICLE FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. *JB

Mileage: 76,000

SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE, INCLUDING BRAKING ASSIST, SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS AND TEL-AIDE DUE TO COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE. CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS AFTER WHICH CUSTOMER PAID TO HAVE VEHICLE REVIEWED BUMPER TO BUMPER AND THE FAILING CHIP WAS REPLACED. DURING THIS TIME, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO WARN OF THE FAILURE WHICH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER DOCUMENTED 15 TIMES IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD (BETWEEN THE TWO ACCIDENTS). APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AGAIN. DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES SYSTEM HAD FAILED SINCE IT WAS 'FIXED.' TRADED IN VEHICLE FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. *JB

Mileage: 76,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S REMOTE LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, THE REMOTE WORKED AND THE CAR STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY AND AN ABS SWITCH. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP THEN DETERMINED THE AFTERMARKET ALARM SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE CONTACT HAD THIS REMOVED AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL PRESENT. THE DEALER HAS NOW DETERMINED THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 01V061000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 50,400

I OWN A MERCEDES ML 320, 2001 MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. THE VEHICLE IS NOW THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 5700-0 MILES ON IT. THE MOST SERIOUS FAILURES INVOLVE THE FUEL PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE, WITH THE MOST RECENT FAILURE BEING 11/13/03. LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS FUMES FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND A SERIOUS DANGER OF EXPLOSION EXIST. THE FUEL PUMP LOCATION FOR THIS MODEL IS UNDERNEATH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE MY CHILDREN SIT. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS FOR UPWARDS OF FIVE YEARS AND HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT IT OR ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH IT. NO RECALL OR NOTICES TO THE CONSUMER. IN ADDITION THE ML 320 MODEL HAS A LONG LIST OF OTHER EMISSION FAILURES AND OVERALL FAILURES. THE FUEL PUMP IS THE MAIN ITEM FOR MY COMPLAINT AND IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL AS THEIR REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR ACKNOWLEDGE IT. OTHER FAILURES AND ISSUES ON MY CAR INCLUDE: O-2 SENSOR, FUEL FILTER, PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS (FRONT AND BACK), STEERING PROBLEMS, THROTTLE STICKING AT TAKE OFF (AT TIMES), WINDOW MOTOR, DRIVERS SIDE. SWITCH AS FAILED TWICE IN 57K MILES AND REASON IS SWITCH IS UNABLE TO HANDLE DESIGNED AMPERAGE. ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. NO RECALL OR NOTICE AND A REPEATED KNOW PART FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHER MODEL YEARS, REAR EMISSION EVAPORATOR PART. ALSO RELATED TO GAS FUMES IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND COMMON FAILURE ITEM. (PART NAME IS NOT CORRECT TERMINOLOGY), BATTERY FAILURE WITHIN ONE YEAR, BATTERY NOT DESIGNED FOR AMPERAGE LOAD EITHER AND COMMON FAILURE. ALSO AS FIRE RISK., NUMEROUS OTHER FAILURES THAT ARE NOT ENTIRELY SAFETY RELATED FOR THIS PRODUCT., A SERIOUS LOOK INTO THIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPANIES ACTIONS REGARDING THESE REPEATED FAILURES OF FUEL RELATED ITEMS AND OTHER ITEMS IS NEEDED AND REQUESTED.*AK *TR

Mileage: 11,000

ENTIRE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TS *JB

Mileage: 10,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS CAME ON CONSTANTLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STATE THE AIR BAG WAS OFF, THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF CONSTANTLY IN THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE OFF, THE VEHICLE BEEPED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD STARTED SMOKING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 03 V 121 000 FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AND FLASHED AND BEEPED, LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS/GAS TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO SECOND GEAR AND DID COME OUT FOR SOME TIME(DISCOVERED IT WAS IN LIMP-HOME MODE). THE SERVICE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE GEAR SELECTOR. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF, EXCEPT FOR THE BAS/BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM LIGHT, THE GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER HAD RESUMED. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE HALF OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ON THE LEFT LIT UP, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE SERVICE DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE BATTERY. DURING A RAINSTORM, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, THE TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEPT BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY BUT DID NOT GO INTO LIMP MODE. THERE WAS A CRACK IN ONE OF THE D-PILLARS, AND THE REAR HATCH LOCK DID NOT WORK. THE IGNITION LOCK SEEMED LOOSE SINCE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR LEAKED. THE BAS/ESP CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THE BRAKE PAD WEAR LIGHT DISPLAYED, THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES THEN WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A CLAMP PROBLEM. ALSO THE DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH HESITATED. THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE THAT RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE HOSE CLAMP FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE HYDRAULIC FLUID PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES RELATED TO THE REPAIRS. RECALL# 03V121000 *SCC *JB

Mileage: 52,025

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, THEN ALL THE GAUGES STOP WORKING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED GEAR SELECTOR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK PLEASE REFER TO ODI# 10022912(THE EXACT INFO) THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALSO FLASHED AND BEEPED. THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER ACTIVATED AND THEN SHUT DOWN, THEN RESTORED THEMSELVES AFTER 20 MINUTES. IN ADDITION TO THE INITIAL GEAR SELECTOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. TWENTY FAILURES OCCURRED WITHIN 500 MILES. THE BAS/ESP CONTROL MODULE AS WELL AS A NEW BATTERY AT NO COST. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER THE 3RD FAILURE DUE TO THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 52,025

THE BAS/ESP LIGHT TURNS ON ON THE DASHBOARD. TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER TO STOP A CAR, TURN COMPLETE LEFT, AND THEN COMPLETE RIGHT, SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE FOR 10 SECONDS AND START THE ENGINE. FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD DISAPPEARED. ON THE 3RD OCCURRENCE, THE LIGHT STAYED ON. CALLED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LOOK AT THE CAR.*AK

SECURITY SYSTEM DOES NOT LOCK VEHICLES DOORS. *AK THE REMOTE KEYS DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR DUE TO IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILURE, IT TOOK DEALER THREE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH