2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RESEVIOUR, AND HOSE AFTER LOOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFILLING WITH FLUID ALL THE CONTENTS RAN RIGHT OUT. I DO SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2008, BUT I DID NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 2/15. IS THERE ANY WAY POSSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL?

Mileage: 136,690

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

I HAVE A 2003 ML350 SUV. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING STEERING. I HAVE REPLACED ONE RACK AND PIN WHICH I BELIEVE WAS USED. NOW I AM IN NEED OF ANOTHER ONE. *TR

BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 01/2008 AFTER A MONTH OR TWO I STARTED TO FILL RESERVOIR WITH POWER STEERING FLUID AS NEEDED WHICH IS OFTEN. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ REGARDING THE RECALL BUT DENIED MY REQUEST. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 57,500

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE SUV BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND PARKED IT. I SAW AN OIL LEAK WHERE IT HAD BEEN PARKED. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TOYOTA, AND LEFT THE MERCEDES PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE LARGE OIL LEAK CONCERNED ME.I SPOKE TO A MERCEDES MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT I HAD HEARD, AND HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A STEERING PROBLEM. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP FOR ML 350 MODELS YEARS 2003 +. IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL OIL LEAKS OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE RECALL IS STILL VALID? DOES THE MERCEDES DEALER STILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HOSE AND CLAMP? WHAT IF THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE PARTS, THEN WHAT DO I SAY OR DO? *TR

Mileage: 74,072

RE: NHTSA SAFETY RECALL #2003-040005 VEHICLE INFORMATION: 2003 MERCEDES ML350 ODI#10261473 MY ML350 ONLY 37,000 MILES THE NOISE (STEERING RACK PROBLEM) HAD BEEN APPARENT SINCE 29,000 MILES. I SCHEDULED WITH JOHN SHEPARD (SERVICE MANAGER OF PHIL SMART MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER, 2025 AIRPORT WAY SOUTH SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98134 PHONE: 206.340.5959) TO INSPECT THE PROBLEMS, FOUND THAT 'VERIFIED NOISE, INSTALLED ELECTRONIC EARS, TO ISOLATE NOISE FOUND NOISE FROM INSIDE OF STEERING PACK ASSEMBLY,' AND INSPECTION FEE WAS $152.60, SUGGESTING REPAIR WAS TO REPLACING THE GEARING (RACK) AND COST ESTIMATED $2,252.02. BY FEBRUARY, I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF SAFETY RECALL FROM ALAN MCLAREN (V.P. CUSTOMER SERVICE OF MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC; ONE MERCEDES DRIVE, PO BOX 350 MONTVALE, NJ 07645, TEL: 1-800-367-6372, FAX: 201-476-6211), THEN I SEND MY VEHICLE TO JOHN SHEPARD (PHIL SMART MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER AT SEATTLE), WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL HAD BEEN RESOLVED, NO NEED TO REPAIR, NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT INSPECTION FEE $ 152.60(EVEN IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE SAYS 'IF YOU HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS RECALL CONDITION CORRECTED PRIOR TO THIS NOTICE YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT), WHICH CAUSE MY DEEP CONCERN THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING THE VEHICLE, DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND DEFECT MY VEHICLE SAFETY IN THE FUTURE. AFTER I FILED A COMPLAINT 03/05/2009 TO THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION FOR NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND ALAN J. MCLAREN (VICE PRESIDENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, MERCEDES BENZ USA, LLC), I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ROBERT (201-476-6200,201-476-6326) WHO WAS SO CALL 'ASSISTANT TO EXECUTIVE FOR MERCEDES BENZ USA 04/02/2009, ROBERT SAID HE WILL PROBE THIS MATTER AND GET BACK TO ME NEXT MONDAY, SO FAR THREE WEEKS PASSED, I HAVE TOLERANTLY WAITED YET NO REPLY FROM ROBERT. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

IN REGARDING TO SAFETY RECALL #2003-040005: 1. HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION. 2. ITS CONSEQUENCES: A. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING B. VALVE COVERS LEAKING 3. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS. TOTAL CHARGES WERE $1,544.62 ($775.40 FOR PARTS, THE REST WAS FOR LABOR). SAFETY RECALL #2003-040005 LETTER STATES THAT "IF YOU HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS RECALL CONDITION CORRECTED PRIOR TO THIS NOTICE YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT". I PRESENTED THIS CASE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE BUT THEY DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE THE REIMBURSEMENT. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT THIS CASE. PLEASE HELP US TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME. *TR

Mileage: 49,492

MY 2003 MERCEDES ML350 ONLY 37,000 MILES THE NOISE (STEERING RACK PROBLEM) HAD BEEN APPARENT SINCE 29,000 MILES. I SCHEDULED WITH JOHN SHEPARD (SERVICE MANAGER OF PHIL SMART MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER AT SEATTLE, [email protected], 2025 AIRPORT WAY SOUTH SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98134 PHONE: 206.340.5959, FAX: 206.654.7119) TO INSPECT THE PROBLEMS, FOUND THAT 'VERIFIED NOISE, INSTALLED ELECTRONIC EARS, TO ISOLATE NOISE FOUND NOISE FROM INSIDE OF STEERING PACK ASSEMBLY,' AND INSPECTION FEE WAS $152.60, SUGGESTING REPAIR WAS TO REPLACING THE GEARING (RACK) AND COST ESTIMATED $2,252.02, AND JOHN SHEPARD TOLD ME THAT 'AS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE THAT AN OFFER OF 50% PARTS AND LABOR IS ON THE TABLE? I HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THAT, SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THIS RESOLVED TODAY, THE OFFER STILL STANDS. THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE RACK AND IT WOULD CARRY A ONE YEAR UNLIMITED MILE WARRANTY. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS A FAIR OFFER AND HOPE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. I AM SORRY THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WOULD LOVE TO HELP GET THIS RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.' BY FEBRUARY, I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF SAFETY RECALL FROM ALAN MCLAREN (V.P. CUSTOMER SERVICE OF MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC; ONE MERCEDES DRIVE, PO BOX 350 MONTVALE, NJ 07645, TEL: 1-800-367-6372, FAX: 201-476-6211), THEN I SEND MY VEHICLE TO JOHN SHEPARD (PHIL SMART MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER AT SEATTLE), WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL HAD BEEN RESOLVED, NO NEED TO REPAIR, NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT INSPECTION FEE $ 152.60, WHICH CAUSE MY DEEP CONCERN THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING THE VEHICLE, DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND DEFECT MY VEHICLE SAFETY IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW HOSE CLAMP AT THE COST OF $259. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. SHE THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,200. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09.*JB

Mileage: 64,000

STEERING IS MAKING A WHEEZING NOISE AND IT FEELS HARD TO STEER COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES. ENGINE FELLS LIKE STALLING AFTER HITTING BRAKES; ENGINE IS SHAKING ON THE DRIVE MODE WHEN YOU ARE NOT MOVING AND ON BRAKE MODE; MORE THAN 10 TIMES, WILL TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP SOON. *NM

Mileage: 19,000