1999 Mercedes Benz ML320

1999 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 SUV. ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" FAILED (BECAME DETACHED), CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A DISABLED VEHICLE AND LEAVING MY WIFE AND FAMILY STRANDED. THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS THE MAIN PULLEY WHEEL WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS PULLEY WHEEL IN TURN DRIVES ALL OTHER BELT-DRIVEN ITEMS, SUCH AS POWER STEERING PUMP, AC, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, ETC. FIRST, THIS ITEM SHOULD BE SO RESILIENT THAT FAILURE IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND SECOND, BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE DEALER WHO IS REPAIRING IT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS "NOT AT ALL SURPRISING OR UNCOMMON" ON THE MB ML320 SUV. WHILE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCURRED IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMS THAT IF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE RESULTING LOSS OF POWER COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT WE HAVE VERY CAREFULLY FOLLOWED ALL OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE, A CHECK SHOULD BE PART OF THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. BUT TO BE DIRECT, THE DESIGN OF THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS FAULTY, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE (UPWARDS OF $1500) AND THE RESULTS ARE POTENTIALLY DEADLY. LET'S NOT WAIT FOR AN INJURY OR DEATH TO RESULT BEFORE SOME ACTION IS TAKEN ON THIS! TS

THE DOOR LOCK ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. IT WAS REPAIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN WITH EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COMMIT TO REPAIR THIS WITHOUT CHARGING ME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MERCEDES ML320'S AS EVIDENCED BY INFORMATION ON MERCEDES DISCUSSION WEB PAGES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR COULD OPEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DT

THE FAILURE OF THE CENTER PULLEY RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BELT COMING LOOSE. IT RESULTED IN ALL POWER MECHANISMS (POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES FAILING). THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THE BELT GOT RIPPED BY THE FAN WHILE IT WAS WORKING. THE FAN ALSO STOPPED WORKING AND ELEVATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF THIS ON THE DASH PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE METAL PULLEY WAS SITTING LOOSE AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. IF THE PULLEY HAD FALLEN DOWN OR HIT THE FUEL LINE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IT HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER. MERCEDES HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN LATER MODELS BUT NOT LETTING OWNERS OF PREVIOUS MODELS KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768016

TRUCK SHAKES, SHUDDERS AND MAKES THUNKING NOISE DURING EVEN MODESTLY SHARP LOW SPEED TURNS (IE PARKING, ETC) DUE TO BINDING OF DIFFERENTIALS/DRIVELINE OR BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. COULD LEAD TO DRIVETRAIN OR BRAKE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE THOUGH IT DIDN'T OCCUR EALIER DURING OWNERSHIP.