2003 Mercedes Benz ML350

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

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

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, RICHARDHULL@PHILSMART.COM, 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

MY M-350 HAD NO POWER. THE HARNESS CABLE (163-540-28-32) LOCATED BEHIND AND AGAINST THE BATTERY HAD COMPLETELY BEEN DESTROYED BY THE BATTERY ACID ENVIRONMENT. THE CABLE SUPPLIES THE OPERATIONAL POWER TO THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTO. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. ALL SYSTEMS IN THE CAR WERE TOTALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL. NO SHIELDING OR PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO THE CABLE WAS ENGINEERED INTO THE FACTORY INSTALLATION OF THIS CABLE. THE BATTERY WAS THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION AND NO MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY HAD OCCURRED IN THAT AREA OF THE CAR SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTO OF THE CABLE THAT SHOWS THIS CONDITION. I WAS CHARGED $2,483.65 BY JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS OF TULSA, LLC ( THE TULSA MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER) TO REPLACE THE CABLE. I ALSO WAS CHARGED APPROXIMATELY $125.00 FOR THE TOWING OF THE CAR (SUV) TO THE DEALER FOR THESE REPAIRS. FOR A WORLD CLASS SAFETY AWARD WINNER CAR, TO BE ENGINEERED WITH THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS CABLE NEXT TO A BATTERY WITHOUT PROTECTION FROM ACID FUMES IS TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL. I'M WORK IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AND WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THIS INSTALLATION TO BE APPROVED. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST SO I CAN FORWARD THE PHOTOS AND COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDERS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT A RECALL NOTICE BE IMPLEMENTED ON THIS VEHICLE TO AVOID POTENTIAL DEATHS, INJURIES, AND LOSS OF PROPERTY TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

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

MY FAMILY OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY MOM NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WE BELIEVED ONE OF THE MECHANICS BURNT IT WITH A TOOL DURING THE CAR'S SERVICE. SO THIS BURN MARK WAS IGNORED. ON DEC. 13, 2008 AROUND 8:20 AM, MY MOM, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR, SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE AND A SMALL FIRE FROM THE SIDE OF HER SEAT. SHE COULD NOT HAVE PULLED OVER QUICKLY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. SHE TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THEN SHE PUT IT OUT WITH A TOWEL SHE WAS SITTING ON, IT TOO WAS BURNT, BUT PREVENTED MY MOMS LEG FROM GETTING BURNED BY THE FIRE. THE FIRE HAS LEFT A BURNED HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I'VE CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CASE LIKE MINE, NOR THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE VISITED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DOCUMENTED MY CASE AND FAXED A COPY TO THAT DEALERSHIP. I AM GOING TO MEET THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO IS TO GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, FIXED, AND HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNING. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR HIS WALLET IN HIS BACKPOCKET, HIS PANTS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNED THROUGH HIS LEATHER SEATS. THE CONTACT SEARCHED THE INTERNET, BUT FOUND NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,400.

I OWN A MERCEDES ML 350 2003; WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK THIS MORNING THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING, BECAME DISABLED AND STEERING, BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. THE CAR SLOWED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROAD WITH SPEED LIMITS UP TO 40 MPH AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR INTO THE SHOULDER CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. EVENTUALLY THE CAR COASTED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ALL LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON HAVING IT TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS INITIALLY A KEY FAILURE IN WHICH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR COULD BE LOST WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER MY REACTION WHICH WAS "AND YOU GUYS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT" I WAS TOLD THAT INSTEAD IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. CURRENTLY MERCEDES HAS A RECALL PENDING OR BEING CONSIDERED ON ONE OF THERE 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL, BUT SHOULD BE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR