2004 Mercedes Benz ML350

CAR SUDDENLY DEVELOPED EXTREME GASOLINE ODOR AFTER A BRIEF 20 MILE TRIP. CURSORY CHECK DID NOT IDENTIFY SOURCE. UPON RETURN TRIP, SAME EXTREME SICKENING ODOR RETURNED. UPON PULLING INTO GARAGE GASOLINE WAS VISIBLY POURING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND POOLING ON GROUND. IT LOOKED TO BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM GAS TANK AREA BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE MAIN SOURCE AS IT WAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ASIDE FROM THE NAUSEA, THIS CLEARLY POSED A SIGNIFICANT FIRE DANGER AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIR COSTS NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER INCIDENTS OR EXTERNAL REASONS THAT MIGHT HAVE LED TO THIS (SUCH AS RUNNING OVER SOMETHING OR HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD). AFTER DOING RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN, AND CONTINUES TO BE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE LEAKY STEERING FLUID REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES HAD STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THAT A CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I HAD CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODING IN THE AREA CLOSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR BRAKE LINES TO CORRODE AND LEAK. I HAVE NOT NOTICED CORROSION ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR, EXCEPT THE BRAKE LINES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES ML350. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NECESSARY TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 01/27/12 *BF

MAY 2010 I HAVE PROBLEM IN MY 2004 ML350. MY WIFE TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER TO THE HIGH SETTING. WITHIN A SHORT TIME THE HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE IN A SMALL SPOT ( LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN) WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONLINE SEARCHES I DID FOR THE 03 AND 04 ML350. I SPOKE TO A BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THAT IT IS A SHORT IN THE SEAT WIRING. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM GOING TO CALL THE DEALER TODAY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 ON PUBLIC STREET THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHILE MOVING AT 30 - 35 MPH. LOST BOTH POWER STEERING CONTROL AND POWER BRAKING ABILITY AS A RESULT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISIONS AND COASTED INTO AN OFF STREET AREA SAFELY. UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ( HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAVEL ) ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CERTAIN. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY CRANK SENSOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VINTAGE VEHICLE AND CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO MY MECHANIC. THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE FRIGHTENING DRIVING EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD AND AM GRATEFUL THAT IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE; SHE WOULD HAVE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING OR WHAT TO DO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IF IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION OF A TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ISSUE THEN THE DOT NEEDS TO REEVALUATE WHAT ITS MISSION IS. *TR