2006 Mercedes Benz ML350

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE ON A MAJOR PARKWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, OUR 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE; STEERING WAS COMPROMISED, AS WAS BRAKING. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE VERY DIFFICULT, BUT POSSIBLE ALLOWING THE CAR TO BE GUIDED TO THE SHOULDER. ALL FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE PRESENT INCLUDING OUR TWO YOUNG SONS. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER REPAIR SHOP, 4 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT...THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED AS ?ENGINE JUMPED TIME? AND THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO ?REMOVE ENGINE AND TEAR DOWN TO FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE?MOST LIKELY NEEDS ENGINE ASSEMBLY?. AS THAT THE QUOTED PRICE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR EXCEEDS THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR BY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHOUT FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. AT NO TIME IN THE PAST 4 YEARS HAS THERE BEEN A ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT NOR WERE THERE ANY INDICATORS OF ANY SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES AS PER THE CAR?S ONBOARD COMPUTER REPORTING SYSTEM OR IN GENERAL DAILY OPERATIONS. AGAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THAT THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN JANUARY OF 2010, THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER REPAIR DEPARTMENT MENTIONED ABOVE CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: ?REMOVED ENGINE, REPLACED BALANCE SHAFT, REPLACED OIL PUMP, REPLACED CAM SOLENOIDS, REPLACED GASKETS?? IN RESPONSE TO A PERSISTENT ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT. OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE 2010 ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? OCCURRED AT 55,395 MILES. THIS RECENT FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, MINUS THE ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS, AT 99,424 MILES. OUR RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MAY BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING MAKE A LEFT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TO MAKE A LEFT, I STARTED GOING AND GOT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHEN MY STEERING GOT STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE A WIDE LEFT TURN. I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT WITHOUT A REAL EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND AGAIN HAVING TO MAKE ANOTHER WIDE LEFT TURN BEFORE AN ONCOMING CAR ALMOST HIT ME. *TR

MY ML350 HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PRIMARY BRAKE LIGHTS BURNING OUT. AUTOMATICALLY THE VEHICLE IS SWITCHING TO THE SUBSTITUTE BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN 1-MONTH. I JUST REPLACED THEM 2-DAYS AGO WITH A NEW SET OF SYLVANIA BULBS PURCHASED FROM ADVANCED AUTO AS PER THE VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD ORIGINATE FROM A POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND/OR POOR GROUNDING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE COILS TO BURN THROUGH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, WHO VERIFIED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY REGISTRATION IS UP NEXT MONTH AND NEED TO SMOG. IT WON'T PASS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS TIMING GEAR/CAMSHAFT ISSUE AND IT WILL BE $7500.00 TO REPAIR AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID MERCEDES WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY 25% OF PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WOULD BE AROUND $500.00. THIS I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE SO I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND THEIR ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES AND A COUPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. MERCEDES BENZ OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD RECALL IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,357. *TR

NIGHT BEFORE INCIDENT THE AUTOMATIC REAR LIFT GATE OPENED WHEN FRONT DRIVER DOOR WOULD BE OPENED OR CLOSED. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, TAIL HAZARD LIGHT WERE ACTIVATED ALONG WITH WARNING ALARM FOR TAILGATE MALFUNCTION OR OPEN. DURING THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHOW SAME ISSUES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS LATER ENTERED, ISSUE WITH TAILGATE OPENING SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED, AFTER DRIVING AN APPROXIMATE 5-7 MILES, ODDER OF SMOKE EMERGED, TAILGATE WARNING ALARM SOUNDED ALONG WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC HORN, IN ADDITION CABIN LIGHTS TURNED ON AND WARN MESSAGES APPEARED ON DASH FOR FLAT TIRE,BLOWN BULBS, ETC, DRIVER PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE. SOON AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL CABIN, DRIVER IMMEDIATELY EXITED VEHICLE, FLAMES OVER TOOK VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES. REMAINS SHOW UPPER HALF OF CABIN (SEATS AND UP) TOOK PRIMARY BURN, FLOORING WAS NOT BURNED. ENGINE BAY ONLY HAS MINOR FIRE DAMAGE FROM LARGE FLAMES AND HEAT GOING OUT OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. *TR