2002 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the driver’s side front wheel independently braked. The contact stated he had not depressed the brake pedal but heard an abnormal sound from the tire screeching as the wheel had stopped rolling. The contact stated that the ESP traction warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over, turned off, restarted the vehicle, and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred several minutes later. The contact stated that the failure occurred one other time and had not happened again. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Motor vehicle accident head on and the airbags did not deploy.

The car brakes suddenly by itself just after the ESB/ABS lights come on along with an exclamation point (!). This has happened randomly at least 4 times since we purchased the car. Once at high speeds on the highway. It appears this problem is common with other owners of Mercedes 2001-2002 ML's. According to the forums below, the problem seems to be a "YAW RATE SENSOR" malfunction or defect. My Mercedes mechanic saw no error codes for this component and it seem extremely expensive (forum states part is $3000) to replace. The https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w163/233486-big-problems-ml320-pls-help-2.html

There is a serious defect in the YAW rate sensors in these Mercedes ML W163's. Thank God I was driving down a secluded road and nobody was behind me, but my vehicles brakes locked up, on their own, even with my foot on the accelerator pedal, with no warning lights or warning signals. I have no error codes, and my vehicle is well maintained. There are many many people that are having the same issue with their Mercedes ML's. Some people have experienced this happening to them at freeway speeds. The YAW rate sensors are at fault, and send a signal to the ABS pump which in turn locks up the brakes without even touching the brake pedal! This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to everyone in the vehicle, and to ANY other vehicle in the area. People can DIE! Again.. This is a terrible defective function of a sensor that will spontaneously apply the brakes fully to lock up automatically with no persuasion from the driver. It is extremely dangerous and can cause fatal injuries. This has been researched thru many Mercedes forums including benzworld.org, mbworld.org, Mercedesforum.com, and ml w163 Facebook forum, all of which many ML owners have experienced the braking system lockup, and in some cases accidents have occurred. Another unfortunate issue in this happening, is that the brake lights do not light up when this sudden braking happens due to the YAW rate sensor malfunction. If there is a vehicle behind a Mercedes ML when this sudden braking occurs, there is NO WARNING LIGHTS, and can cause a serious accident and injury or death! Many people, including myself, do not feel safe behind the wheel of our Mercedes ML's for fear of the brakes locking up in their own because of this poorly programmed default function of a possible faulty YAW rate sensor. This is the worst default function to ever have a vehicle do. I now steer clear of other Mercedes ML's in the road knowing they can automatically lock their brakes for no apparent reason. Please research this and take action!

FUSE BOX SOME HAS POWER SOME NOT. FRONT LEFT WHEEL MAKING THIS NOISE AND STOPS AFTER 25 MILES PER HOUR RADIO VOLUME LOW WHEN IGNITION KEY IS ON POSITION 3 WHEN KEY IT'S IN THE POSITION 2 LAUD VOLUME WHEN KEY IS NOT IN I CAN TURN ON THE STEREO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE LOW RANGE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS UPDATED AND AN OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WALTER'S MERCEDES-BENZ OF RIVERSIDE (3213 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504, (951) 441-6182) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 201,000.

FRONT END COLLISION - AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

YES THIS [XXX] COMING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS AND A CAR ACCIDENT I WAS STRUCK BY AND VEHICLE MADE BY OLDSMOBILE YEAR 1998 PLATE NO. STATE [XXX] I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM DOWN TOWN FEDERAL COURT I WAS RIDING DOWN [XXX] CRASH DATE 08/21/2018. I WAS AT THE RED LIGHT I ALSO HAD MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON ALSO NOW I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN NEXT THING I KNOW THE SENIOR CITIZEN THE GUY WHO HIT ME FROM BEHIND. NEXT THING I KNOW MY 2002 ML320 MERCEDES BENZ DID A WHOLE 360 DEGREE SPIN AROUND I DIDN'T PANIC I WAS JUST AND TOTAL SHOCK I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALK TO THE CAR TO CHECK IN SEE WAS THE PERSON OKAY OR NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I LOOK IN REALIZE IT WAS A SENIOR CITIZEN I ASK HIM ARE YOU OKAY HE SAID YES BUT HE WAS KIND OF DAZE I NOTICE THE CAR WAS LEAKING REAL BAD SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK FOR MY SAFETY REASON BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WHICH IS THE SENIOR CITIZEN STARED TO SMOKE SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK CAUSE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GO BLOW UP BUT I THANK GOD IT DIDN'T. SO THE AMBULANCE ARRIVE ON THE CAR ACCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE PERSON WHO HIT ME TO THE HOSPITAL. WHICH HE LIVED THEN ALL THE POLICE FORCES CAME I MEAN EVERY TOP LAW CAME PACE BY PACE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. LONG STORY SHORT. MY CAR WAS INVOLVE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OH YEAR I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON TOO SAFETY FIRST. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS BUCKLE UP AND CHECK ALL YOU MIRROR. HAVE A NICE DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

"TAKATS RECALL" 1ST ISSUE I NOTICED IS WHEN I GAVE SOMEONE A JUMP OFF A DEAD CAR BATTERY. AS I WAS DRIVEN I NOTICED MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON MEANING MY BATTERY WAS DECREASING POWER AND IT DID I WAS ON MY WAY HOME DRIVEN I NOTICED MY CAR LOSING POWER IN THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND I CALLED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A JUMP THE CAR STARTED BACK UP DROVE ABOUT 3, BLOCKS AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AGAIN SO I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BATTERY REPLACING THE OLD BATTERY WITH AN NEW ONE. GOT ANOTHER JUMP TO GIVE THE THE BATTERY SOME EXTRA JUICE. AFTER I RECEIVED THE JUMP I'M BACK ON THE ROAD. IN THE ANCIENT OCCUR AGAIN SO I CALLED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A JUMP. THIS TIME THE CAR DIDN'T START. SO I HAD TO GET IT TOW HOME. GOT HOME DID SOME RESEARCH IN FOUND OUT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. REPLACE THE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH A NEW ONE. 2ND ISSUE I NOTICED AFTER I REPLACED THE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH THE NEW ONE I NOTICED MY TWO FANS BLOWER WILL CONTINUOUSLY RUN FOR HOURS WHEN I TAKE MY CAR KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. AND DUE TO THAT THAT CAUSE MY DRAINED MY BATTERY CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER AND MY CAR WON'T BE ABLE TO START WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION I DON'T KNO IF THEY CONNECTED A WIRE TO KEEP RUNNING IF SO HE WAS TO SUPPOSED TO TELL ME THAT WHICH HE DIDN'T. 3RD ISSUE I NOTICED I RECENTLY ADDED NEW FRONT PADS AND ROTOR'S NEW REAR PADS AND ROTORS 1 NEW REAR PASSSGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER. MY BRAKE LIGHTS STILL APPEARED TO POP UP I TOLD THE MERCHANT HE TOLD ME IT COULD BE A SENSOR FAILURE AND GET CHECK OUT AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. 4TH ISSUE THE TRIANGLE LIGHT LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF DASH FLASHES OCCASIONALLY CAUSING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR RECALL SUBJECT: SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM UPPER ARM .RECALL: 6/SERVICE BULLETINS: 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED, BUT THE ENGINE STILL TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH PRIME TIME NISSAN OF SCHERERVILLE (1301 INDIANAPOLIS BLVD, SCHERERVILLE, IN 46375) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSECTION IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 WHEN DRIVING THE YELLOW TRIANGLE IN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS TO FLASH AND ALL THE BREAKS LOCK UP, THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A STALL, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT MANY MERCEDES ML320 OWNERS WERE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY THE YAW RATE SENSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT CAN INJURE OR WORSE YET KILL SOMEONE. YOU GUYS NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BAS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT AND HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING WHINING NOISES AND HARDER TO TURN. I CONTINUED ON CITY STREETS THEN TO A FREEWAY WHERE MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION OPENED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE FLUID ALL OVER RIGHT LOWER DRIVER SIDE. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM A HOSE BY THE POWER STEERING CAP AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE CAR SAME SPOT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE I COULD SEE POWER STEERING AND RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING FROM THAT AREA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION AND THAT THE CONTACT MAY REPLACE THE PART WITH AN AFTERMARKET CATALYTIC CONVERTER; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT PASS AN EMISSIONS INSPECTION. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE PART WITH AN OEM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NUMEROUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS, WEATHER, BOTH DRIVING ON A STRAIGHTAWAY OR TURNING, AND OTHER ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP ON THE CAR CAUSING IT TO VEER RIGHT WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES. MOST OFTEN I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER, THANKFULLY SAFELY, OR ON ONE OCCASION, STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHICH IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD ME REPLACE THE BRAKE SENSORS WHICH WERE OBVIOUSLY NOT THE PROBLEM AND THEN RECOMMENDED OTHER REPLACEMENTS, SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, THAT I DECLINED UNTIL I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY SENSORS IN THIS VEHICLE (SPECIFICALLY THE YAW SENSOR). I'M AMAZED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION AND THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OCCURRING IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS REGARDING SPEED, WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC., I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT WHILE ENGAGING THE FRONT BRAKES, BOTH WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AND ON STRAIGHTAWAYS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TRIANGLE HAZARD LIGHT AND ESP LIGHTS START FLASHING. MOST OFTEN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THANKFULLY SAFELY, OR ON ONE OCCASION STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND RETURNED TO HAVE THEM AGAIN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND DECLINED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS SUCH AS REPLACING THE BACK BRAKE SENSORS, UNTIL I CAME UPON THE REPEATED ISSUES OF THE STABILITY SENSORS FAILING (SPECIFICALLY THE YAW SENSOR). I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT, TO DATE, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM (I FILED A PREVIOUS CLAIM, BUT THE WEBSITE WENT UNDER MAINTENANCE AND CLOSED MY COMPLAINT AS I WAS FILING AND WAS GIVEN ID #10923983, BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION FILED IN ASSOCIATION THAT I COULD FIND HENCE THE RE-FILING). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE BRAKES INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V208000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

BRAKES APPLIED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT PEDAL PRESSURE WHILE CAR WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING BY THE TIME I FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP OFF THE 4-LANE ROAD ON A SIDE ROAD. REAR BRAKES SEEMED HOT, BUT NOT SMOKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS HIGHWAY EVENT, CAR HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING AROUND 35 MPH ON HILLY SIDE ROADS WITH STEEP ASCENTS AND DESCENTS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME BRAKES HAVE SELF-APPLIED IN A SIMILAR MANNER. AFTER SECOND EVENT, DEALER EXAMINED CAR BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY FAULTS ON COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. WHEN BRAKES COOL, CAR RESTARTS WITHOUT BRAKES COMING ON. BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED 6,000 MILES EARLIER; SIGNIFICANT BRAKE DRAG WAS PRESENT FOR AROUND TWO HUNDRED MILES AFTER THAT REPAIR; DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE SELF-ADJUSTING AND DECLINED TO EXAMINE CAR AT THAT TIME. IT WAS ABOUT 4,000 MILES AFTER BRAKE PAD/SENSOR REPLACEMENT THAT THE SELF-BRAKING PROBLEM STARTED.

HOUSE FROM POWER STEERING POMP IS LEAKING , DURING DRIVE I LOOSE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ALMOST I HIT CAT FROM ANOTHER LINE.