Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| SB-32-22-78 | 05/06/2009 | SB-32-22-78A | 10028686 | Mercedes: air matic visit workshop displayed within instrument cluster. models 164, 211, 219, 221 and 251. included 4matic, amg (compressor) amg, bluetec and wagon. model years unknown. *pe updated 9/18/09. | 05/14/2009 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| P-049567 | 06/07/2010 | 10034152 | Mercedes: battery symbol and service required (in white). fault message is displayed if the charge level is too low or the park pawl additional battery is defective. in addition fault code fc 9061 and/or fc 9062 is stored in the front sa | 10/20/2010 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| SB-32-22-78 | 05/06/2009 | SB-32-22-78A | 10028686 | Mercedes: air matic visit workshop displayed within instrument cluster. models 164, 211, 219, 221 and 251. included 4matic, amg (compressor) amg, bluetec and wagon. model years unknown. *pe updated 9/18/09. | 05/14/2009 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 05/09/2012 | 180000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1998 mercedes benz ml320. the contact stated that the vehicle was being repaired by an independent mechanic for unrelated issues when she was informed that the ignition key needed to be replaced because it no longer functioned properly. the contact was not informed as to why the failure occurred. the key was not replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that in order to remedy the failure, the vehicle would need an entire new ignition system. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 180,000. | |||
| 05/09/2012 | 180000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1998 mercedes benz ml320. the contact stated that the vehicle was being repaired by an independent mechanic for unrelated issues when she was informed that the ignition key needed to be replaced because it no longer functioned properly. the contact was not informed as to why the failure occurred. the key was not replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that in order to remedy the failure, the vehicle would need an entire new ignition system. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 180,000. rvk | |||
| 03/06/2011 | 71000 | ||
| Car fails to start. we had this car towed to a dealer 40 miles away from our daughter's school in mi. needs new key system as chip not recognized and ignition system needs to be re-keyed. 8 keys have been issued to this car,(we bought it used). we only received 1 with our purchase! everything that needs a key has to be changed. cost estimated at $4000. we see this as a major design flaw, not a security benefit.especiallly since their keys just quit working. | |||
| 07/18/2008 | 125000 | 1 | |
| On my mercedes ml320, 1998 the key refuse to start the engine. i was told at plaza motors in st,. louis mo. that the car did not recognize the key any more. upon my research i found that it is common problem with the ml320 series which is an engineering problem on the part of the manufacturer especially the earlier once 1998-2000 and it will cause $6700.00 to fix. i will appreciate an investigation, it's so common that a lot of people are selling their cars because of this. *tr | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states vehicle stalled at highway speed. vehicle had to be towed. dealer stated that the electronic computer that controls the car was bad. *ak | |||
| 09/21/2000 | 1 | 08/01/2000 | |
| Was driving 70 mph on california freeway and vehicle stalled in the middle of traffic. emergency flashers failed to work & had no brake lights. radio was still working. vehicle was towed to dealer & mechanic indicated that relay switch needed to be replaced. having an engineer check vehicle over for cause of stalling.*ak the dealer changed variety of switches and the problem was solved. *yh | |||
| 01/21/1999 | |||
| While driving driver noticed that the air conditioner/power windows/power seats/power locks/signal lights and hazard lights would not function. right after that driver turned off the vehicle and it would not restart. the truck was towed to the dealership. the dealer could not detect what the problem was. the suv is being held at the dealership. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 07/17/2002 | 1 | ||
| The serpentine belt had broken while driving at 45mph and caused the engine to overheat. manufacturer was notified. *ak the consumer stated that after the investigation per garrett engineering, the vehicle was determined to have a crank shaft pulley failure which caused the other systems to fail. the belts, altenator, and the cooling systems failed as a result of the pulley failure. this part was supposed to be covered under the 80k warranty, but has not been honored. *scc | |||
| 06/25/2000 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Vehicle was in garage and it caught on fire. there was damage to garage. dealer said fire was due to defect in battery. *ak the cause of the fire was due to an electrical short circuit in the voltage regulator/alternator, the fire destroyed the vehicle and damaged the driveway and garage. *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| While driving vehicle at 55 mph battery light illuminated on dashboard, and smoke started to come from under the hood. dealer was notified.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 08/04/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Driveshaft broke. associated cable broke activating side airbag sensor. minor contusions.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 01/06/2006 | 80000 | 1 | 10/01/2004 |
| Car failed to start as key security chip not reconized. needs new key. towed to dealer who said 8 keys have already been issued to this car, must replace all locks, engine modules, etc cost $3600.00. consider this major design flaw. *jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 1 | 10/29/1997 | ||
| Engine computer failed. yh | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 77000 | 1 | ||
| Ignition lock failed, enabling key to be removed from ignition while in drive gear.*ak | |||
| 06/11/2001 | 2 | ||
| Ignition key did not work. had to use spare key in order to turn vehicle on.*ak consumer states without warning, at startup, while stopped, or moving, vehicle will stall, consumer states if you have a spare key, sometimes it will work. *slc | |||
| 10/01/1999 | 2 | 10/01/1998 | |
| Key lock problems, would not start due to key problems, would not start because of fuel pump failures, would not start due to gas tank problems, door lock assemblies move up and down by themselves, latch on hatch door rattled, rear seat belts rattle, oil out light came on at random times, engine check light on, last the fly-by wire gas pedal went to the floor with sudden acceleration causing an accident of the vehicle with $14,000 damage. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 10/10/2005 | 145000 | 100 | 02/25/1998 |
| Our 1998 mercedes m320 has been subject to unexpected stalling for some time. more recently this has increased in frequency and we have periods of loss (reduction) of power while driving. the dealer advises that we have deterioration of the catalytic converters and that there has been a recall for this problem on newer models of the m class - but not our year. we have the car at the dealer waiting for replacement parts. we are told it will be a number of weeks since the parts are in great demand. repairs will cost over $2,000 - but the car is clearly unsafe. most frequent stalls are starting at a light or stop sign. one concern is knowing this problem with model years just newer than ours are subject to recall while our year isn't. the other issue is how difficult it was for the dealer to identify the problem until it became very severe (or they learned of the solution due to the recall of other years. *jb | |||
| While driving on the highway vehicle caught on fire in the rear under the wheel well, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 97615 | 10 | 03/25/2002 |
| Laundry list of failures. jack has almost killed me while changing tire. vehicle fell, almost hitting me but catching side of vehicle before landing on me! hood latch has failed on a few occasions, causing hood to open while vehicle was in motion. air mass meter failed. has required 5 (five!) alignments in two years. when brought to dealer's attention, was told nothing was wrong. a month later requires another alignment. alignment problems causes wear on tires, which has caused hydroplaning and loss of control of vehicle. vehicle swerves uncontrollably when hits anything other than flat road. transfer case motor fixed by dealer without consulting. after repair, transfer case motor failed. dealer states owner responsible for costs. has had repair of harmonic balancer on front of engine due to excessive heat buildup leading to oil leak and failure of belt tensioner. window switches have failed twice and fixed at expense of owner. six different keys have failed @ the cost of $220/key. rear window defroster causes loss of stereo reception. rear window wiper motor has failed. front end makes noise.*ak | |||
| While driving vehicle at 55 mph battery light illuminated on dashboard, and smoke started to come from under the hood. dealer was notified.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 09/15/2002 | |||
| Consumer states while driving the electrical system failed, instrument panel went completely out. dealer notified 19 times problem reoccurred. please provide any additional information. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 97615 | 10 | 03/25/2002 |
| Laundry list of failures. jack has almost killed me while changing tire. vehicle fell, almost hitting me but catching side of vehicle before landing on me! hood latch has failed on a few occasions, causing hood to open while vehicle was in motion. air mass meter failed. has required 5 (five!) alignments in two years. when brought to dealer's attention, was told nothing was wrong. a month later requires another alignment. alignment problems causes wear on tires, which has caused hydroplaning and loss of control of vehicle. vehicle swerves uncontrollably when hits anything other than flat road. transfer case motor fixed by dealer without consulting. after repair, transfer case motor failed. dealer states owner responsible for costs. has had repair of harmonic balancer on front of engine due to excessive heat buildup leading to oil leak and failure of belt tensioner. window switches have failed twice and fixed at expense of owner. six different keys have failed @ the cost of $220/key. rear window defroster causes loss of stereo reception. rear window wiper motor has failed. front end makes noise.*ak | |||