2003 MERCEDES-BENZ M CLASS
3 recalls — 12 complaints — 3 TSBs
11V208000 Mar 31, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
Defect Description
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAK... Read more
Consequence
DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
08V465000 Sep 17, 2008
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Defect Description
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence
THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICL... Read more
03V121000 Mar 27, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Defect Description
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence
THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON ... Read more
Complaint Statistics
12 total complaints
1 crashes 2 fires 6 injuries
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Oct 17, 2011
Incident date: Oct 11, 2011
AFTER CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS WOBBLING AND THE BELT VIBRATING, I BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE, DOSE MINE STILL APPLIED TO THIS PROBLEM? IT IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS KIND OF REPAIR IS EXP... Read more
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Nov 3, 2010
Incident date: Sep 16, 2010
WHILE DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ENGINE STOPPED. DRIVER (NOT ME) WAS VERY SCARED AND SAID AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED AS SHE MANEUVERED TO BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT POWER AND NO POWER STEERING. SECOND OCCURRENCE OF SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING IN ... Read more
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Aug 14, 2007
Incident date: Jul 15, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE ENGAGED THE SEAT HEATER. THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS. HE POURED WATER OVER THE SEATS AND THE SPARKS STOPPED. THE SEAT HEA... Read more
Fire
2 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 14, 2007
Incident date: Jul 15, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE ENGAGED THE SEAT HEATER. THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS. HE POURED WATER OVER THE SEATS AND THE SPARKS STOPPED. THE SEAT HEA... Read more
Fire
2 injured
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Mar 14, 2006
Incident date: Mar 12, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH GOING AROUND A CURVE THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND THEN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL #03V121000 FOR THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTIONS. THE H... Read more
SEATS
May 13, 2005
Incident date: May 13, 2005
- NO PRECURSORS OR APPARENT DAMAGE - DRIVERS SEAT HEATER FAILED RESULTING IN STRONG BURNING SMELL, AND SUPERFICIAL BURN TO LEFT UPPER LEG OF DRIVER
1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
May 13, 2005
Incident date: May 13, 2005
- NO PRECURSORS OR APPARENT DAMAGE - DRIVERS SEAT HEATER FAILED RESULTING IN STRONG BURNING SMELL, AND SUPERFICIAL BURN TO LEFT UPPER LEG OF DRIVER
1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2004
Incident date: Apr 1, 2004
ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MY 2003 ML500 MERCEDES - BENZ COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE THERE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE BUT IT ... Read more
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 4, 2004
Incident date: Feb 25, 2004
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SUV "JAMMED" WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. THE SUV WAS PREVIOUSLY MAKING SUDDEN JUMPS WHILE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMIS... Read more
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Jan 28, 2004
Incident date: Jan 20, 2004
HELLO, I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MERCEDES ML500 TRUCK FROM MILLENNIUM IN BRIDGEWATER, NJ 908-685-0800. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CONDENSATION BUILD IN IT ALL THE TIMES. WHILE THE DEALER SYMPTHISES WITH ME, THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE IT B... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 30, 2003
Incident date: Oct 30, 2003
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 ML 350 DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY SALE FROM OUR LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER IN IOWA CITY, IA. THE SUV SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. INITIALLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE SUV HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. EACH TIME, THE DAY AFTER I RECEI... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Sep 16, 2003
Incident date: Sep 7, 2003
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE (WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN STRAPPED IN THE BACK), WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CEMENT MEDIAN, AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM SICK THINKING WHAT COULD OF HAPPENE... Read more
Crash
Technical Service Bulletins — 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ M CLASS
3 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| 015200 STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
TB-46-30-13-B
Feb 15, 2013
015200 STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
MERCEDES: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP SHOULD BE REPLACE, UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAKAGE FROM CONNECTION TO POWER STEERING COOLER. MODELS 1998-2003 163.154,
424562
May 16, 2005
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ESP LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT
805732
Feb 7, 2005
061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE WILL NOT START AND FAULT MESSAGE START ERROR APPEARS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT
MERCEDES-BENZ M CLASS — All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the MERCEDES-BENZ M CLASS across all model years (1998–2008).
28
Total Recalls
93
Total Complaints
0
Investigations
6
Reported Crashes
3
Reported Fires
0
Reported Deaths