GaugeMan

The power steering on my wife's '00 ML320 (65k miles) failed last night. Looks like fluid might be leaking out.

Is this a common problem to the ML or just a random thing? I am pretty surprised it failed, especially since the ML gets regularly serviced at the dealer according to the owner's manual schedule and is not driven hard by my wife.

Any thoughts?

Matt

jswedberg

I have not heard anyone on these forums having this problem before.

Maybe your just lucky !!

timdf

but normally easily fixed assuming it's the usual hydraulic hose popping off.
If so your service dept should have been aware and tweaked the clamps a little tighter in anticipation of this problem.
Not a big deal - just annoying.

Tim

andaya

It's your pulley, that holds your belt together, don't, I mean don't drive any further cuz you'll do more damage. Call the MB car service and they'll tow it. Mine cost around $200, and plus had to stay an extra day in LA

Andaya

shoobie

that happened to our '00 ML430 a few hours after the dealership (MB of San Diego) worked on our brakes:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...light=steering

that was a few months ago. now, we just had the Service B performed, and now the tranny shifting is terrible. going to a different dealership (Hoehn) to get it looked at...

GaugeMan

We have one of the best dealers around. They sent a technician out who fixed it right in our driveway for no charge. This is an ML320 with more than 65k miles on it. Did the same thing when the fuel pump went at 55k (actually, that time they came with a flat bad and left a loaner car, took the ML to the dealer, and delivered it back the next day, all at no charge).

This is the kind if dealer who has earned my business for life. If only more of them were like this.

Matt

Ron-OKC

My 2001 ML 320 had a power steering crisis. The clamp on the hose broke and dumped the fluid. My dealer said this is a faulty clamp and they have replaced several (using a new and better clamp).

C43BlkAMG

My 1999 ML 430 had a power steering crisis. In trying to steer the car to avoid an accident, my hand slipped and busted the signal arm. Was told the hose clamp had popped due to cold weather and fluid pressure.

Laszlo

Cold weather my ***... first time it failed was in FL summer. 100 degrees and it popped the hose off from the radiator. Hose and pump replaced. 7k and 6 months later, again in WV while on ski trip ! Towing 800+ USD for MB and also an extra night at the resort, 300usd plus new hose and pump again ! 2nd time in 6 months !!!

This is a serious problem and MB should address it quickly.. . My friend has a 99 ML430 and he had it done 3 times ! An another co-worker's 99 ML430 had it fixed 3 times also !

Horrible thing to happen on a twisty road or in city driving or even on highway. THis is a re-call type of problem IMO.

Laszlo

Ron in SC

The clamp fitted at the factory is not defective. It just can not to the job, in others words Mercedes used the wrong clamp.

I think it can not be tightened sufficiently, so my dealer changes them to a different and better type of clamp when they have ML's in for service. I'm not sure if all ML's have the clamp that can not be sufficiently tightened, I know my 99 did.

C43BlkAMG

I think it can not be tightened sufficiently, so my dealer changes them to a different and better type of clamp when they have ML's in for service. I'm not sure if all ML's have the clamp that can not be sufficiently tightened, I know my 99 did. [/B][/QUOTE]

"In for service". I have had service records the length of my arm prior to this problem!

slcvr6

Funny story, my dad's 3 yr old SLK with 2000 miles needed to get towed in for service, due to a dead battery about 6 weeks ago. The tow driver shows up and sees my ML and immediately starts to prepare to load it on the roll back. I ran out and steered him to the back of the house where the SLK was waiting.

Once to the back of the house he indicated that he had been towing at least 2 MLs a week for some 6 months, he was dead serious. He said that almost every single one had the power steering fluid leaking. He highly recommended I check my lines.

No kidding, not 3 days later...puddle...simply amazing.

Vos

Happened to me on a Friday night in 100 degree weather. Managed to get it back on after dinner and with the engine having cooled down. The issue isn't to much the clamp IMO. The connection to the radiator should be of a diffenrent type, check the rack side, much better solution. The rubber of the hose is too soft and the OD of the hose "shrinks" making the clamp too large for the job. Just more poor enginerring on the ML. Been free issues for 9 month now though :-)