Model year record

1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class recalls & problems

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has 4 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (2 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints5filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SteeringSep 17, 2008

Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections

Recall 08V465000125,228 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

SteeringMar 27, 2003

Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections

Recall 03V121000211,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
Fix: 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 AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Seat beltsNov 22, 1999

Front › Anchorage

Recall 99V32800085,970 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. IF THE PLASTIC COVER IS LOOSE DURING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUCKLE TONGUE TO THE LATCH MECHANISM, THE BUCKLE COULD UNLATCH.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IF EITHER THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

EquipmentMay 4, 1998

Other › Labels

Recall 98V09000042 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE LABELING REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION."
Risk: THE REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING WAS LISTED AS 3257 LB. INSTEAD OF 3527 LB. AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS LISTED AS 276 RATHER THAN 275. A CONSUMER COULD INCORRECTLY INFLATE THE TIRES OR IMPROPERLY LOAD THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OWNER'S HOME AND REMOVE THE NON-COMPLIANCE LABEL AND REPLACE THIS WITH A LABEL WHICH IS IN COMPLIANCE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
StructureBody › Door; Body › Roof and pillars	2	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys	2	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system	1	0	—
Power trainDriveline	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › DrivelineCrash
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR, SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I CRASHED INTO 2 CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT AND THE DAMAGE TO THE 3 CARS WAS SLIGHT BUMPER DAMAGE. I CALLED THE POLICE AND MADE A REPORT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE GARAGE THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON THE INTERNET THE CHECK FOR SIMILAR OCCURRENCES AND FOUND SEVERAL. MY CAR WAS A MERCEDES BENZ ML320 SUV. *TR
Sep 15, 1998 · 67,700 miles
Engine and engine cooling
NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS HARD TO STEER THAT MIGHT CAUSE INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. *AK
Aug 29, 2004 · 37,400 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
THE CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY OF MY MERCEDES ML 320 GAVE OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BELT STARTED TO BURN. I CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN HONOLULU, HI AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, DAN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PULLEY TO DATE AND THAT I SHOULD BRING MY ML 320 IN TO GET REPAIRED. DAN STATED THAT THE PULLEY MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PART THAT IS DAMAGED AND THAT THE COST COULD PROBABLY GO UP IN PRICE. I STATED THAT I HAD A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED. DAN INSISTED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY INTERNAL DAMAGES. AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED TO JUST PURCHASE THE PART AND HAVE MY MECHANIC FIX MY CAR BECAUSE MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY CAR THOROUGHY…
Mar 15, 2004
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
ON DECEMBER 29TH WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY ON I-77 NORTH IN VIRGINIA THE METAL SUNROOF WIND DEFLECTOR ON MY 1998 MERCEDES ML320 COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING BROKE OFF AND FLEW INTO THE PATH OF SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES. A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. MY ML320 IS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHOM SOLD ME THE CAR.
Dec 29, 2002 · 110,000 miles
Structure › Body › Door
REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED. YH
Feb 1, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKClosedLed to recall 08V465000
MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE AND CLAMP IN ALL VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL REMEDY FOR 03V-121 AND WHICH HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SUBSEQUENT REPAIR TO INSTALL A REVISED HOSE AND CLAMP.APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PROCEDURE AND PARTS RETURNED FOR SUBSEQUENT SERVICE FOR LEAKAGE FROM THE HOSE FITTING AND, IN APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT OF THESE VEHICLES, COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE HOSE FROM THE COOLER.A REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR 03V-121, WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE OLD HOSE AND CLAMP WITH MODIFIED PARTS, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY…
RQ08002 · opened Mar 11, 2008 · closed Sep 17, 2008
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREClosed
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE…
PE03058 · opened Dec 17, 2003 · closed Apr 22, 2004