What 66 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-benz Ml-class

Steering wheel tilt adjustment failed. Without adjustment it is impossible to steer the automobile safely due to hand placement for control. This is apparent especially when there are multiple drivers. There is not a manual over ride since the system is controled electrically

NHTSA ODI 11496940

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ ML250. THE CONTACT WAS TOWING AN UNKNOWN TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED ALL 4 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE SUSTAINED A BRUISE FROM THE SEAT BELT BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICINAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TOW COMPANY WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340376

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED STEERING HORIZONTALLY ON THE RIGHT. CAR WAS AUTO CONTROLLED AND OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND AND STEER. I GOT INTO A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING CAR CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11129683

I BELIEVE WITH MY HEART AND SOUL MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE WAS KILLED DUE TO FAILURE OF VEHICLE IN MOTION AND LOST ALL CONTROL.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11090969

THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN A STRONG SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK, AFTER STARTING THE CAR, IT DISPLAYS A WARNING MESSAGE LIGHT ON THE DASH; IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND A SQUEALING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IMMEDIATELY MBRACE WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHOUT WARRANTY AND AT MY OWN COST. THEY ACCUSED ME THAT THE CAR MUST BE INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT/ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CAR TO HAVE SUFFERED A HEAVY BLOW, OR TO HAVE GONE INTO A HOLE, OR TO CLIMB A HIGH SIDEWALK, ETC. WITHOUT A SIGN OF DAMAGE; THE DAMAGE PIECE (STEERING GEAR) IS LOCATED IN A PLACE THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH WITHOUT THE CAR SUFFERING A HEAVY IMPACT, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL DAMAGE BELOW, OR IN THE TIRE, BUMPER, RIM, OR ANY OTHER PART, EVEN THE AIR BAGS. THE CAR EXTERNALLY INCLUDING EACH SINGLE PART, IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. THIS DAMAGE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING THAT I DID WRONG; MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURE, AND I CAN'T NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS. THE MB USA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY INSIST THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OR MY CAR INSURANCE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE MONETARILY OF THIS SITUATION, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO ME AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. IT HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES APPROX. AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAND AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IF A DEFECTIVE DRIVING PART IN THE STEERING GEAR EXISTS IN THE VEHICLE, THAT CAUSES IT TO BREAK DURING NORMAL VEHICLE TURNING, THE NORMALLY AVAILABLE HYDRAULIC SUPPORT FUNCTION WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION AND STEERING WHEEL OPERATION WILL BE LIMITED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10947483

ROLLAWAY INCIDENT DUE TO AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTOR MOUNTED ON STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676372