2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. Consumer writes in regards to cracked exhaust system and cracked catalytic converter. The consumer stated the vehicle was visually inspected and documented that recall repair was completed. No repairs were made.

- Cape May Court House, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 03V121000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections) and had the necessary repairs performed by the dealer. However, she continued to experience failures with the power steering fluid leaking. The steering wheel became more difficult to turn over time. On a separate occasion, she received a second recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08V465000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections). The dealer stated that the hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler needed to be replaced at the cost of $1,200. The dealer stated that it would be pointless to repair the vehicle according to the recall when additional components were affected as a result of the steering failure. The initial recall stated that consumers who had repairs made before November 23, 2003 could possibly have the hose replaced, if found defective. The contact had repairs made prior to that date. She also experienced failures with the catalytic converter and the check engine indicator continued to illuminate on the instrument panel. After the repairs were made, the check engine indicator continued to illuminate. The dealer could not duplicate the failure and stated that it was not related to the power steering. The failure mileage was 87,582 and current mileage was 190,000.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Caused by a re-call catalytic converters have been on order since October 17, 2005. My vehicle is has not been legally drivable for now two weeks. The one of the cats is totally open causing un-muffled exhaustion. After attempts from both the dealer and the importer, Mercedes Benz usa to blame the other part or their supplier and after several promises, I hope this complaint will have an impact. I need the use of the vehicle.

- Princeton, NJ, USA

This vehicle is under a federal recall for the catalytic converter. According to a service technician, this part is on back order and the dealer and manufacturer have been out of stock of the part for more than a month. No one can seem to give me and other owners a delivery date on the part. Meanwhile, I am driving a vehicle that sounds like a harley davidson motorcycle and like it is about to fall apart! I have been experiencing this problem for more than a month and it gets worse every week that I continue to drive it. I cannot afford to park my vehicle at the dealer as other owners of Ml320S have done. How can a federal recall be issued and the dealer/manufacturer not be prepared?

- Prairieville, LA, USA

The check engine light has been staying on since purchase of vehicle on March 20, 2004. The vehicle stalled intermittently since March of 2005. It happened when trying to start the vehicle from a cold start. The contact stated that he will have to leave it running for five to ten minutes before it will start. Also, it will stall when trying to accelerate. Had a diagnostics test run on the vehicle and it showed a problem with the mass oxygen sensors, mass air flow sensors, and something else that he was not sure off. They replaced the mass oxygen sensors. This helped the problem a little, but, the problem recurred.. also, there was a problem with the window switch console. It started in February 2005, and had it replaced. The catalytic converter weld completely separated. The problem started in December 2004. Complete separation happened in April of 2005. The contact had them welded back together.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

There is a crack in the catalytic converter. It was leaking carbon monoxide. When driving with the windows closed the consumer was getting carbon monoxide poisoning. The problem first started in June of 2005. The crack occurred sometime before this. There was a rattling noise coming from the vehicle on September 12, 2005, and on September 15, 2005 the mechanic discovered a leak in the right one. Both catalytic converters cracked. The consumer found that there has been a problem with this type of vehicle concerning catalytic converters. The consumer was concerned that she was not made aware of this issue. The consumer experienced nausea, dizziness and sleepiness while driving the vehicle in July, August and Sept 2005. After the catalytic converter was replaced all of the consumer's symptoms disappeared. A carbon monoxide detector was installed in the vehicle on 9/15/05.

- Greeley, CO, USA