1999 Mercedes Benz M Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other M Class years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercedes Benz M Class. That ranks 2nd out of 11 M Class model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (6 complaints, 33%), typically at around 115,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 18owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Mercedes Benz M Class problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 6 | 33% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 22% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 17% | 94,112 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 17% | 160,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 17% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 11% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 6% | 100,100 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 6% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 6% | 100,100 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 6% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Mercedes Benz M Class recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Problem: 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 braking the vehicle enough to reach a certain rate of deceleration. Mercedes-benz has determined that under certain circumstances use of the brake pedal may not automatically disengage cruise control as expected by the driver, although the other means of deactivating cruise control remain fully operative. Specifically, where the driver pumps the brakes rather than applying consistent pedal force, the level of force required may be unusually high.
Risk: Difficulty or delay in disengaging cruise control can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
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.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
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 belts:front:anchorage
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake line chafe (EA08009) — opened Apr 28, 2008, closed Dec 16, 2009.
- Power steering hose leak (RQ08002) — opened Mar 11, 2008, closed Sep 17, 2008, led to recall 08V465000.
- Engine crankshaft pulley failure (PE03058) — opened Dec 17, 2003, closed Apr 22, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Driving on tappan zee bridge near nyc and slowed down to approx 15 mph for toll booth and tried to accelerate out of the tolls. The vehicle was very loud and would not accelerate. It almost sounded like i was driving over rumble strips and i almost crashed trying to pull over as the ez-pass is all…
Nhtsa campaign 99v328000. Seat belt buckle recall. Seat belt buckle even after the recall inspection and replacement is defective, the connection in between metal spring and plastic is unsafe and unsafe, it is made out of cheap plastic, eventually plastic will fail and seat belt will unlatch. It…
My 1999 mercedes ml320 stalled in traffic on the interstate. I had it towed to the dealer who replaced the crankshaft position sensor which showed a marginal problem. We picked up the car and brought to the attention of the manager that the "check engine" was illuminated. He said that was because…
Tire almost no tread after 31,000 miles warranty for 65,000 miles. *tr
When trying to turn my vehicle from a parking lot, there was a sudden leakage of power steering fluid and the steering wheel became so hard to turn. The car was not in drivable condition and i towed it to my nearest service station. After diagnosis, power steering hose and clamp were replaced and…
Other Mercedes Benz M Class years
← 1998 M Class · 2000 M Class →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 M Class | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 M Class | 1 | 2 |
| 2007 M Class | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 M Class | 14 | 2 |
| 2004 M Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 M Class | 10 | 3 |
| 2002 M Class | 5 | 5 |
| 2001 M Class | 5 | 4 |
| 2000 M Class | 25 | 5 |
| 1999 | 18 | 4 |
| 1998 M Class | 5 | 4 |
See all Mercedes Benz M Class problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mercedes Benz M Class?
Owners most often report steering, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Mercedes Benz M Class?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Mercedes Benz M Class a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M Class model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.