1998 Mercedes Benz M Class: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class. The newest campaign is 08V465000. NHTSA received the report on 17 Sep 2008. The NHTSA record gives the component Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections. NHTSA has 5 complaints on file for this model year. 2 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 08V465000, in the NHTSA record

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.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 422,240 units in total.

08V46500017 Sep 2008Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections
03V12100027 Mar 2003Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections
99V32800022 Nov 1999Seat Belts / Front / Anchorage
98V0900004 May 1998Equipment / Other / Labels

08V465000Received 17 Sep 2008. 125,228 units.
Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.. Manufacturer campaign number 2003040005. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Nov 2008.
03V121000Received 27 Mar 2003. 211,000 units.
Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The loss of power steering fluid may result in diminished power steering over time and ultimately can damage the power steering pump.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.. Manufacturer campaign number 2003-040005. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 16 Jun 2003.
99V328000Received 22 Nov 1999. 85,970 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Anchorage
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 Dec 2000.
98V090000Received 4 May 1998. 42 units.
Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The certification label on these vehicles fail to comply with the labeling requirements of part 567, "certification."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jun 1998.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

5 complaints, 6 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1998 Mercedes Benz M Class: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Structure		2
Engine and Engine Cooling		2
Steering		1
Power Train		1

Complaints that report a crash: 1
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 18 Oct 2009

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2004, with 2 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
RQ08002	Recall query	POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK	Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist / Hose, Piping, and Connections	11 Mar 2008	17 Sep 2008	08V465000
PE03058	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE	Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Gasoline / Belts and Associated Pulleys	17 Dec 2003	22 Apr 2004

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1998 Mercedes Benz M ClassThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/mercedes-benz/m-class/1998/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class?: 422,240 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Mercedes Benz M Class have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the Mercedes Benz M Class, model years 1998 to 2009. 4 of them name the 1998 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class name most often?: Structure: 2 of 6 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1998 Mercedes Benz M Class open?: No. Each of the 2 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.