GLE - power steering sudden failure

GLE - power steering sudden failure

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Discussion

smokey12

Original Poster:

44 posts

178 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
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My wife has a 2017 [we bought it in 2018] GLE 250 with 20K miles on the clock. We were driving, locally, yesterday, on a typical Cornish B road when, without warning, the steering locked up and a red warning sign appeared saying "power steering failure....consult owners handbook". The first part was obvious, the second part impossible as I wrestled with the steering.
Fortunately, a nearside layby was only 10m ahead and I managed to slow and fight the car into it.
I'd hate to think of the possible consequences of that happening with my wife driving, on the M5 with our granddaughter in the back.
MB recovered the car to our local dealership, diagnosed a new steering rack as being necessary and, without even starting the conversation, advised MB would cover 75% of the cost! [we have a non-Merc warranty that I didn't mention immediately].
Before I start writing pre-action letters [I'm a lawyer], has anyone within this section of the Forum ever had this issue? To my mind, it is a catastrophic failure - hence MB's stance - where the repercussions could have been far worse, possibly lethal.

Scrump

22,940 posts

165 months

Thursday 22nd July 2021
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Doesn’t sound good, glad to hear you managed to get the car off the road safely.
Mercedes immediately offering that level of contribution towards the repair implies to me that this is a known/common fault. I have not heard of it before though scratchchin

Old Merc

3,560 posts

174 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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Perhaps there was a recall to fix the fault? Your car could have missed it.

Bbll074

1 posts

23 months

Friday 9th December 2022
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Our 2015 GLE 250 (65K miles) had been parked in the driveway for three weeks without being driven while on holiday. Came back and started the car but could not turn the steering wheel. The AA found that the power steering pump had parted from the steering rod. Vehicle recovered to Mercedes Teesside who gave a repair estimate of £4500 for a new steering rod assembly. Contacted Mercedes who will not partly fund the repair.

The dealer stated they have never seen such failure (and cannot offer an explanation as to how i5 could happen to a stationary car).

Disappointing that Mercedes is so dismissive.