42 of the
273 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz GL450
are about the seats —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, he felt a sharp pinch coming from the driver’s side seat. Upon further inspection, the contact’s husband noticed an abnormal hole with smoke coming from the driver’s side seat. There was no visible fire present. No medical attention was sought. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #11640374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH in the rain, there was an abnormal smoke odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then started filling up with smoke. The contact checked and became aware that the back of the front driver's seat was on fire. The contact was able to pull over and extinguish the fire with his hand. The contact sustained a little burn to his hand, but medical attention was not sought. The Fire Department was not contacted. Neither a Police nor Fire report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 59,050.
NHTSA complaint #11528145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON NOVEMBER 17, 2020, I TURNED MY DRIVER SEAT HEATER AND SUDDENLY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES DRIVING I DECIDED TO TURN OF THE HEATER, THE BURNING SENSATION ON MY BACK WAS INTENSE. ONCE I PARKED, I NOTICED A HOLE IN MY SEAT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER! I CHECKED MY CLOTHING AND NOTICED IT MELTED THE ELASTIC PART AT THE BOTTOM MY JACKET.
NHTSA complaint #11375272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND HER COAT. AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO MOTORCARS BETHESDA (7020 ARLINGTON RD, BETHESDA, MD 20814, (301) 986-8800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #11280289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEATING ELEMENT IN DRIVERS SIDE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY. WILL ONLY COVER 25% OF A 1400$ REPAIR. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #11206247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES GL 450. CONTACT LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALL FOR VEHICLE.MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 99,801. CONTACT WAS GOING 66MPH AT TIME WHEN DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT FIREAND CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. MERCEDES HEATED SEATS RECALL FOR SEAT OVERHEATING AND HOLE BURNING IN DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN
NHTSA complaint #11064425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 2007 MERCEDES GL450 WITH MY WIFE, AFTER DRIVING FOR 1 MILES FROM OUR HOME WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING I FELT BURN AT MY BACK AND THEN MY WIFE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE SEATS, WE STOPED THE CAR AND SAW DRIVE SEAT WAS BURNING AND MADE A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN THE SEAT, I TALKED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE. EVEN NOW IF I TURN IT ON IT WILL CATCH FIRE -
NHTSA complaint #11053815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE DRIVING ON SAN VICENTE BLVD IN BEVERLY HILLS, MY HUSBAND IN THE DRIVER SEAT TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATERS IN OUR SUV AND ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER WE STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING AND COULD NOT RIGHT AWAY DISTINGUISH WHERE THE PUTRID SMELL ORIGINATED FROM. MOMENTS LATER THE CABIN STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE AND THE FUMES BECOME UNBEARABLE WHICH MADE US, MYSELF, HUSBAND AND OUR 1.5YR OLD COUGH. MY HUSBAND NOTICED HIS SEAT WAS HOTTER THAN USUAL, AND QUICKLY REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT THE FUMES AND SMOKE WERE COMING FROM AND QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE HEATER. WE STOPPED THE CAR, JUMPED OUT, I GRABBED MY SON FROM THE BACK SEAT AND WE FOUND A BURNT HOLE IN THE DRIVER SEAT!!
NHTSA complaint #10986060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2 COMPLAINTS -1 I WAS DRIVING W/OUT A COAT ON & TURNED THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER ON. THEN I STARTED FEELING A SHARP, STINGING PAIN ON MY BACK AND STARTED SMELLING THE BURNING OF WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SEAT. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A STINGING OR BITING INSECT OFF MY BACK. ONCE I REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT HEATER, I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF, ONLY TO FIND I NOW HAVE A HOLE IN MY SEAT. IF MERCEDES KNOWS THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AS I HAVE COME TO READ HERE, THEY SHOULD WARN PEOPLE NOT TO USE THE HEATERS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND AVOID HAVING A HOLE IN THE SEAT OR REPLACE THE SEAT AND HEATER. #2 THE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SHOCK CRASHED ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR. MY CAR SAT IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH WAITING FOR MERCEDES TO REENGINEER THE AIR SHOCK. FINALLY, THEY TOLD US TO BUY AN AFTERMARKET AND THEY WOULD INSTALL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER REAR OF THE CAR WOULDN'T LEVEL AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR SO THAT WAS REPLACED. BUT STILL THE REAR WAS UNEVEN SO THEY REPLACED BOTH REAR SHOCKS AND STILL THE CAR WOULDN'T LEVEL. THEN THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME IT WAS THE FRONT AFTERMARKET AND THEY NOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR WAS A 2007 SO WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT. I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER AND INSTEAD TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP. THEY REPLACED A SENSOR FOR A MINIMAL CHARGE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #10855376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, I TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER. LESS THAN THREE MINUTES LATER, I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR FOLLOWED BY A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND HEAT COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR. I FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING POKING ME IN THE LEFT REAR POCKET OF MY PANTS, AND BURNED THE BACK OF MY KNUCKLE CHECKING FOR THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE HEATER AND PULLED OFF AT THE FIRST SAFE LOCATION. I EXITED THE VEHICLE (A PALL OF SMOKE FOLLOWED ME) AND KNOCKED THE SMOKING EMBERS OUT OF THE VEHICLE (A HOLE LARGER THAN A QUARTER IS BURNED IN THE SEAT). I ALSO NOTICED A HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH MY PANTS. APPARENTLY, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL INJURY, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT OF POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SCHEDULED THE CAR FOR NEXT MONDAY. RESEARCHING INTO THE ISSUE, MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AND COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA. OBVIOUSLY, THESE SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE, MERCEDES IS AWARE, THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NEXT AND IS NOT SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10839320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING ON SEAT WARMERS, THE CAR SMELLED OF A BURNING SMELL AND I FELT A VERY HOT SPOT ON MY BACK. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMERS TO FIND A HOLE BURNED INTO THE LEATHER. ALL OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF 2007 MB GL-450.
NHTSA complaint #10734182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE SEAT WHILE THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE OFF AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10717306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S CLOTHING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10689643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAD LEFT THE HOME - DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AT 20 MILES AN HOUR WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE - IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WE HAD A BABY IN THE CAR, WERE TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD IN ASPEN. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH SNOW FROM A SNOW BANK (WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS IN THE SUMMER?). THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN OUR CAR SEAT NOW AND OBVIOUSLY - WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THE SEAT HEATERS. I SEE FROM THE REPORTS HERE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH THE SAME VEHICLE -- THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DONE FOR THIS ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE AS SOMEONE MAY BE INJURED SEVERELY IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10682722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY TO AN AFTERNOON LUNCH ON THE 5TH OF DECEMBER, 2014, THE DAY WAS CHILLY AND IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE HEATED SEATS ON... AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE AREA (IT WAS ACTUALLY MY SEAT LIGHTING ME ON FIRE), NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I LOOKED FOR A SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER AND IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD MY SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND LIT ON FIRE. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RIP OF MY JACKET AND PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING SECTION OF IT. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STILL SMOKING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ABOUT TO GO UP IN FLAMES, AT THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUR 2 YEAR OLD TWINS OUT OF THE VEHICLE I GOT BACK TO THE CAR TO TURN IT OFF AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SCENE I FOUND THE HEATED SEAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED IN SOME MANNER AND BURNED A NICE HOLE IN THE SEAT WHICH IN RETURN LIT MY JACKET ON FIRE. I WILL GET IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE FUSE TAKEN OUT AND MAKE THE HEATED SEATS INOPERABLE NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES.
NHTSA complaint #10662961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND HIP WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PAM UPDATED 4/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE CONSUMER DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. UPDATED 10/23/2015
NHTSA complaint #10662794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND HIP WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PAM UPDATED 4/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE CONSUMER DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. UPDATED 10/23/2015
NHTSA complaint #10662794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS IN MY 2007 MERCEDES GL450 AND HAD DRIVEN APPROX. 2 MILES WITH MY FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON. I STARTED TO NOTICE A STRANGE SMELL AND SUDDENLY THE CABIN WAS STARTING TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK OF MY FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WAS ON FIRE. SNOW WAS ON THE GROUND SO I SCOOPED UP SNOW TO PACK IN THE FIRE/HOT SPOT WHICH HAD BURNED A LARGE HOLE THROUGH THE VINYL AND INSIDE PADDING MATERIAL. I LATER NOTICED THAT MY JACKET HAD BURN MARKS AND A HOLE IN THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE POINT OF THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10658757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT POWER CONTROL BUTTON FAILED TO LOCK THE SEAT IN PLACE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CONTROL STILL HAD THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10655110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SEAT HEATERS OVER HEATED CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,690.
NHTSA complaint #10652802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.