27 of the 1,087 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz ML320 are about the seats — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
27
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
8
Fires
SEATS
SEAT BACK WARMER OVERHEATS/BURNS SMALL BURN - THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT SEAT WARMER BURNED A WHOLE THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND THROUGH MY WIFE JACKET CAUSING A SMALL BURN ABOVE HER LEFT LEG. BASICALLY A THERMAL INCIDENT IN WHICH THE SEAT HAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVER. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10846208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
AFTER BEING ON FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED RESULTING IN A STRONG BURNING SMELL, BURN MARK ON THE CAR SEAT AND A RED BURN MARK ON MY BOTTOM. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO BE VERY HOT EVEN WHEN TURNED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10373435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER HEATED SEAT BACK CUSHION BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEATBACK AND DRIVER'S COAT CAUSING HER TO SWERVE OFF ROAD ... NO COLLISION. CAR HAS 23,000 MILES AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN A MILE BEFORE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10368637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT TRIED TO REMOVE ONE OF THE REAR SEATS IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE BOLTS ROTATED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE FAILURE CONFIRMED THAT THE BOLTS WERE IMPROPERLY WELDED. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED HIM TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000. UPDATED 03/09/10 *BF UPDATED 04/29/10.
NHTSA complaint #10305232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVING 2002 MERCEDES ML320. SMELLED BURNING. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND FOUND NO SMELL. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, I NOTICED A BURNED SPOT ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. CORRESPONDING BURN MARK WAS ON MY BACK LEFT PANT POCKET. I TURNED OF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE PROBLEM HAS STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10293230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
ON 2/16/09 WHILE OUT DRIVING WE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR INSIDE OUR 2007 ML320CDI JUST AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. WE LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS BURNING AND FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. THE ODOR WAS GONE BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE. WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS AND NO ODORS UNTIL 2/21/09. ON THIS DAY WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS MY HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, CLOSED THE DOOR WHILE I REMAINED IN THE CAR AND I SAW THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK (NEAR THE DRIVER'S DOOR) START SMOKING. THE ELECTRIC HEATED SEATS WERE ON AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEAT TO THE SEATS AND THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THERE WAS A BURN HOLE, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL, IN THE SEAT CUSHION. ON MONDAY I CALLED OUR MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT DO NOT USE THE HEATED SEATS UNTIL THEY CAN MAKE A REPAIR. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3/5/09. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THEY HAVE SEEN SOME PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE SEAT BOTTOMS, BUT NOT THE SEAT BACK. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE REPAIRED VEHICLE ON 3/6/09. ON 3/6/09 WE WERE CALLED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND TOLD THE SEAT BACK HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR THEM TO RECEIVE IT. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 3/6/09 AND ARE WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE BURNING SEAT, BUT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE LEATHER. THE THICK, WHITE SMOKE FILLED THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND THE SMELL WAS AWFUL. THE SEAT WAS NOT JUST SMOLDERING, IT WAS BURNING, ALTHOUGH I NEVER SAW FLAMES, IT WAS LIKE A TOASTER GLOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10261009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. I HAVE 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320, AND FEW MONTHS AGO ONCE I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED BURNING AND IT BURNT MY LEATHER SEAT, MY PANT AND MY SKIN. I JUST HAVE 58,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I HAVE HEARD THAT MANY OTHER ML OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, I THINK MERCEDES MUST RECALL ALL THIS MLS , AND THEY MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM. OR IF THEY DON'T RECALL, THEN GOVERNMENT MUST FORCE THEM TO RECALL THIS VEHICLES FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME IF MERCEDES-BENZ GIVE ANY RECALL. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10239529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
REAR SEATS DO NOT FOLD DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10214573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
REAR SEATS DO NOT FOLD DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10214573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
1. DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME ON 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML 320 WITH 91,500 MILES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK BACKWARDS ON ITS TRACKWAY. 2. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TAKE IT TO A SERVICING MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER. 3. SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPLACED LEFT FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY, PART # 16391051779108 WHICH HAD CRACKED AND FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE OR STRESS. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO REPLACE PART UNDER COMPANY EXTENDED WARRANTY (100K MILE WARRANTY).
NHTSA complaint #10156545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEATED SEAT COILS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED UP AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CLOTHING BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10148046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATED SEAT IN MY 2003 MERCEDES ML320 BURNED THROUGH MY LEATHER SEATS AND LEAVING A SMALL MARK ON MY LEFT THIGH. MY INJURY HEALED; HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A BURNT MARK ON MY SEAT. AFTER EXPLAINING IT TO MERCEDES AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE, BOTH DECIDED TO HELP ME STATING IT WAS A COSMETIC DEFECT. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DRIVER SIDE SEAT THAT HAS 3 CM HOLE IN IT ALONG WITH HEATED SEATS THAT MERCEDES SUGGEST THAT I SHOULD NEVER TURN ON, EVEN THOUGH I PAID EXTRA FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #10144571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
CHILD WAS ON THE BACK SEAT IN A CAR SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK SEAT CAME FORWARD HITTING HER LEGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10140778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES ML320, WHILE I WAS DRIVING W/THE HEATED SEATS ON I STARTED TO NOTICE A BURNING ODOR. THE ODOR GOT STRONGER & IT SMELT LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I NOTICED MY REAR WAS STARTING TO GET A TAD TOO WARM SO I PUT MY HAND DOWN ON THE SEAT & ALMOST BURN MY HAND. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER & CALLED MERCEDES THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO ARRANGE FOR SERVICE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MERCEDES THE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT & THAT A GENTLEMENS SUIT HAD BEEN REPLACED B/C IT BURNT THROUGH HIS CLOTHING. I ASKED WHY MERCEDES HAD NOT PUT OUT A RECALL & HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CHEAPER TO JUST REPLACE THE ONE'S WITH PROBLEMS. MY SEATS WHERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE & THE OLD ONE'S DISCARDED BY MERCEDES.
NHTSA complaint #10129270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAVE A 2002 MERCEDES ML320. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS ON, IT STARTED TO SMOKE, WAS VERY HOT IN ONE SPOT, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF MELTING THE LEATHER. THE HEATER HAD ONLY BEEN ON FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. COULD ALSO FEEL AN ELECTRICAL PULSING, LIKE A CURRENT AT THE SIGHT.WE PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, FOR FEAR OF IT STARTING ON FIRE. CONTACTED BLACK FOREST MOTORS THE NEXT DAY, THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT WE COULD ORDER A NEW SEAT AT OUR COST. THIS TOOK PLACE ON 1-27-05. ON 2-8-5, IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, THERE IS AN ARTICLE OF THIS HAPPENING IN 2003 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10110075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE EVENT OCURRED SO QUICKLY AND WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT UPHOLSTERY AND A VERY HEAVY PAIR OF DENIM JEANS I WAS WEARING ALMOST IMEDIATELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE PRETTY MUCH OBVIOUS AND COULD RANGE FROM SEVERE BURNS, TO THE VEHICLE BURNING TO CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SPONTANEOUS HAPPENING. NO RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES BENZ TO DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10102096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
I OWN 2001 MB ML320; THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT PLASTIC FRAME KEEPS BREAKING CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES AND THEY HAVE FIXED IT, HOWEVER, TODAY THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT SINCE IT IS NOT "TOTALLY CRACKED" THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I AM ABOUT TO CROSS 50,000.00 MILE WARRANTY AND THAT IS A REAL REASON WHY MY DEALER: KNAUZ CONTINENTAL AUTOS IN LAKA BLUFF, ILLINOIS IS NO LONGER WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FRAMING CRACKS ARE MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT IS WHY IT KEEPS BREAKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND E-MAIL PICTURES TO WHOEVER WILL BE WORKING ON THIS CASE. THE DEALER IS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE END OF WARRANTY AND NOT TELL ME THAT ITS NOT "TOTALLY CRACKED". PLEASE RESPOND: VIN: [XXX]. *AK PLEASE ASSIST WITH THIS CASE. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10100786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10100529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A NEWER MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10094747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS BEING SERVICED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER AND CAUSED DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH SIDES OF THE DOORS WERE SMASHED AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, ENGINE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WINDOWS WERE ERRATIC WHEN GOING DOWN, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REAR CARGO ACCESSORY PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TRIM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT CRACKED, THERE WAS A BULDGE ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, LUG BOLTS WERE MISSING ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND THE REAR PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A NOISE HEARD IN THE REAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE POWER SUPPLY PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LIGHT BEHIND THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INTERMITTENT, THE LEFT FRONT PARK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING DUE TO THE LATCHING, THE REAR ELECTRICAL PLUG IN THE REAR CARGO AREA WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MATERIAL ON THE CENTER CONSOLE WRINKLED, THE SUNROOF WOULD BIND WHEN OPENED, THE REAR TIRE HAD A KNOT ON THE SIDEWALL, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD GO DOWN, THERE WAS A NOISE IN HE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WAS STIFF.
NHTSA complaint #10065115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.