62 of the
651 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz ML350
are about the seats —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving the front driver seat caught on fire while the seat heater was on. The contact stated that the back part of the seat was smoking and he stopped the vehicle, exited, and noticed the back of his jacket and seat had a hole. The contact stated that he was not injured. The contact did not see flames. The contact stated that he put his hand on the hole to stop the smoke. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated that the failure cause was not diagnosed as he only received an estimate to replace the seat and heating system. The vehicle was currently at the dealer for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Consumer has stated warranty has expired. Heated seat coil and electric wires/assembly was the cause of fire.
NHTSA complaint #11447496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR AND TURNING ON THE SEAT HEATERS WE NOTICED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. WE HAD JUST ENTERED A SLIP ROAD AND MY WIFE (WHO WAS DRIVING) FELT A BURNING IN HER LOWER LEFT SIDE. NEXT THING... SHE WAS ON FIRE! HER WINTER COAT BUST INTO FLAMES AND AFTER PULLING OVER I GRABBED HER OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ROLLED HER IN THE SNOW TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WE WERE AMAZED THAT THE SEAT HAD A LARGE BURN HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANY SAFETY SHUT OFF FOR THE SEAT HEATER INITIATED BY THE VEHICLE. AFTER A DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED,WE WERE TOLD THAT A $2578 REPAIR WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM... WE WERE AMAZED AT HOW UNCARING THEY WERE AND THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ACTIVE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE WIRING PROBLEM. WE WERE RELIEVED THAT THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ANY FATALITIES TO US OR ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11310224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TODAY, AND WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, MY CAR AND I ALMOST BURNED WHEN I TURNED ON THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER. I STARTED FEELING AN EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE LEFT BACK SIDE. I STOPED ON THE RIGHT OF THE FREEWAY TO DISCOVER THAT THE SEAT LEATHER WAS BURNED WITH HEATING WIRE, WITH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE SEAT. MY SHIRT WAS DAMAGED WITH THE BURN. SEARCHING THE WEB, I FOUND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11281676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN A LOCATION. IT SLIDES FORWARD AND BACKWARD AT WILL WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. I SEE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY DEALER SAYS I'LL NEED TO PAY FOR A COMPLETE NEW SEAT ASSEMBLY. ALL MY PASSENGERS SIT IN THE REAR. THANKFULLY, THEY ARE FEW. OTHERWISE I LOVE THE CAR'
NHTSA complaint #11209322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SEATS GETS VERY HOT WHENEVER WE TURN ON THE SEAT WARMER OPTION. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN AT LEAST FROM 5 TO 6 MONTHS. WE ARE SCARED IT MIGHT BURN OUR BACKS. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #11208012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON APRIL 22, 2017 I PRESSED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER BUTTON AND A FEW MINUTES LATER BEGAN TO FEEL BURNING AND SMELLING SMOKE. DETERMINED MY SEAT WAS ON FIRE AND DEPRESSED THE BUTTON AGAIN AND STOPPED THE FIRE. I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND ABLE TO PULL OVER. I HAVE CONTACTED MBUSA.
NHTSA complaint #10979970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JAN. 6, 2017 NORTHBOUND ON HWY 52. DRIVERS SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WHEN I FELT A VERY HOT SPOT ON MY UPPER LEFT SIDE. THEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY ON THE OUTBOARD BOLSTER OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND STARTED BURNING THROUGH MY COAT.
NHTSA complaint #10945298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING RUBBER ODOR AND SMOKE WERE PRESENT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND, WITHIN MOMENTS, FLAMES COMPLETELY ENGULFED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
NHTSA complaint #10937267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED CAR SEAT AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. PULLED OVER AND FOUND IT HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FOAM AND LEATHER ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT ABOUT 1" WIDE AND 2" LONG.
NHTSA complaint #10936462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. AFTER ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMERS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SEAT WAS UNPLUGGED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #10929390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER DRIVING ONLY 30 MIN IN MORNING TRAFFIC W/SEAT HEAT ON, I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND THE HIP AREA OF THE SEAT WAS VERY HOT. PULLED OVER, TURNED CAR OFF, AND FOUND SEAT HEAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY MAKING A HOLE APPROX. 1" H X 1/2" W. QUESTION BELOW ASKS Y/N IF THERE WAS A FIRE. ANSWERED Y DUE TO BURNING; DID NOT SEE ANY FLAMES. USED SOME WATER ON IT IMMEDIATELY AND A FEW MINUTES LATER AT HOME TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO BURNING/SMOLDERING INSIDE THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10917302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PRESS THE SEAT HEATING BUTTON FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT A MINUTE LATER I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING I TURNED VEHICLE OFF TO INVESTIGATE. TWO DAYS LATER I NOTICE A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF A DOLLAR IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10837601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1) CAR IS HAVING RECURRING ISSUE WITH SEAT BURNING DUE TO SEAT HEATER. DEALER CORRECTED ISSUE BUT ISSUE PERSISTS. NOT ABLE TO TURN HEATER ON. DEALER CLAIMS ISSUE IS FIXED BUT WHEN HEAT SEATER IS TURNED ON, BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FILLS CAR. ADVISED DEALER THAT CAR IS LEAKING WATER IN SINCE NOTICED WATER ON THE TRUCK IN THE REAR WHERE THE COMPUTERS ARE. ONCE WATER IS IN, ALL SORTS OF ELECTRICAL LIGHT ISSUES HAPPEN WITH THE CAR. 2) CAR IS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH, IT SEEMS ML350 HAS THIS RECURRENT ISSUE. CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY BENZ IS NOT HAVING THIS RECALL. CAR STOPS MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. CANNOT GET IT TO RUN. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, PUSH IT ASIDE AND TRY MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CAR TO MOVE.THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH KIDS INSIDE TRUCK SINCE THAT IS THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT TRUCK FOR OVER MORE THAN 35 K. DEALER CLAIMS ITS A TRANSMISSION COVER VALVE BODY BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE REPAIRS. DEALER STATES EVEN AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE ISSUE COULD PERSIST AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH COULD COST ANOTHER 4000 USD IN ADDITION TO 2000 TO CHANGE PLATE. IT IS OBVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ HAS LET US DOWN AND ALSO HAS MADE IT DANGEROUS FOR US TO DRIVE THEIR CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. IF YOU GO ONLINE, EVERYONE WITH THIS TRUCK IS HAVING THIS ISSUE AND IS SHELLING DOLLARS OUT TO MERCEDES DEALERS FOR FIXES THAT ARE NOT GUARANTEED.
NHTSA complaint #10810843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS LEAVING MY SON'S FOOTBALL GAME AND GOING TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK HIM UP. ITS 1.75 MILES FROM FIELD TO SCHOOL. I TURNED ON MY DRIVERS SEAT AND BEFORE I REACHED THE SCHOOL, I FELT A BURNING IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. I REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS BURNING AND REALIZED IT HAD BURNT A HOLE IN SEAT AND THROUGH MY COAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT. UPON PARKING AT THE SCHOOL, I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HOLE IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10781229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMER, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND BURNED THE CONTACT'S SHIRT AND LEFT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE FAILURE BURNED THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,653.
NHTSA complaint #10766676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON 295 ON NEW JERSEY PARKWAY AT 60 MPH WITH SEAT HEATER TURNED ON. SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED A HOLE, THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR IN LEATHER SEAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER SEAT. THE LEFT SIDE OF LOWER BACK. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE SEAT AND DAMAGED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY COAT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SAME DAY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. ALSO ENGINE LIGHTS REMAIN ON HAD IT FIXED ONCE STILL REMAINS ON AND BRAKES LIGHTS ALSO GOING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10712834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER TURNED ON. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A BURNING PAIN ON MY BACK. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER DRIVER'S SEAT AND THROUGH MY JACKET.
NHTSA complaint #10702322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AND I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATER, AND I SAW SMOKE. I BURNED MY CLOTHING AND HAVE A LITTLE BURN ON MY BACK. THE SEAT WAS BURNING AND HAD A LITTLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10694886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATED, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HOLE IN THE LOWER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
NHTSA complaint #10677118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONTACT WAS DRIVING, APPROX. 15 MIN. AFTER ENGINE START AND SEAT HEATER TURN-ON. CONTACT FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON POSTERIOR/HIP. CONTACT STOPPED CAR AND GOT OUT. THERE WAS A BURN HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK AT LOWER LEFT. THERE WERE TWO BURN HOLES THROUGH CONTACTS PANTS. LATER EXAMINATION SHOWED A SECOND DEGREE (BLISTER) BURN ON CONTACTS HIP. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY CLAIM AS THE DEALER SUGGESTS, BUT, RATHER A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSES BURN INJURY (CHECK THE HISTORY OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET)...
NHTSA complaint #10671963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.