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…
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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. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10144571
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2005
Seats
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…
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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 ODI #10129270
22,600 miles · Dec 3, 2004
SeatsFire
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, T…
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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.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102096
17,000 miles · Sep 30, 2004
SeatsFire
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A NEWER MODEL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10094747
14,500 miles · Feb 19, 2004
SeatsInjury
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEATED SEATS CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S BOTTOM. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S SEAT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSE SOME REDNESS TO ANOTHER DRIVER'S BOTTOM. *NM AFTER VISITING DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT OF BURNS, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER THE SAME WEEK. WAS INFORMED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHAN…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEATED SEATS CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S BOTTOM. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S SEAT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSE SOME REDNESS TO ANOTHER DRIVER'S BOTTOM. *NM AFTER VISITING DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT OF BURNS, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER THE SAME WEEK. WAS INFORMED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND OR RESOLVED. "PICTURES ENCLOSED" THE VEHICLE SEATS WERE HEATED.
NHTSA ODI #10059309
18,000 miles · Mar 14, 2003
SeatsFire
THE HEATED PASSENGER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE ON THE FAR RIGHT EDGE OF THE LEATHER CAPTAIN SEAT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10010448
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE05005 · Electric Seat Warmer Overheats/burns
Opened Feb 2, 2005 · Closed Jun 29, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON THREE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF ELECTRIC SEAT WARMER OVERHEATING IN MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML-320 VEHICLES.CONSUMERS ALLEGED THAT SUCH FAILURES MAY INFLICT BURN INJURIES TO SEAT OCCUPANTS.INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE IDENTICAL SEAT WARMER DESIGN WAS INSTALLED IN 65.5 PERCENT OF ALL M-CLASS VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING MY 2000-2005.THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED FROM BREAKAGE OF THE ELECTRICAL BUS WIRE OF THE HEATER GRID IN THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE SEAT BOLSTER.THE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY REPEATED HIGH STRESS APPLIED DURING OCCUPANT INGRESS AND EGRESS.A SIMILAR FAILURE MODE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN OTHER VEHICLES.THE RATES OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AS WELL AS FOR OTHER M-CLASS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SEAT WARMER DESIGN, WERE IN SOME CASES HIGHER, BUT ON THE SAME ORDER OF MAGNITUDE AS THE RATES SEEN IN OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED.THE INFORMATION DISCLOSED THAT SEAT CUSHION DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO SMALL, LOCALIZED AREAS AND THAT NO RISK OF FIRE EXISTED.THE INJURIES REPORTED WERE CONSISTENTLY VERY MINOR IN SEVERITY AND AT RATES COMPARABLE TO THOSE SEEN ON OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.ODI CONCLUDED THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THIS MATTER AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS PE HAS BEEN CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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