2006 Mercedes Benz ML350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FUEL STATION AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT IGNITED IN SMALL FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA; A BYPASSER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE FUSE BOX WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 MERCEDES ML 350, WITH THE SEAT WARMER TURNED ON. I NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SO I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN THE SEAT COVERING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT JUST ABOVE THE DRIVER'S WAIST. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $800-$1000 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC THAT I TALKED WITH 1-ON-1 TOLD ME THAT THEY GET THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. SINCE THE DAY OF THE BURN THROUGH, I HAVE NOT USED THE SEAT WARMER. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE SMOKE AND SHUT THE SEAT WARMER DOWN BEFORE THE SITUATION RESULTED IN A FIRE OR PERSONAL INJURY. SYSTEMS WITH THESE TYPES OF RISKS SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF "EXTENDED" WARRANTY COVERAGE WHEN THEY FAIL, TO HELP COVER THE RISK OF FIRE OR INJURY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLYT ACTIVATED . THE "BRAKE FLUID LOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENED LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF LIQUID SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR POSSIBLY THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT THE INTERIOR CARPET SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A WATERPROOF PROTECTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES BENZ ML350, THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON REGARDING THE REAR LIFT GATE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I SMELLED SMOKE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF LIQUID SPILL IN THE CARGO AREA. THE LIQUID THAT SPILLED GOT INTO THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE CPU CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE SPILL. THERE ARE NO WARNING MESSAGES POSTED IN THE CARGO AREA, CAUTIONING THE OWNER THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF THERE IS A LIQUID SPILL IN THIS AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL NOTIFYING OF THIS POTENTIAL DISASTROUS EVENT. SEEING THAT THE CARGO TRUNK IS THE MOST COMMON PLACE WHERE LIQUIDS WOULD BE TRANSPORTED FROM THE GROCERY STORE, MERCEDES SHOULD PROPERLY PROTECT THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE FROM LIQUIDS IF IT CONTAINS COMPUTER CIRCUITRY AND A SPILL CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, REAR LIFT GATE LATCH AND BODY COMPONENT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED A SMOOTHIE ON THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COVER LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER ROW FLOOR. THE LIQUID PENETRATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING AND THE ABS INVOLUNTARY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW MOTOR AND THE COMPUTER AT THE COST OF $1,384. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE COVER WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 34,695. UPDATED 11/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/07/08.