2007 Mercedes Benz ML350

I bought a 2007 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic in late 2023 from auction with a salvage title and I can't take it to inspection center to get plates, because a lot of things such as signal lights, seats power, key fob, radio, wipers, and rear gate to work because the rear SAM module is damage by rain water, which I found on YouTube that at least 3 models from 2006 to 2012 (including my model) suffering from same problem and yet Mercedes company didn't forced to considered as a recall so we can fixed for free since it is not our fault.

The contact's wife owned a 2007 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while they were out of town, the vehicle was parked in their driveway. The contact stated that a neighbor contacted them and made them aware that the vehicle had caught on fire. A bystander contacted the fire department and the fire was extinguished. The fire department informed the contact that the fire had originated from an electrical failure in the rear of the vehicle. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000. The VIN was not available.

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.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I SMELLED WHAT SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING THEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON BY ITSELF AND WIPED AT A VERY FAST PACE, THEN THE HORN STARTED BLOWING (ON ITS OWN) VERY LOUDLY, I PULLED OVER AT A TIRE SHOP AND I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. WHEN I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND THAT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY THE PROBLEM.

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.

WHILE DRIVING MY TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SEAT CONTROLS, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO THE SRS WARNING DISPLAYED MEANING THE AIRBAGS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. SEEMS THAT THE SAM MODULE IS THE CULPRIT BUT NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO STOP SUCH VITAL SAFETY ISSUES FROM HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AND A RECALL IS NEEDED IN MY OPINION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE RESIDENCE WHEN A NEIGHBOR INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE POLICE WAS ALSO PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE PREMATURELY CORRODED AND THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SACRAMENTO, 1810 HOWE AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825,1810 HOWE AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825) FAILED TO ENSURE THAT THE MODULE CASE WAS COVERING THE AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTING HARNESS BURNED THE BULBS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND REQUIRED THE CONTACT TO MANUALLY DISCONNECT THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,502.

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.