2007 Mercedes Benz ML350

HELLO, TODAY, SUNDAY DECEMBER 12, 2010 AT 10:15 A.M., WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MY VEHICLE, I HAD ON THE HEATED SEATS FEATURE. MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THE CAR SMELLED A BAD BURNING SMELL, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, UNTIL I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF MY SEAT! THE SEAT WAS BURNING AND SMOKING AND IT BURNED MY SWEATER THAT I HAD ON AS WELL. SINCERELY, ANGRY MERCEDES-BENZ OWNER. *TR

WE HAVE A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 AND JUST BOUGHT THE EXTENDED NEW CAR WARRANTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4500. IT WAS RAINING AND THE ALARM ON THE CAR WENT OFF, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AND THE REAR LFT GATE STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS REAR LOCKS. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AFTER 3 DAYS AND STATED THAT IS BECAUSE THE REAR TAIL LIGHT IS ALLOWING WATER IN AND THAT IT COMPROMISED/RUINED THE POWER LIFT GATE CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT YOU ISSUED A RECALL FOR WITH THE 2009 ML350 WITH RECALL ID # 09V076000: A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE SPARE TIRE. WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE CAN RESULT IN DISABLING OF THE POWER LIFT GATE MOTOR. CONSEQUENCES: WATER WILL CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP (MERCEDES BENZ OF TAMPA) AGREES THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MERCEDES BENZ USA BUT MERCEDES BENZ USA WILL ONLY FIX THE TAIL LIGHT BUT WILL NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF RELOCATING A NEW POWER LIFT GATE UNIT (AS OUTLINED IN YOUR RECALL NOTICE FOR THE 2009 MODEL). THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOTED SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE 2007 ML350 SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM. MOT ONLY DO I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE RECALL FOR 2007 MODELS BUT QUITE POSSIBLY FOR 2007-2009 MODELS SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED BACK IN 2007 AND STILL NOTHING WAS DONE. MANY MORE FAMILIES ARE AT RISK. THIS ISSUE DISABLED MY CAR AND COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING SINCE IT ALSO AFFECTED THE BATTERY TOO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED, THE REAR DOOR HATCH INDEPENDENTLY OPENED AND THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN SPORADICALLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST TEN TIMES FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE EACH TIME YET THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO THE "DRIVE 1" POSITION WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO "PARK" AND THEN INTO "DRIVE". THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/13/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. AFTER THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT IGNITED INTO SMALL FLAMES. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE SEAT CUSHION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION WITH CAUTION TO THE RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000. UPDATED 01/08/10 *BF UPDATED 01/12/10.*JB

TURNED ON SEAT HEATER. THE LOWER PORTION OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT (LEFT SIDE) FAILED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE LEATHER SEAT COVER WAS BURNT AS WELL AS THE DRIVERS SHIRT. WHEN THE SMELL OF SMOKE BECAME EVIDENT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED OFF AND THE BURNING STOPPED. BURN HOLE IN LEATHER IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THEN A DIME, BURN HOLE IN DRIVERS SHIRT SMALLER THEN A DIME ALSO. NO INJURY TO DRIVER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT. PRIOR TO TURNING THE HEATED SEAT OFF, THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS ON HER LEFT BUTTOCK. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE MECHANIC TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 1/25/10 *CN UPDATED 01/26/10