# 2006 MERCEDES BENZ S430 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `1036680` · 2014-02-04 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCEDES BENZ
- **Model:** S430
- **Year:** 2006
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 131,388
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN 2006 S430 MERCEDES-BENZ ? JANUARY 16, 2014  AS I ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE ROAD, I SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR.  I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM A TRUCK WE PASSED.  I OPENED THE WINDOW & TURNED OFF THE HEATER TO CLEAR THE AIR IN THE CAR.  IN A FEW SECONDS, I CLOSED THE WINDOW AND RE-STARTED THE HEATER, WHICH IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CABIN WITH HEAVY SMOKE.  I AGAIN STOPPED THE HEATER AND OPENED THE WINDOW.  THE SMOKE CLEARED AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING.    A FEW SECONDS LATER, I SAW FLAMES COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE AIR DUCT GRILL IN THE HOOD.  I PULLED OFF I-275 BETWEEN EXITS 63 AND 65, ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER.  I THEN HIT THE MERCEDES SOS BUTTON. MY PASSENGER DIALED 911.    WHEN THE MBRACE OPERATOR CAME ON THE LINE, I SAID THAT I HAD AN ENGINE FIRE, BUT THE CABIN WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE.  I OPENED THE HOOD, I GRABBED MY PHONE AND EXITED THE CAR.    AT THIS POINT, STARTED TAKING PHOTOS.    I TOOK A WINDSHIELD CLEANER SPRAY FROM THE TRUNK, TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH IT.  IT FAILED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT.    ABOUT AT THAT TIME A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED HIS PICKUP TRUCK.  HE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, WHICH HE USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.  A FEW MINUTES LATER THE UNION TOWNSHIP FIRE ENGINE ARRIVED, BUT THE FIRE WAS OUT.  THEY DID A REPORT.  THEN THE UNION TOWNSHIP POLICE ARRIVED.  THE OFFICER SAID THE REPORT WILL BE FILED BY THE FIRE DEPT.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*