# 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 — SEATS
> NHTSA complaint `1137345` · 2014-12-08 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCEDES BENZ
- **Model:** GL450
- **Year:** 2007
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** SEATS
- **Miles at failure:** 106,000
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY TO AN AFTERNOON LUNCH ON THE 5TH OF DECEMBER, 2014, THE DAY WAS CHILLY AND IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE HEATED SEATS ON... AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE AREA (IT WAS ACTUALLY MY SEAT LIGHTING ME ON FIRE), NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I LOOKED FOR A SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER AND IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD MY SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND LIT ON FIRE. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RIP OF MY JACKET AND PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING SECTION OF IT. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STILL SMOKING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ABOUT TO GO UP IN FLAMES, AT THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUR 2 YEAR OLD TWINS OUT OF THE VEHICLE I GOT BACK TO THE CAR TO TURN IT OFF AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SCENE I FOUND THE HEATED SEAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED IN SOME MANNER AND BURNED A NICE HOLE IN THE SEAT WHICH IN RETURN LIT MY JACKET ON FIRE. I WILL GET IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE FUSE TAKEN OUT AND MAKE THE HEATED SEATS INOPERABLE NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES.   *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*