# 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `509778` · 2004-12-03 · 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:** ML320
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
- **Miles at failure:** 22,600
## Narrative
DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN.  THE EVENT OCURRED SO QUICKLY AND WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT UPHOLSTERY AND A VERY HEAVY PAIR OF DENIM JEANS I WAS WEARING  ALMOST IMEDIATELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY.  THE CONSEQUENCES ARE PRETTY MUCH OBVIOUS AND COULD RANGE FROM SEVERE BURNS, TO THE VEHICLE BURNING TO CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SPONTANEOUS HAPPENING. NO RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES BENZ TO DATE.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*