# 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `655019` · 2008-01-24 · 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:** ML350
- **Year:** 2007
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
- **Miles at failure:** 11,976
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
WHILE OUT OF STATE ON VACATION, WE ACTIVATED BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMERS IN MY CAR. AFTER ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES OF ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMERS, WE BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING LEATHER. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEEING THE SMOKE, WE PULLED OVER TO THE ROADSIDE TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. ONCE WE EXITED THE VEHICLE WE REALIZED MY HUSBANDS JACKET AND SHIRT HAD BEEN BURNED BY THE MALFUNCTION IN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK WARMERS. AFTER INSPECTING THE SEAT BACK, WE SAW THAT THE SEAT HAD A LARGE BURN AREA. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF BOTH SEAT WARMERS AND THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THE BURNING FINALLY STOPPED AFTER TUNING OFF BOTH THE SEAT WARMERS AND THE VEHICLE.     THIS WAS THE WORST ENCOUNTER THAT I EVER HAD WITH A VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE HAPPENS TO BE A BRAND NEW MERCEDES-BENZ ML350, 2007 MODEL FROM DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS. I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF OWNING A MERCEDES-BENZ, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF EXPERIENCE WITH SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD PURCHASED MY DREAM VEHICLE, BUT AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I REALIZED THAT I WAS MISTAKEN. THIS EXPERIENCE SPOILED OUR TRIP, AND TRAUMATIZED MY FAMILY AND I. NOT ONLY DID IT SPOIL OUR TRIP, WE WERE INCONVENIENCE AND DEVASTATED BY THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ALSO TO MY HUSBAND WHO WAS ALMOST BURNED BY THE INCIDENT.    MY VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. UPON COMPLETION OF THE RE
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*