← NHTSA complaints

2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 789478 · 2010-05-25

Vehicle

Make
MERCEDES BENZ
Model
ML350
Year
2006
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
50,000
Speed
45 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLYT ACTIVATED . THE "BRAKE FLUID LOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENED LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF LIQUID SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR POSSIBLY THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT THE INTERIOR CARPET SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A WATERPROOF PROTECTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10332144
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown