2007 Mercedes Benz ML320

ON 2/16/09 WHILE OUT DRIVING WE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR INSIDE OUR 2007 ML320CDI JUST AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. WE LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS BURNING AND FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. THE ODOR WAS GONE BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE. WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS AND NO ODORS UNTIL 2/21/09. ON THIS DAY WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS MY HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, CLOSED THE DOOR WHILE I REMAINED IN THE CAR AND I SAW THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK (NEAR THE DRIVER'S DOOR) START SMOKING. THE ELECTRIC HEATED SEATS WERE ON AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEAT TO THE SEATS AND THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THERE WAS A BURN HOLE, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL, IN THE SEAT CUSHION. ON MONDAY I CALLED OUR MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT DO NOT USE THE HEATED SEATS UNTIL THEY CAN MAKE A REPAIR. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3/5/09. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THEY HAVE SEEN SOME PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE SEAT BOTTOMS, BUT NOT THE SEAT BACK. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE REPAIRED VEHICLE ON 3/6/09. ON 3/6/09 WE WERE CALLED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND TOLD THE SEAT BACK HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR THEM TO RECEIVE IT. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 3/6/09 AND ARE WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE BURNING SEAT, BUT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE LEATHER. THE THICK, WHITE SMOKE FILLED THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND THE SMELL WAS AWFUL. THE SEAT WAS NOT JUST SMOLDERING, IT WAS BURNING, ALTHOUGH I NEVER SAW FLAMES, IT WAS LIKE A TOASTER GLOWING. *TR