2006 Mercedes Benz ML350

OWNER HAD ARRIVED HOME AT 7:00 P.M. FROM WORK AND WAS INSIDE HIS RESIDENCE. AT 10:00 P.M. POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL CAME TO HIS DOOR TO INFORM HIM THAT HIS CAR WAS ON FIRE. ONE RESIDENT SAID THAT, AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT, HE NOTICED THERE WAS FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT (AROUND 10:00 PM) AND WHEN HE LOOKED INSIDE, THERE WAS FIRE IN THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. HE RAN FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ALSO YELLED FOR HELP AND FOR SOMEONE TO CALL 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BOTH FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 HOURS AND WAS PARKED, WAS DRIVEN ONLY 7 MILES THREE HOURS EARLIER WITH NO STOPS. CAR HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TOTALED BY INSURANCE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE INCURRED AND HAD BEEN OWNED FOR ONLY ONE YEAR, SERVICED REGULARLY BY MERCEDES BENZ, AND ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN UP-TO-DATE! THE SERVICING MERCEDES DEALERSHIP PROMPTLY INFORMED MERCEDES BENZ USA WHO ALSO PROMPTLY CONTACTED THE OWNER TO FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK AND SUBMIT PICTURES FOR REVIEW. THIS PAPERWORK/PICTURES WERE ALSO PROMPTLY SUBMITTED. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FIRE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC, THIS REPORT IS ALSO BEING SENT TO YOUR AGENCY FOR FOLLOW-UP. (NOTE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TAIL LIGHTS IN THE ML350 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE FOR 2007 AND YEARS ABOVE, BUT NOT THE YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE, 2006. A SIMILAR PROBLEM IS REPORTED IN THE C-CLASS AUTOMOBILES AND MAY BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT). *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY SPOUSE FROM THE AIRPORT ONE NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A ROCKING MOTION AND THE ORANGE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, I RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY PROCEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. I WAITED 4 MONTHS FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME IN FIXING MY VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE NO EXTENDED, THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST ME EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF AND MAY GET INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT I MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE OF WHICH I ENDED UP PURCHASING A LOW MILEAGE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THIS I PAID $1500. FOR THEM TO FIX 2 LEAKS ON MY POWER STEERING AND AS OF NOW MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND MAKING THAT SAME LOUD NOISE AS BEFORE THEY FIXED THE LEAKS. I HAVE BEEN VERY VERY UPSET WITH THEM, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GIVING ME TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR NOT HAVING 100 THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE HELP. I CALL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE AND EVEN WROTE A LETTER TO THEM AND ALL THEY OFFERED ME WAS $2000 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE, YOU MAY THINK THAT A MERCEDES BENZ WILL BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WAS LIED TO BY THEM PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE, ONCE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT BAD. I TOOK MY CAR FROM THEM AND TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIRING. *JS

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, AND THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $8000.00 TO FIX IT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER WARRANTY TO FIX IT. IT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH ABOUT $7200.00. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL, AND THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION SUIT IN NJ AGAINST MERCEDES USA. I CONTACTED MERCEDES USA IN AUGUST 2013 ABOUT REIMBURSING ME THE COST OF REPAIR, BUT THE MANAGER I SPOKE TO DENIED THE REQUEST. ACTION REQUESTED: I AM SEEKING THE HELP OF NHTSA IN RECOVERING MY COST OF REPAIR. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 24 JUNE 2013 OR SO. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 2 JULY, AND THE REPORT INDICATED MY BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($5,100), MY POWER STEERING COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($3,067.50), AND MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($1,812.95). I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT MB DEALERSHIPS (CRITZ - SAVANNAH, GA AND ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS - DULUTH, GA). PREVIOUSLY, THIS VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHICH OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. AT FIRST, ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE, SINCE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. AFTER MY HUSBAND GOT INVOLVED, THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR NO CHARGE. ANOTHER MINOR PROBLEM INVOLVED THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE VEHICLE'S HATCH -- IT HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY WORKED PROPERLY. I AM VERY DISMAYED THAT AFTER SEVEN YEARS AND 109K MILES, MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUCH EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS AS THIS. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. AT AROUND 32,000 IT NEEDED TRANSMISSION REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS PAST THE THREE YEAR OFFERED WARRANTY. AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED NEW SHOCKS. ALL OF THE REPAIR MEN THAT I SPOKE WITH COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD NEED SUSPENSION WORK AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. AFTER READING THESE POSTS, IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION. MEANWHILE, I WENT THROUGH ANOTHER SET OF TIRES BECAUSE I AM STILL WAITING TO REPAIR THE SUSPENSION. I GUESS I CAN WAIT NO LONGER AND WILL NEED TO COME OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE HEATED SEAT IN ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, IN WHICH THE HEATER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED A BURNED HOLE IN THE CUSHION AND PADDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BURN TO THE LEFT HIP AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT PENETRATION. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HEATED SEAT WIRE WAS DISENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE HAPPENED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS AS WELL AS WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

I HAVE A 2006 ME/BE ML350 WHERE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND STOP LIGHTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SYSTEM GOES INTO BACK UP MODE WHERE ANOTHER SET OF LIGHTS GO ON, THIS CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO GIVE FALSE MESSAGES. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $300 FOR A "REWIRING KIT" AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HELP. I FEEL THE TAIL LIGHTS/STOP LIGHT WIRING SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR MISUSED. A REWIRING KIT TELLS ME THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I FOUND NHTSA # 10028025 WHICH RELATES TO THIS PROBLEM BUT I'VE HAD NO LUCK WITH THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. MY QUESTION IS-DOES THIS TSB APPLY TO MY CAR AND WHAT CAN I DO? THANK YOU *TR

AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, MY HUSBAND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM UNTIL HE FELT HIS BACK BEING BURNED. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT AND PULLED OVER. THERE WAS SMOKE AND A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ABOUT 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE SEAT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH HIS FLEECE JACKET & T-SHIRT LEAVING WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN ON HIS BACK. IF MY HUSBAND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING MY CAR, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE CONNECTION THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE HEATING MECHANISM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT ONLY THE BOTTOM OF THE SEATS WERE WIRED FOR THAT. THIS OCCURRED ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT ON HIS LEFT SIDE. I JUST FEAR THAT SOMEONE WOULD PANIC OR IT COULD TURN INTO A FULL BLOWN FIRE (I AM SURE WE WERE JUST SECONDS AWAY FROM SEEING FLAMES IF THE MECHANISM HAD NOT BEEN TURNED OFF SO FAST). FURTHERMORE, IF WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT CAUSED HIM TO VEER INTO THE OTHER TRAFFIC LANE (LUCKILY NO CARS WERE IN THE LANE AT THE TIME). I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND I HAVE CHECKED ALL ONLINE SOURCES FOR SAFETY RECALLS ON THIS CAR. WHAT A DISSERVICE IT WOULD BE IF MERCEDES DOES NOT REPLACE THIS SEAT AND MAKE IT RIGHT FREE OF CHARGE. ONE BAD ACCIDENT IS TOO MANY, WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS BADLY BURNED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. WE HAVE AN APPT. TO DROP OFF THE CAR NEXT WEEK FOR EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL SO FAR, SO I AM HOPING FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME. BUT I COULD NOT GO WITHOUT REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE ELSE GET INJURED. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER IT'S SPONTANEOUS OCCURRENCE. *TR