2007 Mercedes Benz ML500: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 ML 500 SUV, THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICALLY INDUCED SMOLDERING FIRE. THE HEAT SOURCE BURNED A DIME SIZED HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT, SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR AND MY SKIN STARTED TO BURN RIGHT THROUGH MY CLOTHES. THINKING MY CLOTHES MIGHT BURST INTO FLAMES, I IMMEDIATELY CAME TO A STOP AND SAFELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN MOMENTS LATER TURNED OFF THE CAR. THANKFULLY MY CLOTHES DID NOT CATCH FIRE AND I WAS NOT IN BUSY TRAFFIC OR THIS MIGHT HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY. IF THI…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,735 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339102 at NHTSA ↗

I OWNED A 2007 MERCEDES ML500, THE REASON I DON'T OWN THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER IS BECAUSE IT BURNT UP IN MY PARKING LOT OUTSIDE OF MY OFFICE. THE EVENING BEFORE THE FIRE I HAD DINNER OUT AND WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOORS, THE RIGHT BLINKER LIGHT FLICKERED AND REMAINED ON. AS I GOT INTO THE CAR THE SOUND OF THE BLINKER WAS VERY QUICK AND I TURNED IT OFF BUT REALIZED THEN THAT IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I MADE AN APPOINTMENT T GET THOSE FIXED, IN THE MEANTIME I DROVE TO WORK AND PARKED. ONE OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378769 at NHTSA ↗

ON NOVEMBER 22, 2015 I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEAT AS I WAS EXITING A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT. WHEN I GOT ON THE MAJOR CITY STREET I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN I FELT SOMETHING REALLY HOT ON MY BACK SO I JUMPED IN MY SEAT AND READJUSTED MY TOP, I FELT THE HEAT ON MY BACK AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS HOTTER. I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND TURNED AROUND TO LOOK AT THE SEAT AND COULD SEE FIRE BURNING A HOLE THRU THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PATTING THE SEAT TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING AND THEN TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT CONTROL. I CALLED …

Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809201 at NHTSA ↗

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

Owner-reported narrative. 59,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909481 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAD A RECALL IN FEBRUARY AND THE LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP HAS JUST GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT GETTING A WELDER TO COME DO THE JOB. THEY HAVE NOT GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT GETTING A WELDER TO COME AND I FEEL LIKE IF IT'S A SAFETY RECALL THAT THEY SHOULD GET ON THE BALL TO GET THE VEHICLE UP TO CALL. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND WHEN THEY TOOK MY MONEY FOR REPAIRS THEY DID TO MY CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10918644 at NHTSA ↗

I GOT INTO MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD SMELL SMOKE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LOWER BACK. I REACHED MY LEFT HAND BEHIND ME TO CHECK AND FELT SOMETHING HOT, WHEN I PULLED MY HAND OUT MY FINGER TIPS WERE COVERED IN MELTED LEATHER. THE SMOKE BY THEN INCREASED, I SHUT THE SEAT WARMER OFF AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958297 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD MY HEATED SEAT ON THE MEDIUM SETTING. WHILE ON MY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK (ABOUT 8 MINUTES) THIS MORNING MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MELTED PART OF MY CLOTHING.

Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156351 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving, the front and back seat warmers were operating and the driver noticed smoke. The contact mentioned there was a smoke odor and noticed the front driver seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the driver extinguished the fire with his clothes by smothering the seat. In addition, there was a hole in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they failed to provide a diagnosis and informed the contact the seat was going to be unplugg…

Owner-reported narrative. 199,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11434025 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2022-05-09 (May 9, 2022)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

Reported: 2024-04-26 (April 26, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.