10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 30,357 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I turned on the seat warmer and a minute later I smell something burning and I look to the side and there was smoke coming out of my jeans and I got out of the car and I see smoke coming out the drivers side seat. I immediately turned off the car and it open a small hole in the drivers seat.
- West Palm Beach , FL, USA
My wife was driving our Mercedes R350 with two of our children and noticed a burning smell in the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle, she soon realized that the heat warmer on the seat had burned a hole in the seat and singed her sweater leaving a black mark. She turned off the seat warmer to avoid any further issues, including the potential of a fire or an injury to her. The dealership said that because the car was out of warranty the repair would be $1,200. When we passed on the item and said we simply would stop using the warmer, they offered 2/3 assistance (1/3 from the dealership & 1/3 from Mercedes) with us paying the remaining 1/3. we accepted the offered and had the seat repaired. However, the situation could have been very dangerous had a fire occurred, had she been burned or had she lost Focus on the road causing an accident. I am appreciative that the dealership is doing what they can to help address the issue, however, I believe the manufacturer needs to take responsibility in this situation - especially since I've read multiple accounts of very similar incidents in Mercedes vehicles.
- Hagerstown, MD, USA
What I thought was a bug biting my rear side, ending up being the seat on fire! I had turned on the seat warmer and not even a minute or two later, the wire in the seat was on fire when I pulled over and left a hole in my seat. Car is not under warranty anymore and I feel as though I should not have to pay for this. It could've caused an accident, had I been on a major highway or on a road that I couldn't pull over on. Children in the car very worried. After searching online, I see that this is a common problem of Mercedes owner, all happening on the lower left side. Any recalls? not wear and tear!
- Ocean View, NJ, USA
2007 Mercedes Benz R350 4 matic/while driving on the highway, vehicles jerks abruptly and hard. Esp warning light(sign) suddenly appears in dash as a malfunction (inoperable). As a result, all warning lights starts flashing, including brake light. Vehicle will not shift in any gear including park. Will only continue to function in drive @ 40mph or lower. Information window says "visit mb workshop immediately without shifting gears". once ignition is turned off, vehicle will not start. Replaced esp/scm for steering angle sensor.(part available). Still malfunctions as of 8/16/2010.
- Waldorf, MD, USA
A 2 month old 2007 Mercedes R320 cdi rear tire explodes in private driveway on January 20, 2007 during a Colorado blizzard. The car was purchased new from Mercedes of Colorado springs. We have found out by a forensic expert that a defect in the car caused the explosion. A defective Mercedes "4matic" system caused the rear tire to explode causing $25,000 in car damage and $1500 damage to home. The Mercedes dealer claimed it was our fault, but the forensic tire expert we hired has found that the car is defective. Pictures and complete forensic expert report at: www.landxml.org/R320 and www.landxml.org/R320/Mercedes R320 tire explosion robson forensicreport.pdf
- Calhan, CO, USA
- Hackettstown, NJ, USA