Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH in the rain, there was an abnormal smoke odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then started filling up with smoke. The contact checked and became aware that the back of the front driver's seat was on fire. The contact was able to pull over and extinguish the fire with his hand. The contact sustained a little burn to his hand, but medical attention was not sought. The Fire Department was not contacted. Neither a Police nor Fire report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 59,050.
While driving to work this morning, I turned on the drivers side seat warmer. Less than three minutes later, I noticed a strong odor followed by a considerable amount of smoke and heat coming from the side of the seat nearest the door. I felt what I thought was something poking me in the left rear pocket of my pants, and burned the back of my knuckle checking for the source of the heat. I immediately shut off the heater and pulled off at the first safe location. I exited the vehicle (a pall of smoke followed me) and knocked the smoking embers out of the vehicle (a hole larger than a quarter is burned in the seat). I also noticed a hole was burned through my pants. Apparently, I came very close to significant personal injury, not to mention the fact of possible loss of control of the vehicle. We called the dealer and they scheduled the car for next Monday. …
We had left the home - drove approximately 3 minutes at 20 miles an hour with the seat heater on. All of a sudden the seat started to smoke - it had caught fire. We had a baby in the car, were traveling down a mountain road in aspen. We pulled over to the side of the road and thankfully were able to put the fire out with snow from a snow bank (what would have happened if it was in the summer?). There is a big hole in our car seat now and obviously - we are not able to use the seat heaters. I see from the reports here that this has happened many times with the same vehicle -- there should be a recall done for this issue on this vehicle as someone May be injured severely in the future.
While driving 2007 Mercedes GL450 with my wife, after driving for 1 miles from our home with front seat heating I felt burn at my back and then my wife saw smoke coming out of the seats, we stoped the car and saw drive seat was burning and made a quarter size hole in the seat, I talked to Mercedes Benz of plano but they didn't have a clue. Even now if I turn it on it will catch fire -
Tl-contact owns a 2007 Mercedes gl 450. Contact looked online for recall for vehicle.mileage on vehicle is 99,801. Contact was going 66mph at time when drivers seat caught fireand contact was driving on highway. Mercedes heated seats recall for seat overheating and hole burning in drivers side seat. 0 recalls associated with this VIN
Heating element in drivers side defective. The car seat caught on fire. Mercedes refuses to fix under warranty. Will only cover 25% of a 1400$ repair. This does not include the damage done to the seat.
Driving in new jersey on route 80 west for 1-2 miles there was a strong odor of burnt wires that smell so bad and have noticed that the smoke was coming from underneath the passenger seat. It went on for few minutes where the wires actually caught on fire and melted together. Stopped the car, shot the engine off, with windows open and tried to pull the wires apart to prevent further damage.... But could not separate the wires from each other. Called the mb dealer near our location and brought the car in after the mbusa suggested towing it in and later we were told that the vehicle was safe to drive to the dealer. The local mb dealer manager I talked to was very helpful and understandable and he tries to support me the best way he could where he agreed to look at the car at reduced rate to help out to try to figure out the issue. The car is at the mb dealer now. …
I was driving my family to an afternoon lunch on the 5th of December, 2014, the day was chilly and it was a good time to have the heated seats on... After about 10 minutes of driving I noticed a burning smell and thought it was something in the area (it was actually my seat lighting me on fire), needless to say the smell continued to get worse and I knew something was wrong. I looked for a safe area to pull over and identify the source of the smell, before I was able to get off the road my side started smoking and lit on fire. I frantically pulled off the road and jumped out. I then proceeded to rip of my jacket and put out the smoldering section of it. …
Driving on hwy with my 3 children in car, I felt as if I had a sticker in my pants. Something was poking me. Then we all smelt something burning, which cdf was parked on the side of hwy so we didn't think anything about it. Then my oldest said "mom there's smoke in the car" I looked back in my review mirror and saw the back of the car full of smoke. I immediately pulled off the side of the hwy and we all exited the car. Upon doing so, I grabbed my personal and important belongings. Noticed the drivers seat had a hole about the size of a nickel in the back portion. Then my kids told me my pants had a hole, and then we noticed my skin had a blister. I had the car towed to the dealer(60 miles) rented a car that held 7 passengers, since I was on my way to pick my parents up from the airport 2 1/2 hours away from our home. …
I was driving in my neighborhood with my gl 450 seat warmer turned on in the drivers seat. I started smelling smoke & thought it was from outside. I opened my window, and smoke started swirling inside my car and started getting thicker within minutes. I pulled the car over to the street curb, turned my ignition off and discovered a melted hole about the size of a quarter burning & smoking. The sweater I was wearing also had a melted hole in it. The hole in the car is on the left side of the drivers seat. We contacted Mercedes Benz service here in san diego, and were just told to bring it in on Monday - it happened on thurs. Morning. So we are waiting for Monday, but in the meantime I am afraid to drive my car and want to report this incident, due to the extreme safety factor of the situation, but don't know what agencies to contact. …
Seat complaints in other GL450 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the seats of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450, 29% of the model year's 115 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 26 fires and 11 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.