2008 MercedesE350 (W211) Driver’s seat heater, ~11:48am Location: Lidl Parking Lot, 2017 St. Joseph’s Dr., Bowie/Upper Marlboro, MD While I was sitting in the driver’s seat with my back fully against it, the seat heater burned through the leather on the left side of the seat. The cabin immediately filled with smoke. The burning stopped only after I turned off the seat‑heater button. I was inside the vehicle during the failure, and the situation created a direct fire hazard; the seat could have ignited, and I could have caught fire. I don’t know if the passenger seat heater is also affected, so passengers cannot safely use their seat warmer. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms pre failure. Evidence Available: Video/photo of the aftermath (burned seat left‑side damage), the vehicle and damaged seat are available for inspection. Smoke in video/photo. Has the Problem Been Reproduced or Confirmed?: I’ve not attempted to reproduce the problem for safety reasons, and it has not yet been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. However, publicly available information shows Mercedes previously settled a $54 million class action for the same seat‑heater defect in model years prior to 2008. My 2008 model was not included despite experiencing the same dangerous failure. Mercedes is aware this is a known issue.Has the Vehicle Been Inspected?: A dealership inspection at Mercedes‑Benz of Alexandria scheduled 12/23/23 at 11:00 a.m. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: None. Safety Risk Summary: This defect created immediate danger to my safety. The heater burned through the seat while I was sitting in it, filling cabin with smoke and creating a risk of burn injury and the possibility that I could have caught fire. The defect may also endanger passengers if both seats are affected. Broader Concern: Prevent others from experiencing defect, causing serious injury/vehicle fire. Limits safe use of vehicle for self and passengers. Plus Mercedes is aware. Can’t upload video.
Mercedes-Benz E350 fire or smoke problems
55 of the 2,222 owner complaints about the Mercedes-Benz E350 describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2014 model year.
- owner complaints
- 55
- worst model year
- 2014
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,500
- typical mileage
- 64,200
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel smell 8Fuel leak 5Fuel gauge 3Stalling 1Fuel pump 1Engine failure 1Grinding brakes 1
What owners say
I've had the car for 3 years and its all stock. It has 38,500 miles and today out of no where the driver side speaker in the door started making a crackling and popping noise. Smoke started coming from the speaker and filled the cabin. I quickly pulled over and turned off the car, because the smell of plastic burning was horrible. I was immediately alarmed by this and let the car cool down. I started driving again and it started again crackling and alot of smoke coming from the speaker. I called my mechanic and he said that that car had a known problem for a short and others had complained about their speakers melting due to overheating from the amplifier. He quickly searched the fuse box numbers and had me pull fuse #67 that disarmed the amp and speakers but allowed me to drive the car again. There is no warning and this is extremely dangerous due to a possible car fire. I am just thankful that my wife or children were not driving this car when this happened. I researched the problem more and I can't believe there has not been a serious recall for those amps that came with the car.
FIRE FIRE FIRE Information light came on just saying 12 Volt Battery. I sat in the car letting it idle for about 3 minutes. It began to smoke and then burst into flames. I called 911 got the fire department here but by the time they were here there was not much left. The car essentially burned to the ground and insurance has declared it a total loss. Car was in my driveway, was certainly a danger to me, to my house and to my neighbor's cars and house.
There was smoke coming from from the engine compartment and spontaneous fire started while the car was at a stop light. The car was totally damaged. The car has less than 15000 miles driven. It is still under warranty. Information was sent to Mercedes-Benz USA with a certified mail and immediately via email from the dealership. Also was reported where the vehicle was stored if they wanted to investigate the engine. Benz USA just wanted me to fill out their standard report form. The towing company also told me that they had to tow another Benz not long ago from engine fire.
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would occasionally become difficult to maneuver. The contact stated the power steering fluid was previously refilled. The air bag warning light was illuminated intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an unusual amount of smoke coming from under the hood occasionally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid might have leaked. The mechanic could not determine the cause of the failure. An unknown local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
While driving in traffic there were loud popping and crackling sounds from the rear speakers. Then smoke appeared and an acrid burning smell. The smoke and loud sounds continued after I pulled over and turned the key off. I removed the fuses for the sound system and it remains inoperable. I went home and searched for this problem on the web and discovered that it is a common problem on 2014 Mercedes E350's. Despite this being cited as a common problem by owners, there is no recall. I called Mercedes-Benz USA and they reported that they were not aware of this problem. This event was very alarming and could have caused an accident when the smoke was coming into the passenger compartment. I believe it qualifies for a recall.
Electrical burning smell and buzzing coming from car entertainment system speakers. Did not stop even when entertainment system was turned off. Had engineer diagnose and issue is the rear subwoofer. Had to remove fuse or disconnect cables to stop issue.
The driver side seat warmer melted through the leather seat and burnt a hole in my sweater The seat could have got on fire We took the car to Mercedes Benz of Lynnwood where our service advisor, John McDonald took pictures to send to MBenz USA The display panel did not show any error messages or error codes
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact felt heat coming from the rear of the front driver seat and noticed smoke coming from the rear of the seat, causing the back of the driver’s seat to catch on fire. The contact was to pull over and noticed that the back of his shirt had caught on fire as well, the contact was not injured. The contact was able to stop the fire by pouring water on the seat. No police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed, but the front driver seat was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and they agreed to replace the front seat. The failure mileage was 38,000.
On my way to work lady Tuesday 11/1/22 just a few blocks from my AT&T office I started smelling fuel. I thought it was an lad car next to me. Looking at the rear mirror I noticed a line of fuel following me. By the time I pulled a side and shut down the vehicle I lost the full tank. The vehicle was towed and is still at Mercedes Benz of Plano, Plano, TX. The tech said the orings had gone bad and the hose deteriorated. It seems very similar to this recall https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2014-mercedes-benz-e350-recalled-for-fuel-line-problem.html I called Mercedes USA and opened CASE [XXX]. No reply yet. Fortunate the car didn’t catch on fire or someone thrower a cigarette while I was driving they downtown. Leaking fuel should not happen INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank.
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning May 8, 2026.
Recall number 26V281000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 E 350 4MATIC, E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain, and E 450 4MATIC vehicles. The 12-Volt and 48-Volt ground connections for the electrical wiring harness may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connections overheating.
- Risk
- Overheated ground connections can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the 12-Volt and 48-Volt ground connections as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 7, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 25V240000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 E350 4Matic, E450 4Matic All-Terrain, and E450 4Matic vehicles. The transmission wiring harness may be routed too close to the driveshaft, which can result in wiring harness damage and cause a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will check the transmission wiring harness routing and correct it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024040007.
Recall number 24V224000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail.
- Risk
- An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.
Recall number 24V115000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ADAS: blindspot: sensors
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 E450, E350, AMG E63 S, AMG E53, CLS450, AMG GT53, and AMG GT43 vehicles. Due to a software error, the exit warning system audio and visual warnings may fail to alert occupants about approaching vehicles.
- Risk
- Failure to alert occupants of an approaching vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the exit warning system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023080005.
Recall number 23V574000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
- Risk
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
Recall number 22V365000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑877‑762‑8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
Recall number 21V058000 · Recall details
Communication
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 C300 Cabrio, C300 Cabrio 4MATIC, C300 Coupe, C43 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, C43 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, C63S AMG Cabrio, CLS53 AMG 4MATIC, E350, E350 4MATIC, E450 Cabrio, E450 Cabrio 4MATIC, E450 Coupe, E450 Coupe 4MATIC, E450 4MATIC, E53 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, GLC300 Coupe 4MATIC, GLC300, GLC300 4MATIC, GLC63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, AMG GT63 4-Door 4MATIC, and AMG GT63S 4-Door 4MATIC vehicles. An electrical circuit inside the Emergency Call System (eCall) communication module may be damaged, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location.
- Risk
- An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the communication module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020030016.
Recall number 20V068000 · Recall details
Communication
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit:
- Risk
- An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
Recall number 19V787000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 17V177000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercedes-Benz E350 fire or smoke
Which Mercedes-Benz E350 years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2014 (14 complaints), 2007 (12 complaints) and 2008 (10 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Mercedes-Benz E350?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,500 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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