my brother in laws 2008 GL450 caught on fire, last friday they came from a shopping, parked can on drive way, then the fire started under the seat, since I have 2009 model anyone know if there is any issue with it. the guy who came to pick the car, tow truck driver, told them, this is his 6th one. this is in dallas... In don't have any photos, when i get it i will post them. Insurance company told them this is their 22nd one kid of worried...

 

Yikes, I have same car as you. keep us posted please if you find ouyt something. Cute kid in photo

 

Do you know which seat the fire started under? The battery is under the passenger seat and could be the source of these problems although this is the first I am hearing of this...........

 

here's a few posts on Edmunds board with similar complaints (not sure if it's same), but first I've heard of it, and given the seriousness of this issue - I cant imagine MB wouldnt do an immediate recall of all impacted models. I will need to see pics in order to believe this isn't a slandering attempt on MB.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f17fb24

 

Holy Cow! This is scary! Makes me think twice about parking my GL in the garage. Ugh.

 

I sent an email to my dealer as well as MB on this issue. Let us see what they will reply with.

I suggest we all contact our dealers and MB to put pressure on them to come out with any issue/recall that they are aware of.

We all value our families more than anything else.

 

Any more news on this? Is this something that just started to happen?

 

I got a call back from MB (not the dealer). The reply is that while MB does not comment on posts like this, they have verified the QA records and do not find any incidents recorded. In other words, MB does not seem to have any incident reported to them. How is it possible that members report incidents here but they are not recorded by MB? I am sure members contacted MB.

Anyway, on the same call, I come to know that a service campaign is issued for rear sam replacement for my vehicle vin number so took appointment with dealer to get it done.

 

DO NOT depend on M-B (or any other manufacturer) to be completely candid on issues like this. Until they decide what the 'official' company position is, data is withheld form the personnel answering your query. Sort of like the BBB - their stock answer to a complaint is "we have nothing on file about company xxx". That just means they have no file system!

 

is this only for GL450s? or is it applicable to other models as well? I don't see what difference there is in the electrical layout of the car. Just purchased a 2008 GL500 so this ain't good...

 

This especially applies to a dealer. They simply do not know anything more than you or I know. When the home office decides to take action, we will all hear. Here I was all secure thinking my diesel will not catch fire!

 

I'd still like to see pics before I believe. I am "ye of little faith" in regards to this... might be the same guy who builds weather balloons in Colorado

 

Your diesel will still not catch fire from the diesel fuel; The electrical system is another matter however! Think of the electrical system on a hybrid and be VERY glad you have a diesel

 

The electrical system, the extra batteries, the hugely complex drive system, the battery replacement requirements,the highway mileage ... all of it!

STP

 

Here are pics of my wife's car. This should answer any questions. I have personally spoken to three other GL 450 owners whose cars have spontaneously combusted. It's shocking that MB is not acknowledging this. And RECALLING ALL 2007, 2008, 2009 GL 450s. Feel free to contact me with any further questions...They're dangerous, and they catch fire for no particular reason, or at least not one that MBUSA is willing to acknowledge for obvious reasons.

 

That is some really scary stuff and thank you for posting these pictures. I hope everyone was ok. Do you know where the fire started and what was the source of the fire (i.e. the battery, etc)?

 

the fire department/ investigator traced the start of the fire to the battery area under the front passenger seat which is also where my wife heard the initial popping noise as the fire was getting started. Thankfully she was able to get out in time, and was driving without our two kids in car seats. They'd have been in big trouble, in light of how quickly the car was engulfed in flames.

 

I think you just helped me make my decision between the GL 350 and the BMW X5 35d.

I don't care how perfect the size of the vehicle is, or what have you, but this is retarded. I cannot even understand how a company cannot even acknowledge the issue. I mean, honestly, at least admit that you are aware of the issue, but cannot comment until all cases have been reviewed.

I imagine it will take a fatality before the company decides to make a comment.

 

This is crazy...how many more GLs have to go up in flames before MBUSA acknowledge there is an issue...

 

so 2008 GL500s dont have to worry?

 

yikes - seeing the damage, the fire must have gotten pretty hot!
PL

 

Glad to hear your wife was ok. I figured the battery was the source of the problem. It is beyond me why this car was not designed with the battery under the hood. Its not like it is a sports car with no room to spare. I wonder if they will come out with a retrofit to move the battery somewhere else. I hope so............

 

That's crazy!
Still looking forward to seeing the pictures of his brother-in-law's GL450...

 

And file a complaint at NHTSA, with enough complaint, they might pressure MB for a safety recall

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

 

I still haven't been able to find any instances of this affecting the diesel models (GL320's) or the higher end GL550's. Anyone??