NHTSA Complaint #10614990 — 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THE HATCH DOOR LATCH WOULD ERRONEOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BLINK OFF AND ON. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HORN ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND COULD NOT BE TURN OFF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT MOMENT LATER SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR HATCH AREA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT AND FUSE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.