2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Electrical System Problems

A flash from the right headlight had occured. I thought it was the bulb, but turns out the ballist was shorted out. I removed the assembly from the vehicle to change the ballist and because I want to also change the lens on the assembly. When I got the old lens off, I found most of the wiring has heat distress, causing the casings to flake off. I have photos of this issue. The headlights are a high energy assembly and this unsafe condition can lead to a vehicle fire if not taken care of immediately.

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN MY GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE 2 HRS PRIOR. MY HUSBAND ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TONS OF LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH, INCLUDING THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED, THOUGH THE AIRBAG HAD NOT DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS OFF BUT STILL SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING. WINDOWS OR NOTHING WOULD WORK. WE RAISED THE HOOD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DISCOVER THE ISSUE. WE COULD SMELL SOMETHING, BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. WE PROCEEDED TO GO INSIDE OUR HOME, BUT LEFT THE GARAGE AND HOOD OPEN SO THE SMELL FROM THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAVE THE GARAGE. COUPLE HOURS LATER WE HEARD A HISSING SOUND IN THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND WENT OUTSIDE AND DISCOVERED THE TRUCK ON FIRE. NOT SURE WHERE IT STARTED, WHEN SAW IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED OUT. FIRE DEPT SOUND LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY HAD WE NOT HEARD THE SOUND AND HAD THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

STATUS ' 4TH TIME TRYING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ISSUE 'VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED DURING DRIVING FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH KIDS IN THE CAR ' COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF STEERING AND DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES EVERY WARNING SIGNAL (SEE PICTURE BELOW) 'MERCEDES IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FIXED THE CAR (SEE RECEIPT $4,600 IN REPAIRS) AND SUV CONTINUES TO STOP. SINCE THE 1ST INCIDENT, THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE ISSUE THREE TIMES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 60 DAYS THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED THE CEO'S OFFICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE HAS STEPPED IN TO ASSIST WITH THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN A SPECIAL ENGINEER TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE BUT THAT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. ON 10/20/17 ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER HAVING MY CAR IN THE SHOP, I PICKED UP THE SUV. ON 11/18/17, THE CAR STOPPED ON ME AGAIN WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR SINCE 11/18/17. ON 11/22/17, I RECEIVED ANOTHER UPDATE STATING THE CAR IS CLOSE TO $3000 TO FIX. SINCE JUNE 2017, I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED MERCEDES TO DECLARE THE CAR A LEMON SINCE OVER $7000 OR MORE HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE VEHICLE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASE THE CAR. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 1ST GENERATION SUV RATHER THAN TAKE THE OLDER MODEL SUV OUT OF PRODUCTION, THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO PROFIT AND PUT SON AND OTHER KIDS IN HARM'S WAY---THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CHALLENGES WITH THE ENGINE, THE WIRING AND THE OLDER TECHNOLOGY IS A KNOWN ISSUE'THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED AND YOU CAN'T PUT THE SUV IN ANY GEAR'THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD AND FREEWAY.

WIRIING INSULATION IN HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATES RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND REPEATED FAILURE OF HEADLAMPS.INFORMATION SHARED WITH HELLA (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO RESPOND). FAILED PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.