Two Metro Atlanta Mercedes owners say their SUVs suddenly caught fire without warning, one while in motion and another minutes after pulling into a doctor’s office. Both owners say the company inspected at least one of the vehicles and reported finding no defect, even as dozens of other drivers have reported similar blazes.
As reported by WSB‑TV, Victor Anthony says he smelled smoke and then saw flames on the passenger side of his 2021 GLS 450 while driving home. He pulled over just before the 17th Street Bridge in South Fulton County in March 2025 and got out seconds before the SUV was overtaken by fire. Anthony told Channel 2 he filed a complaint with federal regulators and that Mercedes inspected his vehicle in May 2025, but he says he never received any follow up.
Cobb County resident Amy Henry told WSB‑TV that her 2017 GLS 450 erupted into flames without warning while she was pulling into a doctor’s office and that “there was no warning.” According to the station, Mercedes‑Benz later wrote to Henry saying her car “did not suffer from a product defect or malfunction.” Michael Brooks of the Center for Auto Safety told Channel 2 that drivers should file complaints with NHTSA so regulators can watch for any patterns.
Recalls and safety records
Public records show multiple recall campaigns that involve recent Mercedes GLE and GLS models, but the affected parts often apply to newer model years or to components different from those in the older GLS SUVs at issue here. A roundup of recent Mercedes recall actions, including a 48 volt ground connection recall and an 80 amp fuse recall, is available from CarComplaints.
How to check your vehicle and report a problem
NHTSA’s recall search tool lets drivers check open recalls by VIN, and its complaint portal outlines how to report a potential safety problem. Multiple, similar owner reports can prompt the agency to open an analysis. For guidance on checking recalls and submitting a complaint, see NHTSA.
Local context
Mercedes maintains a large North American presence in the Atlanta area, having centralized major operations in the region in 2025, which owners say makes the lack of clear follow up particularly striking. A prior report on the automaker’s move and expansion plans in the Atlanta metro detailed the company’s shift into the area…