Mercedes Owners File Lawsuit Due to Sunroofs Exploding | Carscoops

      The class action claims that Mercedes has been aware of the faulty sunroofs since 2006.

      The plaintiff reports that the sunroof of her 2019 Mercedes GLE burst in February 2022.

      Customers could incur expenses of about $5,000 to replace a damaged sunroof.

      Reportedly affected models include the C-Class, E-Class, and GLE-Class.

      No one anticipates that their sunroof will suddenly explode during a calm drive, but a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz in the United States alleges that some owners have encountered this very issue. The lawsuit, which is progressing in court, contends that sunroofs on multiple Mercedes models manufactured since 2011 can shatter unexpectedly, endangering both drivers and passengers.

      Initially filed in Georgia in 2023, the case asserts that despite being aware of the problem for years, Mercedes has not taken appropriate measures.

      Natalie Bolling, the plaintiff, states that the sunroof of her 2019 GLE exploded while she was driving with the shade opened in February 2022. She described the noise as loud as a shotgun blast, leaving her and her fiancé covered in broken glass. Bolling claims that Mercedes denied her request for repair assistance, compelling her to spend almost $5,000 on a new sunroof.

      As noted in the lawsuit, Mercedes-Benz has known since 2006 about the tendency of its sunroofs to shatter but has not issued any recalls. Vehicles reportedly fitted with sunroofs that are susceptible to breaking include those mentioned above.

      The lawsuit suggests that the problem originates from the use of tempered glass instead of laminated glass. Since tempered glass is designed to break into small pieces upon impact, even a minor scratch could potentially lead to significant failure.

      Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. stated that many of the allegations in the 2023 lawsuit may proceed. These include various fraud claims such as fraudulent concealment and unjust enrichment. Additionally, implied warranty claims have been allowed to proceed, despite Mercedes's attempts to dismiss them, arguing that plaintiffs needed to provide pre-lawsuit notice prior to filing the class action.

      The suit cites numerous customer complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dating back to 2010, with some even earlier. These complaints originated from owners of 2006 E-Class and C-Class models from the years 2007, 2008, 2016, 2018, and 2019, as well as a 2019 E-Class owner. One complaint was registered by a 2020 CLA owner who reported that their sunroof shattered while driving at approximately 75 mph.

      Currently, Mercedes-Benz has not issued a recall or officially recognized a widespread defect. Owners who've faced sunroof failures have had to bear the repair costs. The outcome of the lawsuit may influence whether the manufacturer will take further measures, though a definitive ruling has yet to be made.