APRIL 2022 – IMPORTANT UPDATE: THE MERCEDES WALNUT BURL TRIM LAWSUIT IS IN SETTLEMENT
- Our lawyers at HGD have been appointed to represent the class members in this settlement.
- Please go to Mercedes Walnut Trim Settlement Website for information and claim forms.
- Click the “Start Your Claim” button in blue.
- Please note that the settlement administrator has the most up to date information on claims and how to complete claims.
- Please call 1-855-604-1845 or email [email protected].
- If you have a question regarding a legal matter – and not how to complete the claim form or where to submit a claim form – please leave a message on our Mercedes Burl Wood Trim voicemail box: (205) 314-5901
ATLANTA, GA: (May 15, 2019) – A new class action lawsuit out of Georgia alleges that Mercedes Benz USA, LLC and Daimler AG knowingly sold hundreds of thousands of Mercedes E-Series with a defective wood trim that becomes discolored and fades when exposed to sunlight. The suit claims Mercedes knew about problems with the walnut wood trim as early as 2009 but instead of addressing the defects, allegedly told dealerships to hide the problem. Attorneys from Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC’s class action group filed the class action complaint on behalf of Plaintiff Teri Callen.
Callen purchased a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 with 11,000 miles that came with a Mercedes certified pre-owned warranty as well as the remaining standard warranty. The car was equipped with the burl walnut wood trim and a mechanic first pointed out the fading to Callen in November of 2018. The burl walnut wood trim was located on the center console, each door, and the dashboard and had become faded, discolored and cloudy in appearance. When Callen contacted the Mercedes dealer, she was allegedly told that the pre-owned warranty did not cover the trim. Callen says that Mercedes refused to replace the walnut trim in her Mercedes even though they had issued multiple technical service bulletins describing the identical problem with the burl walnut wood trim. Plaintiff further alleges that dealers charge between $3000 to $5000 to replace the wood trim.
Callen purchased a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 with 11,000 miles that came with a Mercedes certified pre-owned warranty as well as the remaining standard warranty. The car was equipped with the burl walnut wood trim and a mechanic first pointed out the fading to Callen in November of 2018. The burl walnut wood trim was located on the center console, each door, and the dashboard and had become faded, discolored and cloudy in appearance. When Callen contacted the Mercedes dealer, she was allegedly told that the pre-owned warranty did not cover the trim. Callen says that Mercedes refused to replace the walnut trim in her Mercedes even though they had issued multiple technical service bulletins describing the identical problem with the burl walnut wood trim. Plaintiff further alleges that dealers charge between $3000 to $5000 to replace the wood trim.
How Do Class Action Lawsuits Work?
In 2010, Mercedes issued the first technical service bulletin L168.10-P-505 to dealers that addressed the discoloration and fading of the burl wood trim. The bulletin warned dealers and technicians about the wood trim fading from “inadequate UV (ultra violet) ray protection.” The suit also alleges that rather than replacing the trim, Mercedes instructed technicians to remove the the SRS (airbag) label as well as any other label or protection material from the wood panel to an area on the instrument panel or lower control panel so that the fading would be less obvious. Several subsequent versions of the second Technical Service Bulletins were issued by Mercedes and stated all 2010-2016 E-Series vehicles were affected with the fading and discoloration issues of the burl walnut trim. Plaintiff Callen says Mercedes refused to replace the walnut trim even though the automaker issued technical service bulletins about identical fading and discoloration problems.
The Mercedes burl walnut wood trim lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division – Teri Callen, et al., v. Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC, is a national law firm and our attorneys defend valuable rights for our clients. To determine if you should file suit, consult one of our qualified lawyers as soon as possible to understand your options. We do not charge any fees upfront. In fact, we will only charge attorney’s fees if we obtain a financial settlement for you. If you do not win, we get nothing.
