Mercedes-Benz in Court Over Cracks in Wooden Elements
Owners of premium Mercedes-Benz SUVs from model years 2013-2022 have encountered the problem of cracks in wooden decorative elements. A collective lawsuit against the company has been filed in a federal court in Georgia, concerning the ML, GL, GLE, GLS, and GLC models. The statement claims that the manufacturer sold vehicles with defective parts, which it knew about but concealed.
One of the plaintiffs, Jennifer Monilow, reported that cracks appeared on the wooden inlays of her 2013 GL within just a year of purchase. The official dealer refused warranty repair, stating that the replacement would cost a significant amount. A similar situation was described by another owner, Shanin Burzese, who was quoted over $1000 for the repair.
Judge Thomas Thrash dismissed part of the charges, including breach of warranty obligations, but the case remains under consideration for compensations
Lawyers emphasize that due to this defect, the vehicles lose their commercial appearance and market value. Despite Mercedes-Benz’s attempts to close the case, the process continues – now with a demand to appoint a jury trial and recover compensation from the company.
This situation raises questions about the durability of materials in premium cars, especially considering that the problems occurred in a series of models produced for almost a decade. Some experts have already noted that such precedents could affect the brand’s reputation in the luxury segment.