Mercedes Engine Defect Class Action Settlement

A California federal judge has granted preliminary approval to a class action settlement to resolve defective engine allegations against Mercedes-Benz U.S.A., LLC. You may be able to benefit from this class action settlement, if you own one of the affected vehicles.

The Mercedes class action settlement is for “all current and former owners and lessees of Mercedes-Benz branded automobiles equipped with M272 or M273 engines bearing serial numbers up to 2729..30 468993 or 2739 ..30088611, found in the Subject 2005 – 2007 Model Year Vehicles respectively (the ‘Subject Vehicles’), who purchased or leased their Subject Vehicles within the United States.”

The first defective engine class action lawsuit was filed against Mercedes in 2010 in  a New Jersey federal court over alleged problems with the M272 or M273 engines.

“The engines are equipped with defective gears in their balance shafts (in the event of the M272 engines) or with defective idle gears (in the case of the M273 engines),” the Mercedes class action lawsuit alleged.

“These defective gears wear out prematurely, excessively, and without warning, causing the vehicle to malfunction, the ‘check engine light’ to remain illuminated, and the vehicle to misfire and/or stop driving,” the complaint added.

This class action lawsuit was filed in October 2012 by plaintiffs Majeed Seifi and Tracey Deakin, which made similar claims as the 2010 lawsuit.

Under the terms of the Mercedes class action settlement “Class Members will be reimbursed for repairs they had to fund to the tune of thousands of dollars due to the alleged engine defect as well as “future repairs for the allegedly defective parts at issue for the lesser of 10 years or 125,000 miles, subject to certain conditions and limitations.”

“This extended coverage more than doubles the durational limit of MBUSA’s New Vehicle Warranty’s term of the lesser 4 years or 50,000 miles,” it adds.

The amount Class Members will receive will vary. Repairs not done at an authorized Mercedes dealer will result in a reimbursement up to $4,000. Mercedes will also cover the cost to repair future engine problems, which will also vary depending on the age of the car when the problems come to fruition. The reimbursement will be 100 percent, 70 percent or 37.5 percent of the cost of the repair.

Mercedes denies any wrongdoing but has agreed to the class action settlement to avoid the costs and risks associated with going to trial. U.S. District Judge Shelton E. Henderson granted preliminary approval to the deal in April.

Who’s Eligible

This class action settlement is for any one who purchased or leased Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the United States that are Model Years 2005-2007 equipped with M272 (V6) or M273 (V8) engines bearing serial numbers up to 2729..30 468993 or 2739 ..30 088611, respectively.

Vehicle owners can find their engine serial number on a repair order. Class Members may also enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the settlement website to see if their vehicle qualifies for benefits from this Mercedes class action settlement.

Potential Award

There are two ways benefit from this class action settlement:

1. Mercedes  has agreed to cover qualified future repairs up to 10 years or 125,000 miles to the sprocket of the balance shaft gear in M272 engines or the idle gear in M273 engines.

2. If a Class Member has already paid to have the engine defects repaired, Mercedes will reimburse a percentage of those costs.

• Repairs not done at an authorized Mercedes dealer will receive a reimbursement up to $4,000.
• If the repair took place before between 4 years or 50,000 miles and 8 years or 80,000 miles , Class Members will receive 70 percent of those costs.
• If the repair took place between 8 years or 80,000 miles and 10 years or 125,000 miles, 37.5 percent of the costs will be reimbursed.
• No reimbursement will be sent to Class Members who have vehicles that were repaired after the vehicle was 10 years old or had 125,000 miles on it.
• Repairs must have been done before May 13, 2015.

Proof of Purchase

Class Members must provide the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of their vehicle.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

09/25/2015

Case Name

The Mercedes-Benz Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Majeed Seifi, et al. v. Mercedes Benz USA LLC, Case No. 3:12-cv-05493, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Final Hearing

08/17/2015

Settlement Website

www.BalanceShaftSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Mercedes Engine Defect Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 43351
Providence, RI 02940-3351
Email: Admin@BalanceShaftSettlement.com

Class Counsel

KATRIEL LAW FIRM
KANTROWITZ GOLDHAMER & GRAIFMAN

Defense Counsel

BURDICK & MCDONOUGH LLP