Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
MERCEDES-BENZ SUNROOF CLASS ACTION UPDATE:
- This case was dismissed Nov. 1, 2021.
A vehicle owner who claims the sunroof in his car cracked and exploded has filed a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz and others.
Plaintiff Bruce Pickens says he is the owner of a 2015 ML 350 Mercedes-Benz and purchased the vehicle from Napleton Autowerks of Indiana Inc. in Schererville, Ind. Napleton Autowerks is also named as a defendant in the class action lawsuit, as are Daimler AG and Saint-Gobain Sekurit.
He says that on March 3, 2020, his sister, Jawanna Tallie, was driving his car about 55 mph on Interstate 98 in Illinois when the sunroof exploded unexpectedly.
Pickens explains that while Tallie was driving, she heard a big boom as loud as a gunshot. Tallie claims she pulled over to check the car for damage to the exterior of the vehicle.
After not finding any damage to the exterior of the car, she re-entered the vehicle and closed the door, at which point glass from the sunroof began to fall on her. She claims the sunroof had caved in.
The plaintiff notes many vehicle owners have had the same problem with their sunroofs on the Mercedes-Benz vehicles. He says multiple Mercedes-Benz have complained that their sunroofs had exploded, shattered and/or cracked without warning.
“This is a serious safety concern, as the shattering of the sunroofs often occurs while the car is being driven, and shards of glass fall on and around the occupants,” the Mercedes-Benz class action lawsuit goes on to state.
In addition, Pickens maintains the explosion or shattering makes a loud and startling noise, which has the propensity to distract drivers while they are operating the vehicle.
The defendants did not warn customers about the alleged defect, and instead continued to sell and lease their vehicles without disclosing this defect to drivers, according to Pickens.
Mercedes-Benz has reportedly received other complaints from vehicle owners, but instead of recalling the vehicle, they have offered drivers $250 to $500 as a “good faith” gesture in return for not pursuing legal actions against the defendants.
Pickens notes the installment or replacement of the sunroof is expensive and could cost as much as $2,000.
Also, the plaintiff states that according to research, the unexpected shattering of the sunroof in Mercedes-Benz vehicles has occurred in different makes and models.
He says he relied on Mercedes-Benz’s representations in purchasing his vehicle and would not have bought it if the facts regarding the true safety of the vehicle had been disclosed.
Pickens explains the defendants did not adequately warn against the negative effects and risks associated with Mercedes-Benz vehicles and did not provide any warnings regarding the potential shattering of the sunroof.
The Mercedes-Benz class action lawsuit goes on to say the “Defendants omitted, concealed, and inadequately provided critical safety information regarding the use of Mercedes-Benz in order to induce its purchase and use.”
In addition, the plaintiff argues the defendant engaged in and continued to engage in conduct likely to mislead consumers; this conduct was fraudulent, unfair and unlawful, Pickens said. He claims Mercedes-Benz knew or should have known about the shattering of the sunroofs.
Despite clear knowledge that the Mercedes-Benz’s sunroof had a significant chance of shattering unexpectedly, the defendant continued to market and sell without warning customers or healthcare providers of the significant risks of unexpected sunroof explosions, Pickens goes on to state.
This is not the first class action lawsuit filed against Mercedes-Benz related to defective sunroofs.
In April 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against the car manufacturing company by a vehicle owner who claimed the sunroof in his new 2015 GLA250 Mercedes-Benz randomly shattered while he was driving. The plaintiff claimed glass got inside the car as well as in his hair and eyes.
Common questions of law and fact in this Mercedes-Benz class action lawsuit include: 1) Whether the sunroofs are defective because they are prone to spontaneous explosion, and 2) Whether the defendants breached expressed warranties in the connection with their refusal to provide coverage to repair the sunroofs.
There are three prospective Classes in the Mercedes-Benz class action lawsuit:
- Class 1: All Illinois residents who purchased or leased a Mercedes-Benz vehicle in Illinois and who have incurred actual expenses in connection with either the diagnosis or repair of the vehicle’s sunroof;
- Class 2: All Illinois residents who currently own or lease a Mercedes-Benz vehicle in Illinois and who have not had the sunroof fully repaired;
- Class 3: All persons in the United States of America who purchased one or more of defendants’ vehicles anytime between 2010 and the present.
Do you own a Mercedes-Benz vehicle? Has the sunroof unexpectedly exploded? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Maudia Washington of Washington Law Offices.
The Mercedes-Benz Defective Sunroof Class Action Lawsuit is Bruce Pickens v. Daimler AG, et al. Case No. 1:20-cv-03470, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
40 thoughts onMercedes Class Action Claims Sunroofs Spontaneously Shatter
I have a 2019 GLA 250 4Matic, February 11, 2021 I was driving on the I65 Northbound, my sunroof exploded and my face hit the steering wheel, glass went everywhere! It sounded like a mortar attack, my dog was in the car and is traumatized, I have to make her get in the car now, where as before she jumped in as soon as I opened the door. I took my car to the closest MB dealership and they would not cover any of the costs, they offered me a Military discount stating that they were aware of the problem, also they searched for a recall and nothing was found.
Please add me to lawsuit.
January 20,2021 my c300 panoramic sunroof exploded and Mercedes won’t fix it and the glass is on back order looking at around 3-4 months to get it
My newly class A AMG Berline with MBUX, sunroof exploded on the highway in the evening. There was no pressure difference in the car … nonetheless you can see at the edge as the pressure came from the inside! I am in Europe
My sunroof did the exact same thing in 2018 of my cla250
I thought maybe a rock hit it, however, no rock was found.
I had my 2018 GLC sunroof explode while on the freeway driving…. I was alone and the exact situation happened… they said it was my fault and had me file a claim with my insurance…. they claim something must’ve hit the window, but I informed them no one was around. Since, I have not been able to get car insurance and they are using it against my driving record and I have to pay higher rates, is it possible for me to be a part of this claim. I sold the car immediate after because I am in fear of driving with panoramic sunroofs.
On September 12th, 2020 I was driving at 55 mph and all of a sudden I heard a loud bang and the next thing I knew the sun roof in my 2017 C300 Mercedes exploded, shattering and falling into the car on me and my friend, but mostly in the back seat. There was no on in front of me or behind me and I had not gone under an overpass or anything like that. Luckily I could still could close the shade part of the sun roof so the rest of the glass could not fall into the car. I called our Mercedes dealership and they were not concerned. And then reported the incident to my insurance company and filed a claim as soon as I got home. It is now October 31st and I still do not have a sunroof in my car. And it is undriveable. The part is on back order and I am being told there are none available at this time, they are on back order and no one can give me a estimate of when they will be shipping the part. Therefore I do not have a clue when my car will be fixed. This is a huge inconvenience for me.
I have a 2016 C300 4MATIC
On Oct 12,20 I was merging into the highway, No cars in front of me behind me above me anywhere around me as I was getting onto the highway. Then there was a very loud bag like a gunshot I didn’t know what had happened? I thought I had been shot at! Scared the shit out of me and traffic started coming up behind me. I looked around noticed there were tiny pieces of glass everywhere on my head shoulders, arms…looked up and saw that my sunroof had completely shattered. There was a full crack at the front and the back and no impact spots. I immediately pulled over took pictures and called the dealership not knowing what to do? Do I keep driving it what will happen if I drive will it keep coming down will it fly out? My sunshade was open but my sunroof was closed. The dealership asked if I could close my sunshade so I did. And I immediately drove to the dealership.
Come to find out the sunroofs are on back order with no date as to when they will be available……
Any suggestions on how I can be a part of this class action?!
Thanks I live in SLC, UT
My 2016 Mercedes GLE 350 panoramic sunroof exploded 10-10-20 at 75 mph on open highway around midnight – scared me to death. Almost wrecked the car.
I live in Texas – I’d like to join the lawsuit
Please contact me my name is Cynthia Burton and King I was just in what I thought a car accident yesterday driving back to Texas from Joplin Missouri next to an 18 wheeler truck that had a flatbed with things on it driving about 55 mph on the side of the truck I heard what sounded like a Gun shot and I thought I hit something and then glass just started falling all over me cutting me up I panicked screamed almost drove off the road because I’m under the impression something flew off the truck I’ll try to catch up to the truck to flag him down to pull over he tries to run me off the road and I thought I hit something and then glass just started falling all over me cutting me up I panicked screamed almost drove off the road because I’m under the impression something flew off the truck I’ll try to catch up to the truck to flag him down to pull over he tries to run me off the road my husband luckily was in another car and backed up to where we were before the gentleman came out to confront me only for the trucker to go back and get a knife to come at us luckily the police came now the police are telling me that this is a known issue that Mercedes sunroof glasses will shatter if there’s too much heat and cool air from the inside the car and I am in desperate need of help
Hi,
I have leased a 2019 GLS450 and the sun roof exploded on a road trip recently. When I contacted the dealership they were very unhelpful and it was even worse when I finally made it home and returned the car to the service department. They were extremely rude! 1500 miles with a tarp on the roof was awful.
It sounded like a gun shot when the glass blew out, thank god the shade was closed.