Paul Tassin  |  May 15, 2017

Category: Consumer News

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picture of Mercedes-Benz logo

UPDATE 4: On Dec. 26, 2020, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving settlement checks from the Mercedes HVAC class action settlement worth as much as $300. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!

UPDATE 3: January 2020, the Mercedes HVAC class action settlement website is live. Click here for more information

UPDATE 2: On Dec. 18, 2018, a Georgia federal judge denied Mercedes-Benz’s motion to dismiss a class action which alleged that the vehicles’ air systems smell moldy.

UPDATE: On March 12, 2018, a federal judge trimmed claims from a class action lawsuit alleging that Mercedes-Benz HVAC systems are defective, allowing mold to grow.


Two Georgia vehicle owners allege Mercedes-Benz has failed to offer an adequate solution to a defect in Mercedes HVAC systems.

Plaintiffs Sunil Amin and Trushar Patel say the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in several models of Mercedes vehicles allow the growth of mold and mildew inside them.

This accumulation then causes Mercedes HVAC systems to fill the vehicles’ cabins with an unbearable mildew smell, making them unusable for their intended purpose, the plaintiffs claim.

According to this Mercedes class action lawsuit, the HVAC system fails to adequately drain the condensation that it produces. The buildup of condensation creates “a moist, hospitable environment for the growth of bacteria, fungus, mold, and spores, which then are blown into the passenger cabin when the HVAC System is in use.”

“The mold-carrying air has a foul, mildewy smell that is highly unpleasant and can cause respiratory problems and aggravate allergies,” the plaintiffs say. They claim the smell happens every time the HVAC system is turned on, and that the problem gets worse during humid weather or after rain.

The company has failed to adequately address the alleged defect through warranty claims, according to this Mercedes HVAC class action lawsuit.

Plaintiffs say all that Mercedes has offered to do in response to customer complaints has been to offer temporary fixes that fail to address the root cause of the problem. The company has allegedly tried to remedy the defect by cleaning out the Mercedes HVAC system and replacing the cabin air filter.

But according to the plaintiffs, these fixes are only temporary. Even after implementing these fixes, the Mercedes HVAC system continues to accumulate condensation, mold and mildew, and the mildew smell eventually returns, the plaintiffs say.

And instead of covering these proffered fixes under the manufacturer’s warranty, Mercedes requires vehicle owners to pay for them out-of-pocket, according to the plaintiffs.

The vehicles in question come from more than a dozen different Mercedes classes, from model years as early as 1999 to as late as 2017. Amin and Patel say the Mercedes HVAC systems on all these vehicles are substantially the same, and they all have the same defect that causes the mildew growth in question.

Amin and Patel propose to represent a statewide plaintiff Class consisting of residents of Georgia who purchased or leased any of the Mercedes HVAC-equipped vehicles at issue.

They seek a court order requiring Mercedes to repair the HVAC defect on Class Members’ cars, expanding warranty coverage as needed to make the repairs free of charge and reassessing all prior warranty claims related to the defect.

The plaintiffs also seek an award of compensatory, exemplary and statutory damages, restitution and disgorgement of profits, and reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys are Ketan A. Patel of Corpus Law Patel LLC, and Jonathan D. Selbin and Annika K. Martin of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP.

The Mercedes HVAC Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Sunil Amin and Trushar Patel v. Mercedes-Benz USA LLC and Daimler AG, Case No. 1:17-cv-01701, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

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75 thoughts onMercedes Class Action Says HVAC Defect Merits Warranty Coverage

  1. JUANA ACEVEDO says:

    My car ML350 has this problem

  2. DENEEN BECK says:

    I own a 2016 Mercedes Benz GLE 350 and I have the same problem. Smell sometimes becomes unbearable. I ride with windows down. Please keep me informed. Cabin filter service is very pricey and I feel it should be a free service since its manufacturers defect.

  3. Francesca says:

    I have a 2015 ml350 and the air conditioning smells horrible. I already brought it into Mercedes in September 19. 9 months later it smells again. Looking for some help.
    Thank you

  4. JOE WILLIAMS says:

    Yes My Wife gotten sick behind the smell and she haven’t drove the car anymore they really need to do something about this issue and I mean real soon…

  5. Pamela D Alford says:

    We have a 300 C class and my husband mentioned that smell long time ago. I always have air freshener in the car. Once we turned on the air conditioner it does smell like mildew. It’s awful. How do we apply for the class action suit?

  6. Desmond M Fields says:

    I have the same mold smell inside my 2010 s550 its bad in the summer time please add me to your list.

  7. Dawn M Hrobuchak says:

    I have the same moldy, musty, mildew smell coming from the HVAC system of my leased 2018 Mercedes Benz CLA-250. I have complained to the dealership, Mercedes Benz of Chandler Arizona, several times to no avail. I honestly believe my car is making me very ill. I have all of the symptoms of mold infestation since owning this vehicle. I have never before had any of these systems. Exposure to mold and mildew symptoms are;
    Brain Fog, Memory Problems, Trouble Focusing, Headaches
    Fatigue and Weakness
    Unexplained Muscle Cramping, Aches and Pains in the Joints, Persistent Nerve Pain
    Numbness and Tingling
    Eye Problems like Red Eyes or Light Sensitivity
    Asthma and Sinus Problems like Cough or Shortness of Breath
    Tremors and Vertigo
    Digestive Issues like Change in Appetite, Diarrhea, Nausea, Abdominal Pain
    Metallic Taste in the Mouth
    Temperature Regulation or Night Sweats
    Excessive Thirst and Increased Urination

    I try to avoid driving my car, because It is literally making my sick, what can I do?

  8. Tamatha Caldwell says:

    Is there a case like this in Texas? We have the same issue.

  9. Grettel says:

    How I file a claim for the bad smell

  10. Wanda Hawkins says:

    How do you file a claim for this lawsuit?

    1. Top Class Actions says:

      The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!

      1. Jean says:

        My mom has this problem

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