$1.6M Settlement Deal Reached in Autobahn Parts Class Action Lawsuit

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Drivers received initial approval for a $1.6 million settlement deal resolving a class action lawsuit that claimed Autobahn lied about the quality of car parts used in repairs.

In California on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers approved the $1.6 million class action settlement struck by drivers and Autobahn Inc. that would end a class action lawsuit alleging that the car company told consumers it used Mercedes car parts in repairs, but really, used lower-quality parts.

Under the proposed Autobahn class action settlement, consumers would receive $1.6 million in vouchers redeemable for company services or a cash value of $600,000. The drivers’ attorneys can seek up to $577,000 in attorneys fees, with expense reimbursement up to $22,000.

Class Members eligible for settlement benefits would include any car owners who had their vehicles serviced by Autobahn between 2005 and February 2018, as well as owners who bought certified pre-owned vehicles from Autobahn between 2007 and the end of the year 2012.

Autobahn maintains that the company did not commit any wrongdoing, and that the car parts used in repairs were of the highest quality, as advertised to consumers.

The company also denies the drivers’ claims that it used prohibited parts and fluids in repairing customers’ vehicles. Autobahn reportedly chose to purse a settlement deal so as to avoid spending additional money and time to pursue further litigation.

The Autobahn car parts class action lawsuit was filed in 2016 and alleged that Autobahn made a practice of advertising to car owners that it used Mercedes parts during car repairs, but in reality, used cheaper parts.

Drivers argued that Autobahn had conducted a “well-documented marketing campaign” around the quality of parts used in car repairs, but that the company did not live up to these claims in practice.

The drivers further claimed that more than 12,000 customers were injured by Autobahn, and had each purchased around $530,000 in parts from Autobahn, believing they were receiving genuine Mercedes parts but were really receiving non-genuine parts.

Counsel for the drivers notes that the entirety of the Autobahn part class action lawsuit has not been settled. One of the plaintiffs’ attorneys says that consumers will continue to pursue litigation over their claims that Autobahn and Mercedes misled consumers by fraudulently advertising that their “genuine” parts allegedly used in repairs are of higher quality, last longer, and are more effective then non-genuine parts.

Drivers’ counsel stressed that the settlement deal only resolved claims relating to the types of parts used in repairs, and the injury that drivers allegedly incurred as a result.

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The drivers are represented by Herman Franck of Franck & Associates and Janet Varnell, Brian Warwick and David Lietz of Varnell & Warwick PA.

The Autobahn Mercedes Parts Class Action Lawsuit is Steve Ferrari, et al. v. Autobahn Inc., et al., Case No. 4:17-cv-00018, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.