Mercedes-Benz asks judge to dismiss defective wheel class action

Update: 

• Mercedes-Benz asked a Georgia federal court to dismiss a class action lawsuit accusing the automaker of failing to disclose a wheel configuration defect allegedly present on some of its S580 sedans. 
• Mercedes-Benz argued the class action lawsuit includes only conclusory allegations by a driver who claims to have suffered two driver-side front-tire blowouts during a road trip as a result of the alleged defect.  
• The individual argues Mercedes-Benz manufactured certain model year 2021 and newer S580 sedans with defective 21-inch AMG v-multi-spoke wheels and tires allegedly prone to blowouts, punctures and deflation. 
• Mercedes-Benz argues the complaint fails to explain the alleged defect and the claims rely only on the individual’s two punctured tires.

Mercedes-Benz wheel defect class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: David Chappell filed a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz USA LLC and Mercedes-Benz Group AG. 
• Why: Chappell claims Mercedes-Benz failed to disclose a wheel configuration defect present in its model year 2021 and newer S580 Sedan vehicles that are equipped with a 21-inch AMG V-multi-spoke wheel configuration.
• Where: The Mercedes-Benz defect class action lawsuit was filed in Georgia federal court. 

(May 15, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz failed to disclose a wheel defect present in model year 2021 and newer S580 Sedan vehicles equipped with 21-inch AMG V-multi-spoke wheels, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff David Chappell’s class action lawsuit claims the Mercedes-Benz vehicles are equipped with wheels and tires that cause “sudden and repeated” tire blowouts, punctures and deflation, as well as sidewall bubbling and cracked rims.

“The 21” Wheel Configuration in use on the Class Vehicles is insufficient to withstand the weight of such vehicles, which results in the failure of its structural integrity, which inexorably leads to the tire and wheel degradation,” the Mercedes-Benz wheel defect class action claims. 

Chappell wants to represent a nationwide class and Nevada subclass of consumers who bought or leased a model year 2021 or newer S580 Sedan vehicle with the allegedly defective wheels.

Mercedes-Benz class action: Automaker knew of defect, concealed issue

Chappell argues Mercedes-Benz knew about the alleged wheel configuration defect from pre-production testing and design failure mode analysis — in addition to multiple other reasons — but chose to conceal and deny the issue to consumers. 

“Mercedes has actively concealed the existence of the defect, telling customers … that the wheels and/or tires are not defective and that the blowouts are caused by potholes or other driver error, without any such evidence to support external causes,” the Mercedes-Benz defect class action says. 

Chappell claims Mercedes-Benz is guilty of fraud by omission or fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and breach of express warranty, and violating Nevada’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a pair of Nevada statutes and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. 

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as an award of compensatory, exemplary and statutory damages for himself and all class members. 

Mercedes-Benz recently issued three recalls for more than 137,000 of its model year 2020-2024 vehicles over defect concerns including bad welds on an accelerator pedal, faulty fuses and a transmission shifting issue.

Do you own or lease a model year 2021 or newer Mercedes-Benz S580 Sedan? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Nathaniel James Heber of Heber Law Firm LLC and Tarek H. Zohdy, Cody R. Padgett, Laura E. Goolsby and Nathan N. Kiyam of Capstone Law APC. 

The Mercedes-Benz wheel defect class action lawsuit is Chappell, et al. v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-01989, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• BMW recall over rear crash issues affects 291,000 vehicles
• Hyundai issues recall for multiple models due to fuel pump defect
• Toyota class action claims hydrogen fuel unavailable for Mirai vehicles
• GM faces recent class actions, settlements