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Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with M272 or M273 engines are equipped with defective gears that cause the vehicle to malfunction, according to a class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court.
According to the Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 engine class action lawsuit, these engines are equipped with defective gears in their balance shafts (in the case of the M272 engines) or with defective idle gears (in the case of the M273 engines) that 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 only way to correct this problem, the lawsuit says, is to have the balance shaft or idle gear replaced, which is a large-scale repair job, costing customers thousands of dollars and leaving them without a car for weeks at a time.
The Mercedes balance shaft gear and idle gear class action lawsuit claims that internal company documents prove that Mercedes has known about these defects at least as early as August 2007, but has failed to take appropriate corrective action and has concealed the defects from unsuspecting owners and lessees.
“Mercedes has known all along about the existence of a defect with the balance shaft gears in its M272 engines and idle gears in its M273 engine, yet it has concealed that knowledge and deliberately omitted any information or dissemination about its existence,” the class action lawsuit says. “Mercedes’ concealment and its omission of any disclosure of the defect in the affected automobiles was not merely a case of innocent omission or misrepresentation, but rather represents an intentional campaign to fraudulently deceive the buying public.”
The Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 engine class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of a nationwide class of owners and lessees who have vehicles equipped with M272 engines bearing serial numbers up to 2729..30 468993 and M273 engines bearing serial numbers up to 2739..30 088611.
The Mercedes M272 engine is reportedly installed in the following Mercedes-Benz vehicles:
Model Years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010:
C 230
SLK 350
CLS 350
E 230
Model Years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010:
CLS 280
CLK 280
C 280
E 280
SL 280
C 350
E 350
S 350
SL 350
Viano
Model Years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010:
R 280
R 350
ML 250
Sprinter
Model Years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010:
S 280
Model Years 2008, 2009, 2010:
CLC 230
CLC 350
The Mercedes M273 engine is reportedly installed in the following Mercedes-Benz vehicles:
Model Year 2006:
E 500 and E 550
CL 500 and CL 550
CLS 500 and CLS 550
GL 500 and GL 550
Model Year 2007:
GL 450
S 450
ML 450
Model Year 2008:
ML 500 and ML 550
Model Years 2006 and 2009:
CLK 500 and CLK 550
For more information, read the Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 engine class action lawsuit here.
Updated October 15th, 2010
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
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146 thoughts onMercedes M272 & M273 Engine Class Action
How do I become a part of this lawsuit? My car is currently at the mechanic’s shop for an idle/CEL issue. I just REPLACED the manifold at the tune of $1500+ which I was told would take care of the my CEL issue. Now it’s back for that problem along with the rough idle.
Please notify me what I cann do mercedes is saying approx $7,000.00 to fix
How can I become a part of this class actions suit??????
I just had the same thing happen to me. It also happened right I spent 1500 to replace an intact manifold that my independent mechanic(Mercedes trained) say is another common fault on these engines. I bought this car thinking that it should last longer than other vehicles, I guess I was wrong..
I was just told yesterday that my balance shaft on my 2007 E550 needed to be replaced to the tune of $7,500. OMG….the car is only worth $12,000……I was told by my sales person several years ago, because my “Check Engine ” kept coming on, to go out and take the gas cap off and put it back on. Within a few miles of driving, the light should go off. So I did that, and he was right. After a while, I got tired of continuing to step outside my car. adjust the gas cap, and after a while the light would go out. So, I just stopped doing the gas cap thing and just left the Check Engine light on. Now I have to face an Emissions test and I’ll be fined it the CELight is on, so I took the car to my dealer and they now tell me it’s the Balance Shaft thing. I love my car, don’t want to lose it, but I can’t afford this ticket for repairs. I strongly believe that I was mislead with the gas cap thing, which caused me NOT to concern myself with that Check Engine light. Now I find that there is a Class Action Suit against MB, regarding this specific repair.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I need help.
Same here with ML 350, 2006. It’s at the dealer for repair now.
Is this lawsuit still going on? Or did they pay the right people off? Because I have the exact same problem, and the Facebook page is no longer up, and there is no contact information for adding your information to the lawsuit. Now they want 4k+ to fix a issue that I did not cause. I always maintained my car and now it is failing me. If someone has information please help.
I am having my r-350 vehicle wrapped with all the negative comments of all these MB owners, and a list of all class action lawsuit against this awful compnay will be printed on this piece of garbage and will drive it on all major roads until it breaks down again. I will fix it again and drive some more to prevent another person from being put through the shear misery I have been put through with mercedes,what a shame…I will wreak havoc on this company until the day I die.
I have a CLK 350 2006 and I was also just cursed with a $5700 estimated bill to replace the shaft. So very disappointed with MB.
we own an 06 ml350 and it is one of these cursed cars as well. Took it into the dealership for its maintenance and to check out the check engine light and guess what!? The Repair is going to be close to $12,000 !!!
It cost me over $700 for them to tell me what the problem was.
Please include me in the lawsuit, or tell me how to get added. Thank you…. I believe this is the Last MB I will EVER buy again.
Have a 2006 ML350 Code P2008 engine light comes on after second start up. At idle it makes alot of chain noise at cold start for about 3 seconds then goes away. Really MBUSA, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot !! you know you buy a car thinking that how can something like this happen from Mercedes and you would think that they would stand by there product Especially when it comes to faulty parts. Shame on you Can not even get the ML350 to pass emissions because the engine light so what do i do now ????
How do I become part of this CA Lawsuit?
Can I be part of this lawsuit?