A federal judge ruled a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz USA concerning allegedly defective sunroofs will proceed. The lawsuit claims the sunroofs can shatter spontaneously, likened to a shotgun blast, causing potential harm and distraction to drivers and passengers.
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, several Mercedes-Benz models from 2011 onwards are equipped with tempered glass sunroofs prone to explosive shattering. This defect reportedly occurs without any external impact, startling drivers and covering the vehicle’s interior with glass shards.
The affected models named in the lawsuit include:
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• 2014-present Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
• 2012-present Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• 2012-present Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
• 2015-2017 Mercedes Maybach S-600
• 2011-2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
• 2011-present Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• 2011-2019 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
• 2013-2020 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
• 2013-2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class
Plaintiffs argue the tempering process used by Mercedes makes the glass more susceptible to failure. They allege the use of thinner glass complicates the tempering process, increasing the likelihood of a catastrophic break. Furthermore, the application of ceramic paint before the tempering process is said to weaken the structural integrity of the sunroof glass significantly.
During the proceedings, Mercedes-Benz sought to dismiss the lawsuit, challenging the plaintiffs' standing and labeling the claims as overly broad. However, Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. dismissed these arguments, allowing the case to move forward into the discovery phase.
In his decision, Thrash noted at this early stage, the court must assume the truth of the plaintiffs' claims and the detailed allegations give sufficient grounds to explore the matter further.
The ruling comes as a relief to the plaintiffs, represented by Irby Law LLC, who argued the issue should be examined more thoroughly during the class certification stage. Mercedes-Benz dealerships have reportedly refused to replace the shattered sunroofs free of charge, claiming they broke under normal driving conditions.
