DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 8 – May 2022 | Spinning Out in Salinas
2020 Mercedes S 560 Rotor Problems
Dear Suzanne,
I have a 2020 Mercedes S 560 that I bought new two years ago, and it seems like every couple of months I have to bring it into the shop for something or other. My last car was a Mercedes and I absolutely loved it; I drove it for 15 years with no problems. So this time, I splurged on my new car and added several upgrades because I expected to drive it for quite a few years to come.
Now, here I am, only 30,000 miles later and it’s in the shop yet again. The first time it gave me problems was at 15,000 miles when I needed to have the rotors replaced. And then again, the rotors needed to be replaced this week. I don’t understand how my car is on its third set of rotors when they’re supposed to last up to 80,000 miles – I make sure to do all my regular maintenance, so it’s not that.
Plus, once when I was driving, I noticed a really strong gas smell, and when I took it in, they discovered there was a gas leak that needed to be fixed.
I really want to love this car, but I’ve already taken it into the dealership more than my last Mercedes Benz. It was a big expense for me and I had expected it to last even longer than my old one, but now I just don’t know what to do. I never had these kinds of problems before; is this what people mean when they say they got a lemon? Should I get an attorney? I’ve already invested so much money into this car, I don’t want it to cost me even more.
Spinning Out in Salinas
Watch Video: Mercedes-Benz Lemon Law Buyback Settlement: What You Must Know to Protect Your Rights
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Lemon Law Buyback As An Option
Dear Spinning,
This is exactly what people mean when they say they got a lemon on their hands. Your last Mercedes may have been perfect, but unfortunately, all manufacturers are at risk of producing the odd lemon now and then.
Luckily, you won’t be stuck with an expensive car that doesn’t work; you have a classic lemon case here. Under California lemon law, you need to allow the manufacturer to attempt to fix the issues at least 2-3 times while under the manufacturer’s warranty, which you have. And, because your warranty coverage lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, you can still bring it in for more repairs attempts while your case is ongoing. More visits can help make your case stronger.
Once a lemon law claim is successful, you have three options for compensation: a buyback, a cash and keep, and a vehicle replacement. Because your Mercedes S 560 was an expensive investment, I would recommend the buyback. In a Mercedes Benz buyback, the manufacturer repurchases the vehicle from you, paying back the cost you paid for the vehicle, including down payment, monthly payments, and other fees. The only thing they can deduct from the settlement amount is something called the mileage offset, which accounts for the number of miles you were able to use the car with no issue (15,000 miles in your case). Aside from that – which every good attorney would try to waive – you would be refunded everything you put into the vehicle. The replacement vehicle could be an option as well, since you’ve had good experience with Mercedes, but you run the risk of getting another lemon, so I try not to recommend that route.
As for the added expense of hiring an attorney, that’s something you don’t need to worry about. California is a very consumer friendly state, and so, lemon law claims are often taken on contingency here. Rather than you, it is the manufacturer who is responsible for any attorney’s fees or court costs. Nothing else would come out of your pocket, or your settlement. In addition to being free, you’ll get the benefit of an attorney’s experience to help guide you through the process. So, for your first step, gather up all the repair orders from your earlier visits and then call one of our skilled lemon law attorneys. The sooner, the better.
Suzanne
PS. Frustrated because your vehicle sucks and not sure how to file a case? You could be entitled to a cash settlement, a buyback, or a replacement vehicle. Do something about it today by visiting yourvehiclesucks.com right now! This website is owned by our partner law firm Quill & Arrow LLP, California’s #1 “settled” Lemon Law attorneys.
Free Legal Advice About Your 2020 Mercedes Benz S560 Lemon Law Claim
Dear reader, are your vehicle problems ruining your life? Confused about what legal route to take? We’re here to help! Find information about California’s lemon law protections here, fill out the form on this page, or give us a call at (323) 553-7525 to discuss your situation with someone who understands how frustrating it can be to have a lemon car, and what to do about it.
DEAR SUZANNE is a weekly column written by Suzanne Henderson and published in LemonLawyers.ORG. If you have a defective lemon vehicle and have questions about CA Lemon Law or how to file a claim in California, please write to dearsuzanne@lemonlawyers.org. While not guaranteed, we will try to feature your letter in this column to provide you the answers you need, as well as enlighten other consumers who may have lemon problems similar to yours.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Henderson is not a lawyer and the points discussed here are intended for general information and reference purposes only and not to be construed as legal advice. Please consult a California lemon law lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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