DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 121 – June 2023 | Worried
Dear Suzanne,
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When my mom leased her 2020 Mercedes Benz GLB 250, she never thought she’d grow tired of the car so quickly. It’s especially surprising since the issue she’s experiencing is relatively small and shouldn’t be causing so many problems. Plus, the car only has 23,432 miles on it, so it feels too soon for all these issues to be happening.
In early 2021, my mom excitedly got her Mercedes from a certified dealership. The vehicle looked sleek and elegant, promising a smooth driving experience. But as time went on, it became clear that looks can be deceiving.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM
About a year and a half after leasing the vehicle, my mom had an unfortunate accident. Although the damages were repaired, it marked the beginning of a never-ending series of issues, starting with the check engine light.
When she reported this to the Mercedes Benz dealership, they assured her that the light issue was unrelated to the accident. They diagnosed the problem and informed her that there was a recall on the car for the same issue. To fix it, they needed to keep the car for about five days. My mom left the car with them, hoping the issue would be resolved.
After five days, she picked up the car, optimistic that the problem had been fixed. For about a month, it seemed like the issue had been resolved, but then the engine light came back on. Frustrated, she returned to the dealership.
The dealership reassured her that they would do everything they could to fix the issue, keeping the car for another nine days. During this time, they never offered her a rental car.
PERSISTENT ISSUE
After nine days, she got the vehicle back, and it seemed fine for the next six months. However, the persistent engine light came back on in February. When my mom asked the dealership what was causing the problem, their explanation was vague and confusing, only mentioning something related to the car’s motor engine.
These issues are taking a toll on my mom. She looks worn out and pale, and the stress of going in and out of the repair shop is too much for her to handle alone. It’s also affecting her business, as she can’t go in regularly without a car, causing it to decline.
Initially, I thought the repairs would help, but it seems like the automakers aren’t interested in providing a solution. At this point, I’m desperately searching for a long-lasting solution, whether it’s getting the car fixed or getting rid of it. What can I do to help her?
Worried
Get Compensated Under The Lemon Law
Dear Worried,
I’m truly sorry to hear that your mom has been going through all of this. It’s because of situations like yours that the lemon law was established, to provide protection and compensation for people dealing with defective cars. The lemon law is in place to help car owners like you avoid being stuck with a “lemon.”
Unfortunately, Mercedes, despite having outwardly beautiful vehicles, often experiences issues with their electrical systems and engines in many models. The silver lining in your case is that you’re still within the warranty period, so you won’t be charged for any repairs until the warranty expires. However, there’s a strong possibility that the problems may persist or even worsen as you continue using the car, so it might be better to part ways with it.
When car issues persist, it’s usually not the dealership’s fault, as they’re only fixing the faulty vehicles that the manufacturers built incorrectly in the first place. This is why repairs sometimes don’t resolve the issue.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
As for the lemon law, to qualify, you need at least two visits to the dealership for the same issue within the warranty period or three visits for different problems, also within the warranty period. With another visit scheduled soon, you definitely qualify for a lemon law case.
Your case is particularly strong considering the low mileage on your car. While your attorney works on the case, you can continue taking the vehicle back to the dealership as needed. The more visits you have, the stronger your case becomes, and the more money you can potentially win.
With low miles on your car, there’s some flexibility in what your lawyer can do for you and what your options are. However, it’s best to get things moving quickly to avoid any deductions or pushbacks from the manufacturers. You have two main options:
- Buyback
- Cash and keep
LEMON LAW BUYBACK
The buyback option, which you might be most interested in, is where the manufacturers buy back the vehicle from you and reimburse you for what you’ve spent on the car. This includes your down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and accrued interest. Additionally, if you took out a loan on the car, the manufacturing company is legally required to pay that off as well.
The only deduction that can be taken from this is the mileage offset, which is the amount the automakers can deduct for the period you drove the car without any issues. It’s usually based on the mileage at the first visit to the dealer. Since you took it in early on for the first problem, there shouldn’t be much they can charge you for. However, your lawyer might be able to waive this deduction in full or partially. Additional details on the Mercedes-Benz buyback process, how it operates, qualification standards, models included, persistent vehicle defects reported, and Lemon Law case examples.
CASH-AND-KEEP SETTLEMENT
The second option, cash and keep, involves receiving cash compensation for the issues you’ve experienced while still keeping the car. With this option, your warranty remains valid, and if you later decide to sell the vehicle, you can do so without having to declare the car a lemon to the next owner.
Furthermore, since you bought your vehicle in California, you’re not required to pay any legal fees. All legal fees are covered by the manufacturing company, whether you win or lose. Plus, the total settlement amount will go directly to you. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your attorney.
Suzanne
PS. If you think your vehicle sucks and want to actually do something about it, you definitely can! Find out quickly if you have a case by visiting www.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 GLB 250 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 Lawyer or how to file a claim in California, please write to help@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 Lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Image:
- 2020 Mercedes Benz GLB 250 ©Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
