Who is a Class Member
- All current and former owners and lessees of Mercedes-Benz model year 2000-2007 M-Class (aka ML-Class), model year 2006-2007 R-Class, and model year 2007 GL-Class vehicles with original-equipment seat heaters who purchased or leased their vehicles in the United States.
If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Settlement Amount
- $54,000,000.00
Estimated Award
- VARIES
The Mercedes-Benz Seat Heater Settlement provides three different options:
- Reimbursement for qualifying past repairs up to $1,000
- Free Bypass Wire Repair procedure
- To receive the bypass wire repair procedure, you must first submit a valid and completed Bypass Wire Repair Claim Form enclosed with the Notice by January 12, 2018. Then, if the Settlement becomes final, you will have 60 days from the date the Settlement becomes final to schedule an appointment with an Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer to have the repair procedure performed. You will receive an email when the Settlement becomes final letting you know that you need to make the appointment.
- Partial coverage for future repairs for qualifying malfunctions in original equipment seat heaters
- MBUSA will pay for repairs necessitated by qualifying malfunctions in original equipment seat heaters in the “Subject Vehicles,” for a period of two years from the effective date of the Settlement, or 180,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date, whichever occurs first, subject to certain limitations.
- Vehicles with 40,000 miles or less from the original in-service date, MBUSA will cover 75% of the reasonable repair amount.
- Between 40,000 miles and 80,000 miles from the original in-service date, MBUSA will cover 50% of the reasonable repair amount.
- Between 80,000 miles and 140,000 miles from the Vehicle’s original in-service date, MBUSA will cover 25% of the reasonable repair amount.
- Between 140,000 miles and 180,000 miles from the original in-service date, MBUSA will cover 15% of the reasonable repair amount.
- More than 180,000 miles from the Vehicle’s original in-service date, whichever occurs first, MBUSA shall not be required to offer any coverage.
- MBUSA will pay for repairs necessitated by qualifying malfunctions in original equipment seat heaters in the “Subject Vehicles,” for a period of two years from the effective date of the Settlement, or 180,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date, whichever occurs first, subject to certain limitations.
Proof of Purchase
- Consumers will need to provide their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for both the Bypass Wire Repair Claim Form and the Past Repair Reimbursement Claim Form. Additionally, to submit a claim for the Past Repair Reimbursement, copies of repair orders/invoices, along with acceptable proof of payment is required.
Claim Form
- To file a claim for the Bypass Wire Repair, click here:
- To file a claim for the Past Repair Reimbursement, click here:
Mercedes-Benz Seat Heater Settlement Notes
- Callaway v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- Case No. 14-cv-02011 JVS-DFMx
- Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Plaintiff Elizabeth Callway originally filed the Mercedes-Benz seat heater class action lawsuit in 2014, alleging the seat heater in her 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 burned a hole through her dress and caused her pain. She and other class members argue that the seat heaters in certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles made between 2000 and 2007 have been know to spark or smoke.
A federal judge granted preliminary approval to the $54 million class action settlement in Sept. 2017, requiring Mercedes-Benz to replace seat heaters in up to 270,000 vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz denies its seat heaters are defective but has agreed to replace the seat heaters in question or reimburse customers who have already paid for replacements in order to avoid further litigation.
Class members who wish to exclude themselves or opt-out of the settlement must do so by Jan. 12, 2018. Class members who wish to submit a claim for either the Bypass Wire Repair or for Past Repair Reimbursement must do so by Jan. 12, 2018.
Important Dates
- 1/12/18: Claim filing deadline
- 1/12/18: Opt out or exclusion deadline
- 1/12/18: Objection deadline
- 3/5/18: Final fairness hearing at 1:30 pm PST (class members do not need to attend this hearing in order to receive a slice of the settlement pie)
Contact Information
- Mail: Mercedes-Benz Heater Settlement, PO Box 2730, Portland, OR 97208-2730
- Email: info@MercedesBenzHeaterSettlement.com
Class Counsel
- Jason M. Frank and Scott H. Sims of Frank Sims & Stolper LLP
- John Patrick McNicholas of McNicholas & McNicholas LLP
- Eric F. Yuhl and Colin F. Yuhl of Yuhl Carr LLP
Settlement Website
I ; James Anthony Hill, is present Owner of a 2006 Mercedes-BenzML350(2006)and has prior to the $54 Million dollars Settlement, had already file d a Claim-form..I shall contact Mercedes-Benz for the Necessary repairs….. J.A. H.