Mercedes HVAC Settlement

What happened

Mercedes-Benz vehicles developed moldy, mildew-y, or similar odors from the HVAC system that required repairs including evaporator cleaning and filter replacement. The settlement provides reimbursement for past repair costs and coverage for future repairs on a sliding scale based on vehicle age and mileage.

Do you qualify?

Current or former owners or lessees of specified Mercedes-Benz models (C-Class, GLK-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class, GLA-Class, GL-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, M-Class, or GLC-Class) purchased or leased in the United States during model years 2008-2019, depending on the model.

What you can claim

Read from the official settlement notice. Confirm the terms that apply to you on the administrator's site before filing.

• Reimbursement for Qualified Past Repairs - Period One (100%)

  Settlement Class Members can claim 100% reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs paid for repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter related to odor complaints from the HVAC system, if the repair occurred when the vehicle had fewer than 4 years or 50,000 miles from original in-service date, or had full coverage under another warranty.

• Reimbursement for Qualified Past Repairs - Period Two (70%)

  Settlement Class Members can claim 70% reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs paid for repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter related to odor complaints from the HVAC system, if the repair occurred from the end of Period One until the vehicle had fewer than 8 years or 100,000 miles from original in-service date and exceeded any warranty coverage.

• Reimbursement for Qualified Past Repairs - Period Three (50%)

  Settlement Class Members can claim 50% reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs paid for repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter related to odor complaints from the HVAC system, if the repair occurred from the end of Period Two until the vehicle had fewer than 10 years or 125,000 miles from original in-service date.

• Coverage for Qualified Future Repairs - Period One (100%)

  For current owners and lessees, Defendants will provide coverage of 100% of the cost of repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter when the repair occurs at an Authorized Service Center during the first period when the vehicle has fewer than 4 years or 50,000 miles from original in-service date.

• Coverage for Qualified Future Repairs - Period Two (70%)

  For current owners and lessees, Defendants will provide coverage of 70% of the cost of repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter when the repair occurs at an Authorized Service Center from the end of Period One until the vehicle has fewer than 8 years or 100,000 miles from original in-service date and exceeds any warranty coverage.

• Coverage for Qualified Future Repairs - Period Three (50%)

  For current owners and lessees, Defendants will provide coverage of 50% of the cost of repairs to clean the evaporator and/or replace the filter when the repair occurs at an Authorized Service Center from the end of Period Two until the vehicle has fewer than 10 years or 125,000 miles from original in-service date.

Who is in the class

All current and former owners and lessees of Subject Vehicles who purchased or leased their Subject Vehicles in the United States. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: a) Persons who have settled with, released, or otherwise had claims adjudicated on the merits against Defendants arising from the same core allegations or circumstances as the Litigation Claims, except that such persons shall remain eligible to receive Qualified Future Repairs and reimbursement for Qualified Past Repairs (both subject to applicable limitations and proof requirements) occurring after the date of such settlement, release, or adjudication on the merits; b) Employees of Defendants; and c) The Honorable Terry J. Hatter, Jr., the Honorable Rozella A. Oliver, the Honorable Amy Totenberg, the Honorable Madeline Cox Arleo, the Honorable Michael A. Hammer, and members of their respective families.

Quoted from the settlement notice.

How to file

The deadline to file claims for past repairs has passed and all timely claims have been reviewed and paid. Future covered repairs can be obtained by making an appointment at an Authorized Mercedes-Benz Service Center from December 7, 2020, until the vehicle reaches 10 years from in-service date or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first.