— A Mercedes-Benz musty smell lawsuit alleges vehicle occupants are harmed by mold and mildew odors floating from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Plaintiff Gary Arakelian says the vehicles have design defects that cause the HVAC systems to accumulate mold and emit a moldy and musty smell in the vehicles when the air conditioning systems are on. Arakelian says his health has been harmed because of noxious HVAC odors while driving.
The proposed class-action lawsuit includes Gerogia owners and lessees of the following vehicles.
- 2004-2012 Mercedes A-Class
- 2001-2017 Mercedes C-Class
- 2000-2014 Mercedes CL-Class
- 2013-2017 Mercedes CLA-Class
- 2003-2009 Mercedes CLK-Class
- 2004-2017 Mercedes CLS-Class
- 2003-2016 Mercedes E-Class
- 2007-2017 Mercedes GL-Class
- 2010-2016 Mercedes GLK-Class
- 2006-2016 Mercedes M-Class
- 2017 Mercedes OLE-Class
- 2006-2015 Mercedes R-Class
- 1999-2017 Mercedes S-Class
- 2003-2012 Mercedes SL-Class
- 2004-2016 Mercedes SLK-Class
- 2002-2013 Maybach 57
- 2002-2013 Maybach 62
The plaintiff says Mercedes should have known about the alleged musty smells based on customers who complained about mold, mildew and something owners call the “the MB signature smell.” Furthermore, internal testing allegedly conducted by Mercedes-Benz should have proved there were problems somewhere in the air conditioning systems.
Even with that knowledge, the automaker allegedly concealed defects that caused the vehicles to lose value and caused customers to spend money to change the cabin filters.
Owners claim they were told to replace the cabin filters to remedy the musty smells, or in some cases were told all European cars have those smells. But those owners complain filter changes did nothing but make dealers even more money on a problem that should have been repaired long ago by Mercedes.
The plaintiff says Mercedes-Benz has a profitable business by recommending that owners have the cabin filters changed because even if the vehicles are under warranty, Mercedes dealers allegedly tell owners they are responsible for covering the replacement costs.
This isn't the first time the automaker has been served papers for a class-action lawsuit filed by customers who allege abnormal smells coming from the HVAC systems.
A Mercedes-Benz air conditioning odor lawsuit filed in May 2017 alleges numerous Georgia customers suffer with HVAC systems that fail to properly evaporate or drain condensation. This allegedly creates a moist environment for the growth of bacteria, fungus, mold and spores.
The Mercedes-Benz musty air conditioning smell lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California - Gary Arakelian, et. al., v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
The plaintiff is represented by the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman PC.
