Purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle is a practical way to own the Mercedes of your dreams. But that dream can turn into a nightmare if your car keeps breaking down from a defect that the manufacturer cannot resolve. If this is happening to you, it’s likely that you’ve ended up with a lemon. Fortunately, you are not stuck with the vehicle if it was bought or leased from a dealership, and the defect in question is covered under an active warranty. As a California consumer, you are protected by the lemon law, which entitles you to compensation from the manufacturer.
However, a lot of information that’s out there about the state’s lemon law pertains to new vehicles. Thus, it’s not unusual for lemon owners to call us and ask, “Can I lemon my Mercedes if it was certified pre-owned with a warranty?”
Are you in need of legal advice from an experienced lemon attorney? Our law firm has handled thousands of lemon claims for California consumers, and we are confident in our ability to recover your settlement. Don’t get stuck with a lemon; call DTLA Lemon Law and speak to one of our lawyers during a free case review.
Am I Protected under the Lemon Law if my Car is Certified Pre-Owned?
Yes, you can lemon a Mercedes if it was CPO under the following circumstances:
- The car was purchased or leased from a dealership.
- The car is covered by a manufacturer-backed warranty.
- You are experiencing a significant defect with the car, which impacts the car’s value, safety, or usability.
- After multiple attempts by the manufacturer, the problem is still not fixed.
Is my Model Covered under the Lemon Law?
California’s lemon law offers protection for all models of CPO Mercedes-Benz vehicles that were bought for use by individuals, families, and households. Owners of Mercedes commercial vans less than 10,000 pounds are covered as well, but the vehicle must be registered to a business with no more than five registered automobiles. Mercedes-Benz models that are eligible for a lemon claim include:
- Mercedes-Benz GLA
- Mercedes-Benz GLV
- Mercedes-Benz GLC
- Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
- Mercedes-Benz EQB
- Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
- Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Mercedes-Maybach GLS
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon
- Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
- Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe
- Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
- Mercedes-AMG GT
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
- Mercedes-Benz SL-Roadster
- Mercedes-Benz EQB
- Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
- Mercedes-Benz Cargo Van
- Mercedes-Benz Crew Van
- Mercedes-Benz Passenger Van
- Mercedes-Benz Cab-Chassis
Help – my CPO Mercedes is a Lemon! What are my Rights?
If you find yourself with a lemon, the law entitles you to one of two things:
- A new replacement vehicle of equivalent value, including any dealer options that came with the original car (rustproofing, undercoating, etc.)
- A refund of your purchase price, along with collateral costs such as finance charges, sales tax, and service charges.
Remember that no matter which option you choose, Mercedes-Benz is entitled to a “mileage offset” deduction. This value accounts for the amount of deprecation on the car due to your usage before you noticed the defect. California’s lemon law has a formula to calculate the offset on new cars, but there is no such method for used cars. As a result, it’s up to you and the manufacturer to agree on a fair mileage offset. The consumer is usually at a disadvantage in this situation, and that’s where an experienced lemon attorney can be of service.
How much is my Lemon Law Claim Worth?
It’s impossible to say what your claim is worth without learning the details of your case and the damages you’ve suffered due to your car’s defects. Here at our law firm, we’ve had cases that settled for $25,000 to $50,000 on the low end, while others exceeded $300,000. How is this possible?
Numerous factors contribute to the overall value of your lemon case, though the purchase price of your car is the biggest factor. However, you can also demand payment for out of pocket expenses, like towing fees, cost of rental cars, and other expenses you incurred due to the problems with your car. In addition, you may receive a civil penalty payment if Mercedes-Benz willfully tried to hold up your claim or deny you payment that you were clearly owed. This penalty amount can be up to 2 times the price of your car, so if your claim is worth $35,000, you may end up with an extra $70,000.
Another element that may apply to your claim is bodily injuries, meaning the issues with your lemon caused you to get into an accident. Based on your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other qualifying damages, your case value may be increased by another $100,000 or more. As you can see, calculating an average case value for a lemon claim is complicated. To learn what you can recover from a CPO Mercedes lemon case, contact our office and schedule a free consultation.
How long do I have to File my Claim?
All lemon lawsuits in California must be filed within 4 years from the date that you first noticed a significant problem with your vehicle, which is covered under an active warranty. This can mean different things – for some people, it’s the date their car first broke down, while for others, it’s the first time that the car was taken in for repairs. We can help you figure this out and advise you of your legal options under the state’s lemon law. The statute of limitations is absolute in most cases, meaning you may permanently lose the right to sue if you don’t file your lawsuit on time. Contact our law firm as soon as possible to initiate a lemon claim against Mercedes-Benz.
What is the Timeline to Settle one of these Cases?
The majority of cases that we handle are settled within 3 to 6 months, as long as there are no major complications. But there are various disagreements we may have to work through with the manufacturer, who will do their best to minimize your payment. Depending on what your case is worth, it may take over a year to resolve your claim. In our experience, cases with personal injury elements (bodily and emotional injuries from an accident) take the longest to settle, but you can count on us to fight for the full value of your losses. No matter how long it takes, you will never be left to wonder what’s going on with your case or find yourself unable to reach us when you need guidance or encouragement.
Second Opinion on Active Cases
As we’ve previously mentioned, some lemon cases take much longer to settle than others. During this time, it’s a lawyer’s duty to update their client and clearly explain what they’re doing to achieve a favorable settlement. If this is not the kind of treatment you’re receiving from your attorney, you may have thought about switching your lawyer. But how can you be sure that this is the right decision?
DTLA Lemon Law is happy to provide you with a free second opinion. An expert at our law firm will review your case and advise you of the options that are available to you. If you decide to continue your lemon claim with us, we will have your case transferred to our office and immediately get to work on recovering your settlement. If you choose to stay with your lawyer, there is no charge to you for the consultation, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us for a second opinion.
DTLA Lemon Law is Here for You
The law is on your side if your car ends up being a lemon, but getting the payment you deserve is easier said than done. Our California lemon lawyers are ready to fight for you if you have a certified pre-owned Mercedes that keeps breaking down. At DTLA Lemon Law, we believe in free legal representation for lemon owners. With our Zero fee guarantee, you pay nothing upfront to retain one of our attorneys. Our fees are paid by the manufacturer, and that’s only if we win your case.
A lemon lawyer is available to speak with you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
