By Nicole Halavi
A class action lawsuit was recently filed against automaker Mercedes-Benz regarding issues with the radiator guards. Such guards are required to protect against damage from rocks and debris that may damage the vehicle’s radiators and cause coolant leaks. The suit alleges that the front bumper covers, and air inlets were equipped with protective grilles prior to the 2016 models.
The problem looks like this: rocks strike the radiator, which causes a coolant leak, leading to an insufficient coolant system pressure, a warped head and ultimately, engine failure. The class action alleges the following models were equipped with wire mesh guards or injection-molded ABS plastic to protect radiators from rocks and debris:
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG C63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG E43
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG E63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG S63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG S65
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SL65
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC43
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG G63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG G65
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63
- 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63
One plaintiff claims that within one year of purchasing his new 2016 Mercedes AMG C63S, he noticed fluid leaking and a warning appearing concerning low coolant. At this point, he took his vehicle to a dealer in March 2017 to complain about the leak and warning. The technician performed a coolant pressure test and found that there was a hole in the intercooler. Ultimately, the dealer refused to cover the repair even though the vehicle was less than a year old with only 9,000 miles on it. The same plaintiff took his vehicle to another Mercedes dealer, which agreed to cover the labor costs for replacing the turbo radiator, but still charged him $1,050 for the actual repair. Unfortunately, the plaintiff alleges his radiator is still not protected from rocks and debris because there are no guards or covers over the radiator.
Finally, in May 2019, the automaker announced a service campaign for 2018-2019 E-Class and GLC-Class vehicles to install grilles to protect the radiators. Nevertheless, the class action suit alleges that owners will be forced to pay above $80,000 to replace engines that fail due to overheating from coolant leaks – not including the replacement of damaged radiators and associated parts.
What Can I Do if I have a Faulty Radiator?
If you are driving a Mercedes-Benz that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the radiator, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with these radiators in Mercedes vehicles and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.
Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!