Keep 100% of your lemon law buyback. We never take a cut. Your check is handed to you at vehicle surrender.
A Mercedes-Benz represents a significant investment. When recurring defects — a failing AIRMATIC air suspension, a transmission that stalls in traffic, an EQ battery the dealership can’t stabilize, a Distronic Plus system that behaves unpredictably — make that investment a source of frustration and safety concern, California law has a clear response.
If the problem substantially affects the safety, value, or use of your vehicle while it’s still under the manufacturer’s warranty, and Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has had a reasonable number of opportunities to fix it, you can be entitled to a full buyback or replacement. The price you paid for luxury and reliability doesn’t entitle you to endure defects and escalating safety concerns. It entitles you to a car that works.
These rights come from California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — considered the strongest state lemon law in the country — and from the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. California does not limit lemon law protection to basic vehicles. A $90,000 GLE, a $150,000 S-Class, and a $110,000 EQS all carry the same statutory protection as any other car purchased with a manufacturer’s warranty. In some respects, the recovery is larger — because the buyback is based on the actual price paid.
Court House Lawyers has specific experience with MBUSA lemon law claims. We understand MBUSA’s written notice requirements, their negotiation pattern, and the arguments they raise to minimize or deny claims. In one of our Mercedes cases, we not only secured a full buyback — we negotiated MBUSA’s waiver of the mileage offset entirely, putting an additional $5,250 in the client’s pocket that other attorneys leave on the table. We handle every step of your claim: reviewing your repair records, preparing the demand to MBUSA’s Customer Care Center, negotiating the buyback, and taking the case to court when that’s what it takes.
If you want the full picture of how California lemon law works across vehicle types, our California lemon law attorney page covers the complete framework.
Under §1793.22 of the Song-Beverly Act (the Tanner Act Presumption), your Mercedes-Benz can be presumed to be a lemon if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, any of the following applies:
The two-attempt threshold for safety defects is powerful. If your defect involves a critical-safety system
— the lower two-attempt threshold can apply. Many Mercedes owners with safety-related defects have a stronger claim than they realize after just the first or second dealer visit.
Days out of service accumulate. Parts delays for Mercedes-Benz — especially for AIRMATIC components, 48V system parts, and EQ battery replacement parts — are common and documented. Every day your vehicle sits at the dealership waiting for repairs and parts counts toward days out of service. An attorney tracks and documents this from day one.
Court House Lawyers has handled Mercedes-Benz lemon law claims against MBUSA involving every major defect category. We know which arguments MBUSA raises and how to counter them
Mercedes-Benz vehicles have faced significant defects from 2021 through 2025, spanning mechanical systems, electrical architecture, and their expanding EQ electric vehicle line. Any of the following defects — if they substantially impair your vehicle’s safety, value, or use and haven’t been resolved after a reasonable number of repair attempts — may support a lemon law claim.
Persistent sagging, uneven ride height, and AIRMATIC warning messages on GLE, GLS, S-Class, and E-Class vehicles. Parts delays often push days-out-of-service past the 30-days.
GLE 450 and GLS 450 (2020-2023): loose 48-volt ground connection causing engine stalls during downshifting. MBUSA issued a recall — if the defect persisted after the repair, a lemon law claim remains viable.
C300, GLC300, EQE, EQS, S-Class, Maybach, AMG models (2023-2024): improperly manufactured fuses can fail, causing sudden loss of drive power, safety system shutdowns, or fire risk. Subject to NHTSA recall 24V115000.
EQS, EQE, EQB (2022-2025): battery monitoring software failures, electric drivetrain power loss, high-voltage battery fire risk. Software-only fixes that don't hold are repair attempts under the lemon law.
Automatic braking malfunctions, Pre-Safe failures, and blind spot monitoring errors across multiple platforms. Can be Safety-critical — the two-attempt presumption can apply.
Recurring system reboots, touchscreen freezes, navigation failures, and display blackouts across C-Class, E-Class, GLC, GLE, and EQ vehicles. Repeated software updates that provide only temporary relief are repair attempts.
C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLC, GLE, GLS, G-Class (2021-2023): fuel pump shutdowns causing sudden loss of drive power. AMG hybrid powertrain software failures causing starter alternator control unit failure (2023-2025).
S-Class front brake hose rupture risk (2021-2023); Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) failures on older models still under warranty; brake fluid leaks causing reduced braking pressure and power.
If your Mercedes-Benz has been in for repairs more than twice for any of these issues, or has accumulated 30+ days out of service, we want to review your repair records. Many Mercedes owners have a stronger case than they realize — and MBUSA knows it.
| Court House Lawyers | Typical Lemon Law Firm | |
|---|---|---|
|
Client’s Buyback Check |
Check handed directly to you at vehicle surrender. |
Check routed through firm; client waits for funds release. |
|
Attorney Fees in Buybacks |
Never taken from your check. We bill MBUSA separately. On a $90,000 Mercedes buyback, not a dollar of that comes to us. |
Many firms take a cut — on high-value Mercedes buybacks, that cut can be $20,000+ from your recovery |
|
Mileage Offset |
We negotiate the mileage offset with MBUSA. In one of our Mercedes cases, we got the offset waived entirely — saving the client $5,250. |
Most firms accept MBUSA’s standard offset calculation without pushing back |
|
Who Handles Your Case |
Our managing attorney, George Mkrtchyan, Esq. (CA Bar #339099), is personally involved in every file. He knows MBUSA’s process. |
Often rotating paralegals; the named attorney appears only on the letterhead. |
Bold math callout: On a $95,000 Mercedes-Benz buyback, a firm taking a 25% cut leaves you with $71,250. A firm taking a 30% cut leaves you with $66,500. With Court House Lawyers, you keep all $95,000. MBUSA pays our fees.
Two major updates changed the lemon law process in California, and both can affect how Mercedes-Benz claims proceed. AB 1755 (effective April 2025) requires a formal pre-litigation written demand to be sent to the manufacturer before filing suit. For Mercedes-Benz owners, MBUSA requires this demand to be sent to their Customer Care Center at One Mercedes-Benz Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 — not to the dealer. A demand sent only to the dealer does not satisfy MBUSA’s notice requirement and can delay resolution. We handle this correctly from the first filing.
SB 26 (effective April 2025) added a dual-path option — manufacturers can operate under AB 1755’s procedures or continue under the prior framework. MBUSA’s election affects how quickly they must respond. We identify this as part of every case evaluation.
Rodriguez v. FCA (2024) and Niedermeier v. FCA (2024) are also relevant for Mercedes buyers who traded in a vehicle at purchase — trade-in values cannot be deducted from lemon law restitution. We apply both rulings to every Mercedes buyback calculation.
MBUSA has faced increased litigation volume in California as EQ defects accumulate and the 80-amp fuse recall (24V115000) generates additional claims. We practice under the current rules every day. Last updated: May 2026.
George Mkrtchyan
Managing Attorney
George Mkrtchyan is the Managing Attorney of Court House Lawyers, a Glendale-based lemon law and personal injury firm with direct experience handling MBUSA claims. He has personally resolved Mercedes-Benz defective vehicle claims involving AIRMATIC failures, hybrid system defects, electrical malfunctions, and battery issues — recovering full buybacks, replacement vehicles, and cash settlements against MBUSA.
In one of his Mercedes cases, the manufacturer had already denied the client’s claim once before George took over. He built the case from the existing repair record, submitted a formal demand directly to MBUSA’s Customer Care Center, and secured a full buyback — with the mileage offset waived, putting an additional $5,250 in the client’s pocket.
George knows how MBUSA responds to demands, what arguments they raise to reduce or delay payment, and what it takes to push past a denial to a resolution.
“When manufacturers see a case without an attorney, victims often see an immediate denial. We see an opportunity to protect a consumer and their rights under the law.”
— George Mkrtchyan, Managing Attorney
Also see: California Lemon Law for Mercedes-Benz Owners — our detailed guide to MBUSA claims.
Every case is different. These are examples of what resolution has looked like for our clients.
Vehicle: Jeep Wrangler (4-year lease)
Issue: Client had 4 months left on a 4-year lease and believed the window had closed
What we did: Filed the lemon law claim immediately and we were successful with 1 day to spare before the lease expired
Outcome: Client recovered every dollar paid into the lease over 4 years, minus a very low mileage offset
Timeline: Resolved before the lease end date.
Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz hybrid
Issue: Recurring engine and battery defects. Client had already been denied once without an attorney, 3 repair attempts, 30+ days out of service
What we did: Built the case from the existing repair record and submitted a demand directly to MBUSA
Outcome: Full buyback. Manufacturer also waived the mileage offset, putting an additional $5,250 in the client’s pocket
Timeline: Resolved within 60 days.
This case was covered by Today in Law.
Read the coverage →
Vehicle: Tesla
Issue: Manufacturer denied repurchase, claiming repairs had resolved the defect
What we did: Used the manufacturer’s own repair orders as the basis for a new demand
Outcome: Full manufacturer buyback approved
Timeline: Resolved within 30 days of demand.
Vehicle: Land Rover
Issue: Client’s previous attorney had been pursuing the case for over 12 months with no resolution
What we did: Reviewed the repair records, filed a new demand, applied current pre-litigation notice procedures
Outcome: Full lemon law buyback
Timeline: 3 months from the day Court House Lawyers took over the file.
Vehicle: Audi/Volkswagen
Issue: Manufacturer had offered the client a $3,000 cash-and-keep settlement directly
What we did: Stepped in, reviewed the file, and resubmitted the demand with full documentation
Outcome: Cash-and-keep settlement increased to $15,000
Timeline: Resolved without litigation.
Past results are specific to the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes.
Every lemon law matter is evaluated on its own merits.
Send us your repair orders, purchase or lease agreement, and Mercedes-Benz warranty booklet. We evaluate your case at no cost, identify your strongest remedy option, and tell you clearly our assessment of your MBUSA claim — and what it's worth
We prepare and send the formal written demand to MBUSA's Customer Care Center — not just the dealer. This is the specific notice MBUSA requires to trigger their formal response obligation under California's current procedures. A demand sent only to the dealer does not meet MBUSA's notice standard. We get this right.
MBUSA has a limited time to repurchase, replace, or respond in writing. Most strong cases receive a buyback offer at this stage. MBUSA responds faster and with better offers when they know the demanding attorney is prepared to litigate.
We review MBUSA's buyback calculation — including the mileage offset, the capitalized cost or purchase price used, and any deductions claimed. We push back on incorrect calculations and, where the case supports it, negotiate the offset reduction or waiver.
If MBUSA refuses a fair offer, we file. MBUSA litigates — they argue definitions, dispute repair attempt counts, and contest offset calculations through to near-trial in some cases. We prepare for this from day one. That preparation is why most cases settle, and why our settlements are higher.
Under California Lemon Law, MBUSA pays your legal fees if you win. If we don’t recover, you pay nothing.
How do you know if your Mercedes-Benz qualifies as a lemon under California law?
Yes. California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act applies to all new and Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold or leased in California with a manufacturer’s warranty. There is no exception for luxury vehicles or for MBUSA. The law is designed specifically for situations where the manufacturer cannot fix what they warranted.
No. MBUSA denies a significant percentage of claims submitted without attorney representation — and then settles when counsel appears with a proper demand and documentation. In one of our cases, MBUSA had already denied the client once before we took over. We built the case from the existing repair record and resolved it with a full buyback within 60 days. A denial is not the end of the road.
The most active categories we handle include: AIRMATIC air suspension failures (GLE, GLS, S-Class), 48V hybrid system transmission stalls (GLE/GLS 450, 2020-2023), 80-amp fuse failures causing sudden power loss or safety system shutdowns (C300, GLC, EQE, EQS — 2023-2024), EQ electric vehicle battery and charging defects (EQS, EQE, EQB), Distronic Plus/ADAS failures, and MBUX infotainment recurring crashes. Any defect that substantially impairs safety, value, or use and hasn’t been fixed after a reasonable number of attempts may qualify.
For safety-related defects (ADAS failures, brake issues, sudden power loss), California’s presumption can apply after two repair attempts within 18 months or 18,000 miles. For non-safety defects (AIRMATIC in non-critical condition, MBUX infotainment), four attempts or 30 cumulative days out of service can trigger the presumption. You don’t need to meet the presumption to win — but meeting it shifts the burden to MBUSA.
The mileage offset is standard under California law — calculated as (odometer reading at first repair ÷ 120,000) × purchase price. However, it is a negotiated element of the buyback. In recent Mercedes cases, we negotiated MBUSA’s complete waiver of the mileage offset, saving clients thousands of dollars. This is not something MBUSA volunteers — it’s a product of preparation and negotiation.
Mercedes-Benz generally provides a 4-year/50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and a 5-year/50,000-mile Powertrain warranty. As long as the defect first appeared within the warranty period, your claim is valid — even, in some cases, if the warranty has then expired. Also keep in mind any statute of limitations that can bar recovery and speak with a lemon law attorney as soon as possible.
MBUSA often argues that a recall repair resolves the underlying defect. If you are having the issue the recall states or the problem recurs after a recall repair, each subsequent repair visit can be an additional repair attempt under the lemon law. If problems continue, document it immediately by returning to the dealer and creating a new repair order. That new repair order becomes evidence that the recall did not permanently resolve the defect.
The full purchase price or all lease payments made, down payment, taxes, and other incidental costs caused by the defect — minus the mileage offset (which we verify and may negotiate). MBUSA must also pay your reasonable attorney’s fees. We never take a portion of your buyback — MBUSA pays us separately.
Under Rodriguez v. FCA (2024), used vehicles purchased through third parties who are not authorized dealers receive different treatment under California lemon law. If you purchased a used Mercedes directly from MBUSA or an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer, and the manufacturer’s warranty was still in effect, you are covered. If you purchased from a private party, we evaluate the specific warranty coverage that applied.
Nothing upfront, and we never take a cut of your buyback. Under California’s Song-Beverly Act, MBUSA pays our attorney’s fees in successful cases — billed separately from your recovery. No hourly billing, no upfront costs. We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis.
10
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
Trusted California Mercedes-Benz lemon law attorney. We know MBUSA's process, we've won the buyback, and we've gotten the mileage offset waived.
MBUSA denied your claim before. They’ll hear from us next. If your Mercedes-Benz has a recurring defect the dealership can’t fix, you have rights under California lemon law. MBUSA pays our fees. You keep your buyback recovery.
Whether you’re in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Los Angeles, La Crescenta, Temple City, Eagle Rock, or anywhere else in California — cars, trucks, SUVs, leased vehicles, and motorcycles included — Court House Lawyers is ready to help you take action.
