By David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
Published Feb. 28, 2023
A Mercedes-Benz exploding sunroof lawsuit alleges panoramic sunroofs suddenly shatter under normal driving conditions and without objects striking the glass.
The Mercedes-Benz sunroof class action lawsuit alleges drivers are startled when the sunroofs explode and rain shards of glass onto occupants.
The allegedly defective sunroofs are installed in these vehicles:
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- 2014-present Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class/
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
- 2012-present Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- 2012-present Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
- 2015-2017 Mercedes Maybach S-600
- 2011-2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
- 2011-present Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- 2011-2019 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
- 2013-2020 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
- 2013-2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class
Mercedes-Benz GLE Sunroof Exploded
Texas plaintiff Natalie Bolling purchased a certified pre-owned 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. In February 2022, the panoramic sunroof exploded while driving at highway speeds and with the retractable shade open.
The plaintiff said it sounded like a blast from a shotgun.
"Plaintiff was confused, alarmed and afraid someone had shot at them from close by," the lawsuit said. "She did not immediately realize what had happened, but seconds later, glass shrapnel from the sunroof rained into the passenger compartment, covering her and her fiancée with glass, which covered their hair, clothes, shoes and skin."
The sunroof lawsuit alleged the plaintiff had to cross several lanes of traffic with her hair covered in glass in order to exit the interstate and avoid being hit by other fast-moving traffic.
The vehicle was towed to a dealer and technicians were told nothing hit the sunroof from the outside, but Mercedes-Benz investigated and determined the sunroof exploded from "an outside influence."
According to the class action, Mercedes-Benz refused to cover the sunroof repair under warranty, causing the plaintiff to pay $4,937.64 to replace it.
The lawsuit alleged the Mercedes-Benz sunroofs can explode while the vehicles are in motion or while they are parked. The plaintiff asserts Mercedes-Benz has known the sunroofs explode since 2006.
The Mercedes-Benz exploding sunroof class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Natalie Bolling v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, et al.
The plaintiff is represented by Irby Law LLC.
Abby Andrews