Mercedes BlueTEC Diesel Vehicles

Yet another manufacturer caught up in an emissions scandal impacting over a million people with a class settlement

 

Mercedes-Benz is widely considered to be a leading name in luxury automobiles worldwide. The company’s name is synonymous with quality engineering and optimal performance based upon its long history of manufacturing and innovation. As a result, buyers of Mercedes vehicles often have a high standard of expectation for their vehicles. The price point and marketing assurances behind these vehicles makes an owner reliant upon the company’s pedigree as an industry leader in exchange for their investment. Among other reasons, the company’s history of excellent quality is likely why the news of a Mercedes emissions scandal surprised many owners, as well as the public. Due to years of investigation and legal efforts, Mercedes-Benz was forced to address major accusations of fraud surrounding the emissions in their BlueTEC vehicles. A class settlement was reached, resulting in an impactful legal resolution that affected all those who did not opt out by the end of the Notice Period. Combined with an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the overall settlement represented billions of dollars in penalties to Mercedes and a unique legal situation for current and former owners of Class Vehicles to navigate.

The history behind the Mercedes emissions scandal is relatively straightforward, despite having been a legal matter years in the making. Starting in 2016, the legal challenges against Mercedes-Benz were based largely on the standard violations surrounding Nitrogen Oxides that many other manufacturers have faced. However, the key issue with the Mercedes BlueTEC vehicles is a nuance that involves how the vehicles are allowed to operate when engine temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The federal investigation on how Mercedes allegedly abused this factor of vehicle operations continued for years and significant information was collected as the case progressed. While the exact method and alleged ‘cheating’ process at the center of the accusations varies from those of other manufacturers, the same general principles apply concerning how the emissions matter has unfolded. In short, it doesn’t really matter how a manufacturer allegedly skirted emissions standards: once they are caught, the main focus becomes how fixing the problem will impact owners and their vehicles.

At the center of the Mercedes diesel matter is the company’s BlueTEC emissions systems. Nearly a decade of Mercedes’ diesel vehicles were built using the BlueTEC emissions system and sold as industry-leading options for those seeking improved fuel economy and quality. The company marketed the vehicles with strong language about BlueTEC’s effectiveness:

“Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC vehicles get 20 to 30 percent better fuel efficiency than similar-sized gas-powered cars, and can take you 600 miles - that's a trip from New York City to Detroit - on a single tank of fuel. But it's more than a break for the pocketbook. BlueTEC vehicles now meet the emissions standards of all 50 states, including the 10 states with the most stringent pollution laws.”

This wide range of BlueTEC vehicles, after years of production, became the subject of a massive class action settlement surrounding their lack of compliance with national emissions standards.

A History of the Mercedes BlueTEC Lineup Class Action Suit

Starting in April of 2016, the United States government actively investigated Mercedes for their emissions, and whether the BlueTEC lineup of vehicles are compliant with federal standards. The government’s involvement came two months after the class action law firm Hagens Berman filed their own lawsuit against Mercedes on the same issue. You can read more about the case and the claims of wrongdoing here.

Mercedes halted sales of BlueTEC vehicles in 2017. The case was bolstered by the inclusion of automotive partner Bosch as a defendant in connection with the RICO charges surrounding the alleged emissions cheating.

The lawsuit filed against Mercedes claimed that BlueTEC vehicles were equipped with software aimed at passing diesel emissions tests while otherwise failing to comply with emissions standards when in operation on the open road. The class action suit raised the claim that emissions exceeded standards under various testing conditions with different speeds and temperatures. Specialized equipment also revealed that emissions control systems were limited or shut down entirely when the vehicles were on the road. The suit also alleged that Mercedes had been using illegal defeat devices to obtain the results necessary to pass emissions standards testing in laboratory settings.

U.S. investigators advanced their probe into the Mercedes BlueTEC matter while also sharing their evidence and findings with investigators in Germany. Although the U.S. probe and settlement process took over five years to conclude, Mercedes was found to be responsible for emissions cheating elsewhere in less than half of that time.

The manufacturer paid a hefty price for their alleged emissions cheating. German officials investigated, prosecuted, and settled emissions violations against Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, for the same issues that were at the center of the U.S. government’s emissions investigation. The investigation overseas was extensive, resulting in multiple recalls for a range of different Mercedes vehicles in their diesel lineup. The result of the European investigations was massive - nearly $1 billion dollars in fines and untold costs associated with the far-ranging recalls that were incurred by Mercedes as a result of the manufacturer exceeding European Union standards. Those violations included the recall of over 300,000 vehicles in two major governmental actions over the course of 2019, and demonstrated the extent and severity of the emissions scandal. In fact, a German court found that the recalls were not an effective solution for the emissions problem, even after software updates.

Now that the emissions class action lawsuit is approved, the clock is ticking for current and former owners to preserve their legal options and protect their right to pursue an individual claim by opting out of the class action settlement to ensure that they receive the compensation to which they feel entitled.

Stern Law represents thousands of diesel owners who are concerned that the future class action settlement will not adequately protect their interests. Our clients pay nothing out-of-pocket and receive regular case updates. We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients have the facts and information necessary to make the best decision when it comes to prioritizing their individual interests.

Stern Law, PLLC, represents thousands of individuals who opted out of the class action in the U.S. Our efforts are ongoing and we remain committed to providing effective legal representation for those who have retained us for their case.

 

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Audience Notice: The overview of legal information presented above by Stern Law, PLLC, solely represents the views and observations of our law firm. Nothing here should be considered legal advice or a predicted outcome in your situation. No law firm or attorney can provide a guarantee regarding outcomes. Each vehicle owner must decide, and preferably with the assistance of knowledgeable legal counsel, whether participating in a class action settlement is in their best interest or whether they should opt out and sue the manufacturer directly through their own individual claim. Questions concerning the terms of the Mercedes BlueTEC class action settlement should be directed to the class settlement's administrators, whose website (including documents) can be accessed by clicking here or by calling 877-313-0170. The information presented here is not an attempt to solicit legal representation from any individual represented by another lawyer or law firm.