When is it a lemon?
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When is it a lemon?
Hi all,
I got a my first Mercedes in March of this year. Custom build AMG GLS 63, fully loaded. ~$200k all in after taxes, service warranties, etc. It's a beautiful car, but I've already had a variety of issues and it's been in the shop 3 times for a total of 7 weeks so far. I have to assume this isn't normal. I've attached my 3 service invoices for people to review if they are so inclined. At this point I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and demand and full refund or a brand new replacement? I've always had BMW SUVs and never had issues. Most recently coming from a 2023 X7 M60i. I think my last 3 BMW SUVs combined weren't in the shop this much over their entire lifetimes compared to what I've experienced over these past 5 months. Quick overview:
I got a my first Mercedes in March of this year. Custom build AMG GLS 63, fully loaded. ~$200k all in after taxes, service warranties, etc. It's a beautiful car, but I've already had a variety of issues and it's been in the shop 3 times for a total of 7 weeks so far. I have to assume this isn't normal. I've attached my 3 service invoices for people to review if they are so inclined. At this point I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and demand and full refund or a brand new replacement? I've always had BMW SUVs and never had issues. Most recently coming from a 2023 X7 M60i. I think my last 3 BMW SUVs combined weren't in the shop this much over their entire lifetimes compared to what I've experienced over these past 5 months. Quick overview:
- Mid March 2025 -- took ownership of the GLS.
- 2025.04.16 -- Brought it into the shop for the first time. Service had it for a little over 1 week. Issues included rattling from steering/heads up display area; seat settings randomly resetting; brakes severely squeaking; double image in one of the side mirrors; excessive windshield wiper rubbing noise. Additionally, Service dented one of the doors and left a number marks on the interior leather. My service agent noted these before I left. They didn't have a loaner car available so I took the car with the agreement that I would come back to get these issues resolved.
- 2025.06.11 -- Brought the car back in. Service had it for over 4 weeks. They resolved the exterior dent and leather marks. Additionally, the rattling from the heads up display was never resolved from the first visit; neither was the issue with the seat settings randomly resetting. Favorites were now also intermittently getting wiped. Also started experiencing a very rough idle intermittently; this rough idle was even commented by guests in the car when I was driving it. Also was experiencing severe pixelation of the entire screen intermittently when using CarPlay (happened with multiple iPhones). Also intermittent locking up of the main screen where it would become completely unusable and would sometimes just go to a black screen (native Mercedes OS, not CarPlay). Fortunately I was able to document most of these issues and show them to the foreman.
- 2025.07.16 -- I had the car back for one day and the check engine light came out. My service advisor asked me to check that the gas cap was on tight...it was. She told me to bring the car back in. They had it for 2 weeks. Earlier this week I told them I had family coming into town and needed the car back. They finally said it was all good to go yesterday and I picked it back up. It sounds like they replaced a few injectors.
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2021 GLS580 | 2011 ML350 BlueTec | 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Lemon law is per state. You'll need to consult with a lemon law attorney in your state to see what the legal definition is (Presumably in CA based on the invoices). You can certainly ask for a buy back. That doesn't require any attorney involvement. If they decline then your only remaining option is via the legal system.
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Joined: May 2025
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
2021 GLS63 AMG
What state do you live in? Sounds like a Friday build to me...Depending on your state, usually it has to spend x number of days within the first year in the shop to be eligible, or have a problem that has not been repaired in x number of attempts. I am sure that you are at that point given the seven weeks total.
I helped my mother with a similar issue with her new 23 Jag SVR. Over eight weeks in the shop and they couldn't fix the problem. They ended up buying back the 23, and gave her a 24. Guess what, had the same problem lol. The dealer straight up said don't bother. They took the 24 back and she got a Porsche lol. I think it depends on whether you want to take the chance with a new one and potentially deal with similar issues. That seems to be an excessive amount of issues for a new vehicle though.
On a side note, I do love my GLS63. Although as a 21, it has had years to be sorted out. But even on CPO, I had some MAJOR work covered this year, so props to Mercedes for that (rear main leak, active motor mounts and trans mounts replaced, etc). But my yearning for a faster sports car and the daily ease of family life is leading me to potentially get a family car (minivan) and an AMG GT for my fun
Good luck in whatever you choose to do, I hope it works out well for you.
I helped my mother with a similar issue with her new 23 Jag SVR. Over eight weeks in the shop and they couldn't fix the problem. They ended up buying back the 23, and gave her a 24. Guess what, had the same problem lol. The dealer straight up said don't bother. They took the 24 back and she got a Porsche lol. I think it depends on whether you want to take the chance with a new one and potentially deal with similar issues. That seems to be an excessive amount of issues for a new vehicle though.
On a side note, I do love my GLS63. Although as a 21, it has had years to be sorted out. But even on CPO, I had some MAJOR work covered this year, so props to Mercedes for that (rear main leak, active motor mounts and trans mounts replaced, etc). But my yearning for a faster sports car and the daily ease of family life is leading me to potentially get a family car (minivan) and an AMG GT for my fun
Good luck in whatever you choose to do, I hope it works out well for you.
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Thank you for the suggestions! You are correct that I’m located in California (San Diego area). I am going to see how the car drives over the next few days and also start taking a closer look at CA lemon laws. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
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From: Melbourne, FL
2024 GLS 580, 2022 Sprinter-based Winnebago View 24D, 2024 Bronco Raptor
That sounds pretty typical to me for what I've read and personally experienced from the 2024+ MB GLS. Mine was in the shop a number of times in the first few months to sort out issues with malfunctioning (brand new) sensors, the E-ABC suspension system, check engine lights, multiple warnings to not exceed 55 mph, etc. I don't think that they do any significant road verification of the vehicles after they come off the assembly line in AL.
It's been about 1.5 years now, and things have been a lot smoother since getting those issues resolved. I did have the top door panel pop loose of the rear driver-side door the other day, but thankfully, I was able to pop it back in on the second try.
My wife and daughter love the smooth ride and complain about being driven in anything else. I've been a lot happier with it after setting up Individual mode to not use the sluggish Comfort acceleration, while keeping the Comfort suspension. I just have to make sure to get it hand detailed and not take it through car washes, since we had the wipers ripped off in one (even in car wash mode).
Most lemon laws require that the same problem persists over 2-3 visits to the shop and cannot be repaired, or that it spends X number of weeks in the shop during the first year. You'll have to look up the CA requirements. But your issues sound more like software glitches than drivetrain problems, so I would stick with it for now.
There is at least one thread about GLS 63's having rough idle issues. I don't recall the resolution, but I would recommend searching for it.
It's been about 1.5 years now, and things have been a lot smoother since getting those issues resolved. I did have the top door panel pop loose of the rear driver-side door the other day, but thankfully, I was able to pop it back in on the second try.
My wife and daughter love the smooth ride and complain about being driven in anything else. I've been a lot happier with it after setting up Individual mode to not use the sluggish Comfort acceleration, while keeping the Comfort suspension. I just have to make sure to get it hand detailed and not take it through car washes, since we had the wipers ripped off in one (even in car wash mode).
Most lemon laws require that the same problem persists over 2-3 visits to the shop and cannot be repaired, or that it spends X number of weeks in the shop during the first year. You'll have to look up the CA requirements. But your issues sound more like software glitches than drivetrain problems, so I would stick with it for now.
There is at least one thread about GLS 63's having rough idle issues. I don't recall the resolution, but I would recommend searching for it.
Last edited by Splaktar; Aug 2, 2025 at 11:07 AM.
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GLE 580
CA has the best lemon laws to protect consumers.
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Like you, I'm a "newbie". I recently started a post about my 2025 AMG GLE 63s lemon. A great reply from smiles201 with a link led me to a thread about another recent lemon buyback. I then summarized their experience in a post. Of course, designating a car a lemon is state specific, but I appreciated reading about their experience. Here is link to the thread. Hope it helps to understand the MBUSA process.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle63s-gl...m_content=post
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle63s-gl...m_content=post
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From: New York
2024 GLS 580
Unfortunately I had an Audi Q8 that could have been a lemon. I had so many issues in the first 9 months of ownership that even the service manager said he has never seen anything like that. He went to bat for me to try and get Audi to get me out of it. When I asked for relief, they refused, even with his input. I hired a good attorney in NY and they folded like a cheap suit. They classified it as a buyback, not Lemon to preserve value of the asset. It took a year to complete, was a complete PIA, but I got every cent back including finance fees. Fast forward to last year leasing a BMW i5, another POS, and now the lawyer wont take the case. You know why it's not a slam dunk, and would require actual work and he wont take the case. Best of luck, truly , but buckle up its a long stressful stretch.
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
I did not read any other comments, but a 200K car does NOT need to put you through what you've described here. I really hope you get some resolution. I'm sorry I have no advice to give you.
Jebus, I'd be out of my mind. GL to you
Jebus, I'd be out of my mind. GL to you
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From: New York
2024 GLS 580
After re-reading your post, no doubt contact an attorney specializing in Lemon Law. They should direct how to word your complaints for repair. It MATTERS how it's written, also the dealers know how and are trained to write complaints and their resolutions to your complaints. Terms like "unable to reproduce claims" are commonly used to help the manufacturer by giving them plausible deniability. Don't waste time, they do not have your best interests in mind.
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You might try Perplexity AI.
I was about to call a lawyer about re-writing bylaws for an S corp, and then I just asked Perplexity to write some bylaws for my state.
It came up with a really good document with footnotes for verification, including references to appropriate statutes.
It was much better than the legal firm I fired - It didn't have stilted legalese, was more concise, And I could give directions to refine various parts.
I was about to call a lawyer about re-writing bylaws for an S corp, and then I just asked Perplexity to write some bylaws for my state.
It came up with a really good document with footnotes for verification, including references to appropriate statutes.
It was much better than the legal firm I fired - It didn't have stilted legalese, was more concise, And I could give directions to refine various parts.
Last edited by mikapen; Aug 8, 2025 at 04:43 PM.
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