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Curious if anyone has successfully gotten MB to pay for this. Anyone?
I have a '22 CLA 35 AMG. While driving on the highway with light rain, my sunroof suddenly *exploded* into a million pieces. Sounded like a gunshot and shocked the hell out of me. Nothing hit me (that I could tell) and I did not hit a bump in the road or anything.
It's sitting at the dealer right now as I wait for a call back from MB Customer Service. I'm seeing lots online about class action lawsuits against MB for this exact issue.
I'm glad the screen was closed, or else the interior (and me) would have have been showered in broken glass. WTF?!?!?
I also spoke directly with MB USA yesterday. They are looking into whether MB will pay part or all of the repair cost (initial estimate is $1800). I'm not optimistic MB will actually pay anything. If not, I plan to contact counsel for the class action suit.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by BigDaveK
(added my location)
I filed a report with NHTSA's website yesterday.
I also spoke directly with MB USA yesterday. They are looking into whether MB will pay part or all of the repair cost (initial estimate is $1800). I'm not optimistic MB will actually pay anything. If not, I plan to contact counsel for the class action suit.
Thanks.1. Knowing where you are located helps.
Good luck. You may be surprised that MB may cover everything.
Correction on the estimate: It just increased to $2,825
Still waiting to hear back from MB.
I was going to say $1800 seemed cheap. There are a few threads around with this on other models. I wouldn't say it's a common issue from reading the forum.
I remember one person saying it happened while parked in his garage so there was no way something hit it.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by wildta
I was going to say $1800 seemed cheap. There are a few threads around with this on other models. I wouldn't say it's a common issue from reading the forum.
I remember one person saying it happened while parked in his garage so there was no way something hit it.
$1800 us probably the dealer's cost. Just be glad it ain't an SL Vario magic tinting roof (or whatever it's called). $13,000!!!
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I would appeal that first answer, arguing this is not a windshield or door glass, but an integral part of the structure of the body. Chances are, the first numb-nut that responded looked up "glass roof" on their cheat-sheet, couldn't find it, and just gave you the answer for window glass.
If you find other owners that have experienced this, make that known as well.
You said you filed a complaint with the NHTSA. I would follow up or file a second complaint and include Mercedes' response. Include all this information in your appeal. Become a "squeaky wheel". Mention that you are active on a number of social media platforms (MBWorld, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) and are happy to share your experience. In the mean time, get the roof replaced (check your car insurance for glass coverage -- tell them you were hit by a meteorite or other space object) and keep all of your receipts.
Sorry for your problems. That sux. I'm beginning to think it is best to NOT buy a Mercedes new, but rather get one 7-10 years old that has good maintenance records. Good ones have had all the problems worked out at someone else's expense.
For those following along, my insurer is covering the cost and my agent encouraged me to stop pushing the "defect" argument since it could lead the insurer to deny the claim. It's easier for the insurer to approve the claim if they treat this as the result of some object hitting the sunroof.
The estimate of course keeps growing. In addition to the sunroof, they will also replace the sunscreen due to the likelihood that pieces of glass damaged it. It doesn't increase my immediate cost (i.e., my deductible) and is a good thing since the repair shop now has to remove the headliner. I'm hoping that means they should be able to get all of the little pieces of glass so I won't heard them moving around up there.
At the end, I'll have the full repair but I'll always be wondering when the sunroof might randomly explode again. No more pano sunroofs for me, and no more MBs based on how MB and the dealer acted.
I did contact the attorney leading (one of) the class action cases, but no response.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Glad your insurance is covering it. I am sure you don't have the lizard or ostrich company. Good idea that it was not due to a defect. And you really may have been hit by falling space debris.
WRT whether owning another Mercedes or not, you likely would have been met with a similar response from any other manufacturer. Even Honda would not cover a (prematurely) deteriorated sun roof seal on a CPO car. But I know how you feel. Still, I would look very closely at a Honda CR-V over a Mercedes GLB if shopping for a new or used car. I own or have owned a total of three Mercedes after years of being a VAG guy and will likely get another used Mercedes if I need to get another car. I was serious when I said a Mercedes a few years old is probably a better deal since these cars depreciate quickly.
I was going to say $1800 seemed cheap. There are a few threads around with this on other models. I wouldn't say it's a common issue from reading the forum.
I remember one person saying it happened while parked in his garage so there was no way something hit it.
Actually, the other article made a brief mention that laminated glass runs the risk of a cave-in. Glass is heavy and a shattered laminated roof would be like throwing a heavy blanket over the driver (and other passengers). If the "blanket" obscures the driver's vision or the weight hampers movement, that could be more dangerous. Being showered with little chunks of glass would be startling, but I think would be less prone to restricting the driver's movement or vision. Maybe folks should just wear their favorite helmets when riding in a car with a closed sunroof.
Actually, the other article made a brief mention that laminated glass runs the risk of a cave-in. Glass is heavy and a shattered laminated roof would be like throwing a heavy blanket over the driver (and other passengers).
Having seen how difficult front windshields are during crash tests and rollovers to "fall out" of place after shattering (typically have to be ripped or cut out), I personally wouldn't be worried. If anything, I think it would be beneficial in reducing the chances of ejection vs tempered glass in the event of a rollover.
Same thing happened to me a few days ago, took the car to delaer, they said there is no way MBUSA will cover this and it’ll be at their cost so they sent me to call MBUSA, now waiting on my case manager to contact me.
dealer quoted 5k here in California.
based in what you shared looks like there’s nothing they’ll do about it. In fact, I have dash cam video of when this happened + I had an MB Roof rack and an AMG roof box limiting the possibility of a rock or something hitting the sunroof
Update on my EQS 580 exploding sunroof issue. It was at the dealer for like 9 weeks while MB USA and the dealer fought over whether or not it would be covered under warranty (dealer advocated for me). They gave me a variety of loaners during the wait.
Finally about a month ago, dealer told me MB agreed to pay for parts, I'd pay for labor, they couldn't keep it there any longer without a decision. I agreed, and it would have been around $3000. But the day I went to pick it up and pay, they told me MB USA had agreed to cover the repair.
Meanwhile, I had submitted a lemon law/ buyback claim, and it finally got approved. Sedgwick is supposed to contact me with an offer within the next week.
Car is fixed, though I am scared to open the sunroof, and it drives fine. But I think I'd like the 450 instead.
Update on my EQS 580 exploding sunroof issue. It was at the dealer for like 9 weeks while MB USA and the dealer fought over whether or not it would be covered under warranty (dealer advocated for me). They gave me a variety of loaners during the wait.
Finally about a month ago, dealer told me MB agreed to pay for parts, I'd pay for labor, they couldn't keep it there any longer without a decision. I agreed, and it would have been around $3000. But the day I went to pick it up and pay, they told me MB USA had agreed to cover the repair.
Meanwhile, I had submitted a lemon law/ buyback claim, and it finally got approved. Sedgwick is supposed to contact me with an offer within the next week.
Car is fixed, though I am scared to open the sunroof, and it drives fine. But I think I'd like the 450 instead.
I'm glad MBUSA agreed to pay for it. they declined my claim and gave me a 1000 service credit instead, initially the MBUSA rep said 500 but quickly changed his mind to 1000?! anyway I had to go through insurance to get this fixed and used a portion of my 1000 credit towards my deductible.
I'm glad MBUSA agreed to pay for it. they declined my claim and gave me a 1000 service credit instead, initially the MBUSA rep said 500 but quickly changed his mind to 1000?! anyway I had to go through insurance to get this fixed and used a portion of my 1000 credit towards my deductible.
You had better luck than I did. Insurance covered my repair, including body work to fix the body scratches caused by bits of glass. I stopped arguing it was a MB defect when my insurer said they would not be able to cover it if that were the cause. MB refused, so I let insurance take over.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by BigDaveK
You had better luck than I did. Insurance covered my repair, including body work to fix the body scratches caused by bits of glass. I stopped arguing it was a MB defect when my insurer said they would not be able to cover it if that were the cause. MB refused, so I let insurance take over.
Good lesson learned!
Something breaks.
You think it is a manufacturing defect.
You are out of warranty (or not).
Manufacturer denies claim (for whatever reason).
Insurance will cover damages, not malfunctions/defects.
Insurance will cover damages, not malfunctions/defects.
Pick path of least resistance.
I agree with the above. I do think writing a nice letter to MBUSA can help, as the dealer follows the letter of the law on warranty. I had an issue on my E550 coupe back in 2011 with the passenger seat/ airbag module - the issue started after 30k miles and was not resolved after 3 attempts. This was not a lemon law qualifying event, but it was an in warranty one. Which makes this situation different than the above. But I grew frustrated because my car was in the shop the second time for a month and when I left the lot the "fix" immediately failed again. At that point I sent the letter via snail mail to MBUSA HQ. Suprisingly, they called me within a week and met my request which was to refund accessories I had purchased but not had a chance to use because of the repairs (bike rack and base bars) and they also issued me a check for $2000. I don't think hiring a lawyer or going the class action route will work - it's too expensive and takes too long. The insurance route is best, but also in parallel taking a few minutes to write a polite and non-aggressive note to MBUSA to see if they are willing to settle your grievance. I think they view it as "customer satisfaction" or loyalty. I went to BMW after that debacle but eventually came back to Mercedes to buy a large SUV and then several years later the new CLE coupe.
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