Mercedes owners sue the brand for burns caused by the bank’s emblem

Two drivers of Mercedes-AMG models have filed a class action lawsuit in the United States alleging that they suffered burns caused by the brand’s metal emblem attached to the top of the sports seats. According to the lawsuit, the embossed logo heats up when the car is stationary in the sun and leaves a mark on the skin with the design of the three letters of AMG.

The lawsuit was filed on August 5 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, by Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep “Karina” Bath. The documents describe the component as a dangerous design defect and not informed to the consumer: the emblem would be positioned precisely where it is expected to touch the back, neck or shoulder of those who sit in the driver’s seat.

Branding in logo format

Lahijani, a resident of Los Angeles, claims to have leased a 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class at an authorized dealership in the city. On May 31, when he got into the car wearing a tank top, he reportedly suffered burns on his back. A dermatologist recorded first- and second-degree lesions and described the mark, according to the petition, as the letters AMG inscribed on the skin.

About six weeks later, Bath, a resident of Chatsworth, also in California, reports a similar episode. She had parked her Mercedes-AMG in Los Angeles, and as she turned back and sat in the driver’s seat, she felt her shoulder burn on contact with the emblem. In the following days, according to the lawsuit, a mark in the shape of the logo darkened and became visible on the skin, compatible with thermal contact burn.

What the authors ask for

The two are seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering and moral damage, and want Mercedes-Benz USA to pay for the removal or modification of the emblem on other owners’ cars. The lawsuit also requests that the Court recognize a class of affected owners, which has not yet occurred. Neither the public documents nor the coverage of the case indicate how many vehicles would be involved, which other AMG models use the same part or what the total amount is intended.

According to the Associated Press, Mercedes-Benz USA could not be reached for comment, and the company had not filed a response to the lawsuit as of Aug. 9. The existence of the lawsuit does not mean judicial recognition of the defect: according to the American legislation on the manufacturer’s liability, it will be up to the court to assess whether the product was less safe than the average consumer would expect and whether the risks of the project outweighed its benefits.