Mercedes-Benz is one of the car brands that has been in hot water since the Dieselgate scandal broke in 2015. In the US, class-action lawsuits against the carmaker first sprouted in 2016, after American drivers and car owners said that Mercedes allegedly used defeat devices in their diesel vehicles.
Car owners filed their case in February. Two months later, the US Justice Department asked Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, to conduct an investigation of their diesel exhaust system.
In 2017, an investigation into alleged cheat device use in Mercedes-Benz diesel engines led German prosecutors to execute a raid on 11 of Daimler’s manufacturing sites. This was followed by the recall of over 700,000 Mercedes vehicles throughout Europe after the Federal Bureau of Motor Vehicles discovered defeat devices in them. Around 238,000 of the vehicles are in Germany.
What happens when vehicles are recalled?
When a vehicle is recalled, it undergoes software updates to ensure proper engine management. It is also a process that corrects the consequences that arose when the manufacturer installed a defeat device in the engine.
Affected car owners won’t have to spend on anything as Mercedes or any carmaker involved in the diesel emissions scandal will shoulder the expenses. Recalls and emissions improvements are carried out for free.
A defeat device is illegal because it is used to cheat on emissions testing.
What is a defeat device?
A defeat device installed in diesel vehicles is programmed to detect when a car or van is in the lab for emissions testing. Once it does, the device will automatically and illegally reduce the levels of emissions to within the limits set by the World Health Organization.
Once the vehicle is taken out and driven on the road in real-world conditions, emission levels shoot up to voluminous amounts that go beyond the EU- and WHO-regulated limits.
Any vehicle that is equipped with a defeat device is considered a heavy pollutant since diesel engines emit NOx or nitrogen oxides.
Nitrogen oxide is a dangerous gas that contains nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). It has devastating effects on the environment, vegetation, and human health. It can also trigger certain mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Plants and crops that are exposed to NOx are susceptible to frost, damage, and growth reduction.
Additionally, when nitrogen oxide reacts with some compounds, it forms acid rain, smog, and ground-level ozone.
When it comes to health impacts, nitrogen oxide has several, each depending on the amount of exposure a person has had. For low-level NOx exposure, the most common health effects are headaches, diarrhoea, asthma or aggravated asthma, difficulty in breathing, and other respiratory issues. In some cases, the exposed individual can also develop bronchitis or emphysema.
High-level exposure to nitrogen oxide can have life-altering effects, including (but not limited to) increased susceptibility to certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases, asphyxiation, reduced lung function (chronic), laryngospasm, and in extreme cases, premature death.
These impacts should be more than enough reasons for car manufacturers to recall their defeat device-equipped vehicles, as well as for affected car owners to file a Mercedes emissions claim.
Which Mercedes-Benz vehicles were recalled?
Mercedes-Benz vehicles that were part of the 2018 recall were included in the 2017 voluntary service action in Europe that covered over three million diesel cars and vans.
The 2018 diesel emissions recall focused mostly on Mercedes vehicles equipped with the Euro 6b emission standard:
- GL/GLS/GLE/ML 3.0-litre diesel (OM 642)
- C-Class 1.6-litre diesel (OM 626)
- GLC 2.2-litre diesel (OM 651)
- Vito 1.6-litre diesel (OM 622)
- V-Class 2.2-litre diesel (OM 651)
The recall also affected several individual Mercedes models.
What should I do if my Mercedes is part of the recall?
If you own any of the affected models, Mercedes-Benz will get in touch with you through a written letter. They will provide you with relevant information about the recall, including the available software updates. They will also give you details about joining a Mercedes workshop.
Diesel emission claims
Car owners affected by the diesel emissions scandal are encouraged to file a Mercedes diesel compensation claim. This will give them the opportunity to get compensated for the financial, environmental, and health-related stress that the defeat devices have caused.
So, how do I file my diesel claim?
Some affected car owners think twice about filing a Mercedes diesel emissions claim because of the tedious process. Yes, bringing your claim to court can be difficult but working with a panel of emissions solicitors can help make the situation easier. They are professionally trained and their vast experience in emissions claims cases is a big advantage.
The panel of solicitors at ClaimExperts.co.uk can be trusted to fight for even the most challenging claims case. They are committed to helping car owners who were deceived by their carmakers. Visit their website to see if you are eligible for a Mercedes emissions claim.
