Full Breakdown
Mercedes-AMG Drivers Sue Over Hot Logo That Allegedly Causes Burns
8/9/2026, 3:09:50 AM
Lawsuit Over Heated AMG Emblem
Two owners of Mercedes-AMG vehicles—Gabriel Lahijani of Los Angeles and Karendeep “Karina” Bath of Chatsworth, California—have filed a class-action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of California. The complaint asserts that the raised metallic AMG logo stitched into the driver’s seat can become hot enough to “brand” occupants, creating first- and second-degree thermal burns on the upper back, neck, or shoulder.
Alleged Injuries and Incident Details
Lahijani reported a second-degree burn on his back on May 31 after entering his leased 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class while wearing a tank top. A board-certified dermatologist documented the injury as “AMG-inscribed.” Approximately six weeks later, Bath experienced a similar burn on her shoulder after sitting in her Mercedes-AMG wearing a sleeveless top; the suit describes an immediate burning sensation and a visible mark in the shape of the AMG logo that darkened over subsequent days.
Legal Claims and Remedies Sought
The plaintiffs contend that the logo’s design constitutes a defect that “reasonably” contacts an occupant’s skin, violating product-safety standards. They seek compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress, as well as an injunction requiring Mercedes-Benz to remove the emblem from all affected vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz Response and Prior Settlement Context
Mercedes-Benz has not responded to requests for comment at the time of filing. The lawsuit arrives months after the automaker’s December settlement of a separate emissions-cheating case, in which Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG agreed to pay $149.6 million to resolve allegations that software devices were installed in more than 211,000 diesel cars and vans between 2008 and 2016 to manipulate test results. While unrelated to the burn claims, the prior settlement underscores heightened scrutiny of the brand’s engineering practices.
Potential Implications
If the plaintiffs prevail, the case could prompt redesign of interior branding elements across luxury vehicles and trigger broader consumer-safety reviews of heated interior components. It also adds to ongoing legal pressures confronting Mercedes-Benz on product-quality issues.
