Mercedes-Benz G-Class Lemon Law

An oil leak onto hot exhaust components creates a fire risk and is considered a serious safety defect under the Song-Beverly Act. For safety-related defects, only two repair attempts are needed to establish a lemon law presumption, which your G 550 has already met. You should immediately document the leak with photos and request a loaner vehicle, as driving with this condition could be dangerous. Contact a lemon law attorney promptly to initiate the repurchase or replacement process.

The Song-Beverly Act applies equally regardless of vehicle price, and the high cost of your G-Class actually increases your potential recovery. Your refund would be based on the full purchase price minus a mileage offset, plus all incidental damages. If Mercedes-Benz willfully failed to repurchase your G-Class after a qualifying defect, civil penalties of up to two times your actual damages could apply, potentially exceeding $300,000 in total recovery for a vehicle at this price point.

The Song-Beverly Act covers vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. If your G-Class is used for mixed personal and light business purposes, you are likely still covered as long as the personal use is a substantial purpose. However, if the vehicle was purchased exclusively for commercial fleet use or heavy business operations, coverage may be limited. Consult with a lemon law attorney to evaluate your specific usage pattern.

Yes, time spent waiting for backordered parts while your G-Class is at the dealer or undrivable counts toward the 30 cumulative calendar days out-of-service threshold under the Song-Beverly Act. The manufacturer cannot avoid lemon law liability by citing parts supply chain delays, as the obligation to conform the vehicle to warranty rests entirely on Mercedes-Benz. Request a written estimate of the parts arrival date and document each day the vehicle remains out of service.