Mercedes Benz has been lying to customers about the origin of the parts it uses in repairs, according to a proposed class action in California federal court Thursday demanding at least $6.6 million for the company’s overcharges.
The suit, which comes hot on the tail of a scandal in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen AG allegedly rigged the software on diesel cars to disguise the amount of
pollutants the vehicles are spewing into the air, accuses Mercedes-Benz USA LLC of telling customers they’re getting name-brand parts in repairs, charging them for those parts, but sticking knockoffs in the cars, according to the complaint. Since 2005, Autobahn Motors Inc., a Mercedes-related entity, has advertised that it uses only original equipment manufacturer parts, according to the suit. OEM parts can cost customers sometimes double what a non-name-brand item would, the plaintiffs said.
The suit accuses Mercedes and Autobahn of fraud, negligent misrepresentation and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, among other claims.
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