Mercedes AMG Owners File Lawsuit Over Heated Seat Logo Burns

Two drivers of Mercedes AMG vehicles have initiated a class action lawsuit against the luxury car manufacturer. They claim the metallic AMG logo on their driver’s seat heats up to the point that it causes burns and branding. The lawsuit has been filed by Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep ‘Karina’ Bath in the U.S. District Court of California’s Western division. They allege that the logo’s design defect means it can reasonably come into contact with an occupant’s upper back, neck, or shoulder.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation from Mercedes for medical expenses, as well as pain, suffering, and emotional distress if proven in court. They also wish for Mercedes to cover the costs for other owners to have the logos removed from their cars. Mercedes-Benz has not yet provided a comment regarding the lawsuit.

Lahijani, who resides in Los Angeles, leased a new 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class from a local dealership. On May 31, he experienced second-degree burns on his back after entering the vehicle in a tank top. A dermatologist later confirmed his injuries as first- and second-degree burns, noting they were shaped like the AMG logo.

A similar incident occurred with Bath, a resident of Chatsworth, California. She reported entering her parked Mercedes-AMG vehicle in a sleeveless top. As soon as her shoulder touched the logo, she felt a burning sensation. The mark, shaped like the AMG logo, darkened and became visible over the following days, indicating a thermal contact burn.

Mercedes-Benz USA and its parent company Daimler AG previously agreed to a $149.6 million settlement in December to resolve allegations of installing devices to cheat emission tests. Between 2008 and 2016, the automaker allegedly equipped over 211,000 diesel passenger cars and vans with software that optimized emission controls during tests but reduced them during regular use, as per a coalition of attorneys general.