Mercedes AMG sued over alleged seat burns caused by logo

Two drivers have filed a class-action lawsuit against luxury automaker Mercedes AMG, alleging that the embossed AMG logo on the driver's seat causes severe burns. The plaintiffs, Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep “Karina” Bath, claim that the metallic logo on the front seats of certain Mercedes AMG vehicles has a design defect.

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may be reasonably expected that (the embossed metallic AMG logo) comes into contact with the upper back, neck, or shoulder of an occupant

According to the lawsuit filed in a California federal court, the logo can reasonably be expected to come into contact with an occupant's upper back, neck, or shoulder. Both drivers reported suffering burns after sitting in the seats while wearing sleeveless tops. Lahijani, from Los Angeles, leased a 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class and sustained second-degree burns on his back on May 31. A dermatologist documented the injury as an "inscription (of the letters) AMG."

Approximately six weeks later, Bath, a resident of Chatsworth, California, experienced similar burns. She alleges that after parking her Mercedes-AMG in Los Angeles, she returned to the vehicle and sat down, and her shoulder immediately touched the logo, causing a burning sensation. The lawsuit states that in the following days, a mark shaped like the AMG logo became visible on her skin, consistent with a thermal contact burn.

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inscription (of the letters) AMG

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering, and emotional distress. They also want Mercedes to pay for the removal of the logo from other owners' vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has not yet responded to requests for comment. This lawsuit follows a separate $149.6 million settlement by Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG in December to resolve accusations of secretly installing devices to cheat emissions tests on hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

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darkened and became visible on her skin, consistent with a thermal contact burn