Mercedes AMG Drivers Sue Over Heated Seat Logo Burns

Two drivers of Mercedes AMG vehicles have initiated a class action lawsuit against the luxury automaker, asserting that the AMG logo embedded in the front seats generates excessive heat, leading to "branding" and burns on occupants. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of California's Western Division, names Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep “Karina” Bath as plaintiffs. They contend that a design defect in certain Mercedes AMG models causes the raised metallic AMG logo to make contact with an occupant's upper back, neck, or shoulder, resulting in thermal injuries. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering, and emotional distress, in addition to requesting that Mercedes-Benz cover the cost of removing the logo from affected vehicles for other owners. Mercedes-Benz USA and its parent company, Daimler AG, could not be immediately reached for comment.

According to the court documents, Gabriel Lahijani, a resident of Los Angeles, leased a 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class vehicle. On May 31, while wearing a tank top, he reportedly sustained second-degree burns on his back after entering the vehicle. A dermatologist subsequently documented first- and second-degree burns, describing the injury as "AMG inscribed." Approximately six weeks later, Karendeep Bath, a resident of Chatsworth, California, experienced similar burns allegedly from the same logo design while wearing a sleeveless top. The lawsuit details that after parking her Mercedes-AMG, Bath entered the driver's seat, and her shoulder immediately contacted the logo, causing a burning sensation. In the days following the incident, a mark in the shape of the AMG logo became visible on her skin, consistent with a thermal contact burn.

This legal action follows a separate settlement involving Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler AG in December. In that instance, the companies agreed to pay $149.6 million to resolve allegations that they had installed devices in hundreds of thousands of vehicles designed to circumvent emissions standards. The current lawsuit focuses specifically on a potential design flaw related to the heated AMG logo on the seats and its alleged capacity to cause physical harm to drivers and front-seat passengers. The plaintiffs aim to hold Mercedes-Benz accountable for these alleged injuries and to ensure that other owners of affected vehicles are adequately compensated or have the defect rectified.