The Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal happened in 2015 but manufacturers involved in the fiasco are still reeling from its effects. Aside from VW, Mercedes-Benz is also alleged to have fitted defeat devices in their vehicles.
Although the Mercedes diesel emissions scandal broke years later, it has received the same attention from authorities and the media as VW did. It has also caught the attention of legal groups representing car owners affected by the original Volkswagen emissions scandal. So, despite Mercedes executives and representatives denying the allegations, class-action lawsuits have been filed against Mercedes-Benz since 2018.
Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler was asked to pay a fine of £776 million in connection to the use of the defeat devices. This came after the recall of over 770,000 affected vehicles. Meanwhile, approximately 500,000 Mercedes-Benzes are believed to have been fitted with the cheat device in the UK. Like the affected VW car owners, the drivers of these recalled Mercedes vehicles are entitled to a diesel compensation claim.
Earlier this year, in March 2021, UK law firms representing Mercedes-Benz car owners began filing lawsuits against the car brand. The legal action is asking the company to pay compensation to the drivers for allegedly installing a defeat device in thousands of the company’s cars. The device works by automatically suppressing emissions every time the car it’s installed in is lab tested. However, when driven in real-world road conditions, the vehicle reverts to its usual volume of nitrogen oxides emissions, which is above the legal limit.
The lawsuits against Mercedes-Benz are the latest among the many manufacturers implicated in the scandal. Other car brands that are accused of using defeat devices on their diesel vehicles include Renault, Alfa Romeo, Nissan, Suzuki, Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Fiat, Jeep, Citroën, and Peugeot.
Mercedes recalls
Aside from the lawsuits, Mercedes-Benz was ordered to recall a further 113,000 affected vehicles worldwide. The order came from the KBA or German Federal Motor Transport Authority. Mercedes, like all other manufacturers in the Dieselgate scandal, is required to remove the defeat devices they’ve allegedly installed to their cars.
In the earlier years of the Mercedes diesel scandal, the affected models were manufactured between the years 2012 and 2018:
- G-Class
- C-Class
- E-Class
- GLE
- GLC
- CLS
- SLC
- SLK
- GLK
- S-Class
- M-Class
- Vito
- Sprinter
This time, however, the KBA added other models in the list, specifically the following Mercedes-Benz cars manufactured between the years 2008 and 2011:
- A-Class
- B-Class
- C-Class
- E-Class
- Euro 5 Diesel Engines
The affected vehicles are said to be installed with the BlueTEC emissions reduction system, an engine technology that’s supposed to make Mercedes-Benz cars one of the most efficient and cleanest power units in the world. In essence, the automaker lied to its customers because the lower emissions were only achieved because of the defeat devices and only during lab tests.
Alleged Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and VW conspiracy
Aside from the recalls, Mercedes-Benz representatives have also been busy responding to allegations that the automaker is in a conspiracy with fellow German car brands Volkswagen and BMW. The collusion is for an alleged technology suppression cartel intended to push back the implementation of safer, cleaner but more expensive emissions technology.
Although the European Union Commission is still looking into the allegations, car owners have already expressed their angry reactions to the manufacturers.
Why nitrogen oxide emissions are dangerous
Nitrogen oxide emissions or NOx is made up of dangerous gases. The umbrella term includes nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are extremely toxic and dangerous. They form acid rain and smog and significantly contribute to the formation or particulate matter or PM.
NOx also forms ground-level ozone, which, like PM, can cause health problems aside from polluting the environment.
Anyone who is regularly exposed to NOx emissions can suffer from respiratory problems, allergies, asthma or aggravated asthma (for those who already have it), and lung damage. Possible effects on one’s mental health include depression and anxiety.
NOx also affects the ecosystem, particularly vegetation. It can reduce or stunt growth, cause frost and leaf damage, and certain diseases.
Why do you need to make a diesel compensation claim
If you have a Mercedes-Benz and received a recall letter, you are entitled to receive a compensation claim from your manufacturer. You need to make this claim if you want to be paid for the inconvenience that the carmaker gave you when it lied about the environmental safety of the vehicle you bought. Instead of an efficient and clean car, you were sold a Dieselgate Mercedes-Benz that emits dangerous levels of NOx emissions. The claims process can be challenging and may last longer than you expected, so you have to work with a team of emissions experts. This will increase your chances of a successful claim. The experienced team at Emissions.co.uk is prepared to guide and help you every step of the way.
