A Florida vehicle owner of a Mercedes-Benz GLE brought the vehicle to a dealership for repairs related to a water leak. Then, about a month later, their spouse returned to the dealership to find that the vehicle had been left outside, with mold growing inside it.
The owner shared images and details of the situation on the r/dealershiptricks subreddit. In the post, they explained that the vehicle had been at the dealership since the beginning of September because of air conditioning issues and glitches with the dashboard.
According to the post, the dealership discovered water damage underneath the dashboard and said parts to fix it needed to be ordered. But the parts were not expected to arrive until December, leaving the vehicle sitting at the dealership.
Eventually, the owner’s spouse visited the dealership to check on the vehicle and collect some belongings they had left inside. But when they arrived, they found the car in a condition that left them heartbroken.
A Moldy Steering Wheel
Car dealership mishandled my car
by
u/Kamimimi88 in
dealershiptricks
Images included in the post show just what made them heartbroken. The vehicle had been left outside, where more water reportedly leaked inside, leading to mold growing inside.
An associate who helped them access the vehicle said they had never seen anything like it before, according to the post. They then advised the owner to take pictures and contact Mercedes-Benz directly.
Now the owner is unsure of what to do next, especially since they still have around a year and a half left on their lease and are continuing to make payments on the vehicle. So they turned to Reddit to ask others how they would handle the situation.
Commenters Suggest Possible Next Steps
Upon seeing the post, several commenters criticized the dealership for allegedly leaving the vehicle outside while knowing it had a water leak.
One commenter said that the dealership should have taken precautions to prevent further water damage while waiting for the parts to arrive. They suggested the dealership should have at least covered the leak with a plastic tarp to help prevent this.
The commenter also suggested the owner look into Florida’s Lemon Law. The law protects consumers who purchase or lease qualifying new or demonstrator vehicles with defects that substantially affect their use, value, or safety. These defects must generally be reported to the manufacturer or its authorized service agent within the first 24 months after delivery.
If the manufacturer cannot fix the problem after a reasonable number of repair attempts, it may be required to buy back the vehicle and provide a refund or replacement, provided the vehicle and circumstances meet the law’s requirements.
Another commenter suggested the owner file a comprehensive insurance claim, since damage like this might be covered. They also recommended speaking with the general manager about potentially ending the lease early or arranging for a replacement vehicle.
The owner has not yet shared an update on whether the dealership has offered to repair the mold damage, replace the vehicle, or help end the lease early. They also have not confirmed whether they contacted Mercedes-Benz corporate or plan to take legal action.