PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Sunny Isles Beach woman is suing Mercedes-Benz USA, claiming the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 she leased from a Palm Beach dealership is a “lemon” plagued by electrical gremlins and a faulty sunroof. Marianna Labonte filed the complaint in Palm Beach County Circuit Court just days after losing a state arbitration hearing regarding the same vehicle. She alleges the luxury electric SUV, which had a gross capitalized cost of nearly $69,000, has spent too much time in the shop for problems that the manufacturer has failed to permanently fix.
According to the lawsuit, Labonte leased the vehicle from Mercedes-Benz of Palm Beach in July 2023. Almost immediately, she claims, the car began exhibiting serious defects. The complaint outlines a laundry list of alleged issues, including a sunroof that gets stuck and fails to close properly, inoperable seat adjustment buttons, and a “no start” condition that left the vehicle unusable. She also reports terrifying electrical failures, such as the battery losing charge abnormally fast, multiple warning lights illuminating on the dashboard, and the vehicle hesitating when trying to come to a stop.
The filing obtained by BocaNewsNow.com reveals that Labonte previously took her case to the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board in October 2025, seeking a refund under the state’s “Lemon Law.” However, the board ruled in favor of Mercedes-Benz, dismissing her claim. In their decision, the board noted that while the sunroof and electrical issues did initially exist, they believed the dealership had successfully repaired them within a “reasonable number of attempts.” The board also dismissed her complaint about the vehicle “skipping” during braking, attributing it to the normal function of the electric vehicle’s regenerative braking system.
Unsatisfied with the arbitration outcome, Labonte is now exercising her right to new trial in circuit court, essentially asking a judge and jury to take a fresh look at the case. Her attorneys argue that the defects have substantially impaired the use, value, and safety of the vehicle, and that the manufacturer’s “limited repair or replacement remedy” has failed its essential purpose. The lawsuit contends she revoked acceptance of the vehicle in writing back in February 2025, but Mercedes-Benz refused to take the car back.
Labonte is represented by Krohn & Moss, Ltd., a firm specializing in consumer law. She is seeking a refund of all monies paid toward the lease, payoff of any loan balance, collateral charges, and attorney’s fees. Alternatively, the suit demands a replacement vehicle or cash compensation for the diminished value of the SUV. Mercedes-Benz USA has not yet filed a response to the new circuit court complaint.
