Hawaiʻi to Receive $263,356 from Mercedes Benz Emissions Settlement

Hawaiʻi was part of a coalition of 50 attorneys general that announced a $149,673,750 settlement with Mercedes Benz USA LLC and Mercedes Benz Group AG on December 29, 2025. The settlement resolves allegations that certain Mercedes Benz vehicles contained emissions defeat devices and that related practices violated state laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices. Hawaiʻi’s share of the settlement is approximately $263,356.

Under the terms, Mercedes Benz is required to pay $120,000,000 to the states immediately. An additional $29,673,750 was suspended and will be released upon completion of a consumer relief program. That program could apply to an estimated 39,565 vehicles nationwide that had not been repaired or permanently removed from the road as of August 1, 2023. Approximately 913 of the impacted vehicles were sold or registered in Hawaiʻi.

State officials said the settlement funds will support consumer protection efforts in Hawaiʻi, a priority for local regulators following the alleged violations. The immediate payment will provide resources for enforcement, education, and outreach to consumers, while the suspended funds are conditioned on consumer relief measures intended to address harm to vehicle owners who remain affected.

For Big Island County residents this settlement matters because a portion of the vehicles tied to the case were registered in the state. Owners of affected vehicles may be eligible for remedies under the consumer relief program once its terms are finalized and implemented. The suspended portion of the settlement means additional funds could become available depending on how the program proceeds.

The action reflects coordinated enforcement across state governments against a major automaker, underscoring how multinational corporate practices can have direct consequences for consumers in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. Local officials will likely provide further guidance to vehicle owners as the consumer relief program moves toward completion and additional payments are released.