Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Beneteau Charged Consumers Illegal Fees, Delayed Warranty Repairs

Public interest law firm Equal Justice Solutions, has filed a class action lawsuit against Beneteau S.A. and its U.S. subsidiary, Beneteau Group America. The suit alleges that Beneteau forced consumers to pay thousands of dollars in bogus inspection fees to maintain their warranties and then delayed warranty repairs for months, violating U.S. consumer protection laws.

For many, purchasing a Beneteau boat symbolizes the realization of the American dream. The complaint details how the plaintiffs—a construction worker, an accountant, and a corporate executive—worked for years to achieve their sailing dreams. Yet for them and many other boat owners, Beneteau’s promised dream turned into a nightmare.

The lawsuit claims Beneteau’s promises of a superior warranty are misleading and deceptive. The company allegedly forces boat owners to pay hidden and costly fees under the guise of maintaining warranty coverage while making it difficult to obtain timely repairs. Customers who seek repairs outside Beneteau’s limited dealer network risk voiding their warranties altogether.

“This is not just poor customer service—we believe the evidence will show a calculated scheme to reduce warranty expenses at the expense of boat owners who have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Beneteau’s products,” said Dash Radosti of Equal Justice Solutions. The complaint reveals that Beneteau’s executives closely tracked warranty costs as a “key performance indicator” at the highest level. The plaintiffs hope the litigation will prove this created incentives for the company to use deceptive practices to reduce claims, delay repairs, and ultimately net millions in unfair profits.

This suit is part of a nationwide crackdown on unfair warranty practices. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its “Nixing the Fix” report, warning of common anti-competitive warranty practices used to limit consumers’ right to repair. In July 2024, the FTC sent formal warning letters to companies for such behavior. The plaintiffs allege that Beneteau’s tactics are a clear example of these violations.

The lawsuit seeks class certification to ensure all affected boat owners can join the case, demanding restitution for financial losses, delays, and loss of enjoyment suffered. They are also pushing for injunctive relief to prevent Beneteau from continuing these unlawful practices.

“This case is about more than boats—it’s about standing up for the rights of American consumers. When someone buys a product, especially when achieving the lifelong dream of owning a boat, they expect the company to stand behind their warranty, not trap them in a maze of hidden fees and avoidable delays,” said Dash Radosti, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

Anyone who has experienced similar deceptive practices from Beneteau or has information relevant to this case is encouraged to contact Equal Justice Solutions.

While Beneteau has not responded substantively to the allegations, it has moved to dismiss the lawsuit on technical grounds. A copy of the complaint can be found here.

The statements made in this document and the court filings are allegations in a civil lawsuit, which the plaintiffs reasonably believe they will prove at trial.