The installation error may prevent the airbags from properly deploying in a crash.
An attempt to start a nationwide class-action by multiple plaintiffs was denied certification in 2018. The case has since morhped into one plaintiff representing California residents with C635 manual transmission Darts built on or before 11/12/2014.
But the automaker took a recent blow as well as their request to limit any settlement to original owners only was denied because it would free of any significant damages if liability were found.
So where does that leave us? The chances of a settlement look good but no-one knows when that'll happen for sure. So the lawsuit lives on.
]]>The lead plaintiff says Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) is just biding their time until your warranty runs out, leaving owners with drastically reduced resale values and a car that looks like crap.
]]>It’s almost as if FCA thought the were in control of the situation and then suddenly they weren’t 🤔
]]>The allegedly defective piece of plastic holds a short metal rod that is latched into two metal hooks located on the back of the headrest…
As for why the plastic allegedly breaks, the lawsuit blames it on the material of the plastic bracket that cracks due to constant tension and stress forces. Once the plastic bracket fails, the metal rod is torn from its position and causes the active head restraint headrest to deploy.
Nothing makes you feel “safe” while driving quite like the threat of random concussions.
The proposed class-action lawsuit includes all current and former Florida owners and lessees of Dodge Avengers and Jeep Cherokees equipped with active head restraint systems.
This post originally appeared on JeepProblems.com.
]]>The bulk of the vehicles are in the US and include the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500, 5500, the 2010-2011 Dakota, the 2010-2014 Challenger, and the 2011-2015 Charger.
The Chrysler 300 and Jeep Wrangler are also involved.
FCA has replaced nearly 4 million inflators in a series of recalls dating back to 2014. The defective part is responsible for at least 23 deaths and 300 injuries.
]]>Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) is recalling 317,000 vehicles, including the Dodge Challenger, Charger, Dakota, and older Ram trucks. David Woods of CarComplaints.com has the full breakdown of which model years and in what zones.
Overall FCA has a pretty small piece of the 3.3 million vehicle recall pie that’s happening across the entire industry right now. Takata inflators have been in the news a lot lately for new casualties, stop-driving orders, and questions from US Senators.
]]>"The problem was originally discovered in April 2016 when damage occurred to a fuel rail crossover tube on a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Engineers found 21 engines with damage to the crossover tubes out of 20,000 engines that were inspected."
FCA eventually determined that 30 SUVs need repairs, but in order to find those they'll need to recall 34,600 vehicles. Dodge efficiency at its best.
]]>In April 2016, engineers were able to duplicate the failure of the [windshield wiper] body control module and in May had identified the cause as transient voltage spikes coming from the windshield washer pump.
The investigation came after hundreds of warranty claims were filed about the wipers failing. The recalled Darts will need a kinder, gentler pump.
]]>Dodge Ram trucks equipped with Cummins diesel engines have been named in a class-action lawsuit that alleges the trucks emit nitrogen oxide emissions up to 14 times above legal limits.
The plaintiffs say Dodge sold hundreds of thousands of Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks with catalytic converters that wear out quickly due to the alleged defects, costing truck owners up to $5,000 to fix."
The plaintiffs claim the 6.7-liter diesel engine in some 2007-2012 Ram trucks are equipped with sophisticated "adsorber" technology that makes the trucks appear to meet government standards.
There's a full list of trucks and more details about the lawsuit on CarComplaints.com.
]]>Well, really bad for the passenger I guess.
"Additionally, Chrysler says 14 of the driver-side airbags will be repaired due to wires that may be pinched and can cause the airbags to fail in a crash."
OK, really bad for everyone then.
]]>"Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) says the problem occurs with the alternator near maximum amperage in hot temperatures, conditions more likely to be experienced with corporate fleet vehicles compared to typical consumer driving."
FCA says the alternators will need to be replaced but they don't have enough parts. So ... hooray for winter?
]]>At the time the recall was announced, FCA didn't have a solution or a date when the it'd begin. There's a full list of the 1.9 million recalled vehicles on CarComplaints.com, and those looking for more info can call FCA at 800-853-1403. Give them recall number S61.
]]>previously repaired for a June 2015 recall using an incorrect part that may not prevent the passenger-side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal airbag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
During the 2015 recall, the recalled vehicles weren't properly identified and given more faulty parts.
]]>And yet, it appears at this point the only thing drivers have to look forward to is more chimes and audible warnings.
]]>The nuts were not tightened properly when the vans were built between March 16, 2016, to March 17, 2016.
]]>CarComplaints.com has the breakdown of model years and zones.
]]>FCA says an investigation determined power steering fluid lines can leak when the engine is started in cold weather. The automaker says steering will be more difficult but a driver won't lose steering control and no accidents or injuries have been reported.
Steering will be more difficult when the power steering goes out? Next you'll tell me the sun is hot, or that traffic is a real drag.
FCA didn't say when the recall will begin, but you can give 'em a ring at 800-853-1403.
]]>"A driver should know the gear-selection based on multiple sets of indicator lights, unlike normal shifters that use a gear-selector position. However, hundreds of drivers have caused their vehicles to roll away because of not realizing the vehicles aren't in Park."
An investigation was opened earlier this year. One or two rollaways might be an accident, but hundreds? That screams of a "back to the drawing board" situation for the FCA team.
The recall includes the 2012-2014 Dodge Charger, 2012-2014 Chrysler 300, and the 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
]]>"Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling over 14,700 model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs because the front brake calipers can break. Chrysler blames the problem on a supplier that manufactured the caliper with the wrong materials."
Warning signs include the "low brake fluid" warning light, leaking brake fluid, and oh yeah ... a sudden inability to stop.
]]>"FCA is recalling 1,200 model year 2016 Dodge Dart cars equipped with 2-liter engines and manual transmissions. In addition, some 2015 Dodge Darts are included if they have the same engines and transmissions and were serviced between September 15, 2015, and January 12, 2016."
The PCM monitors the engine's torque output, and if it fails it won't be able to stop what FCA calls "an unauthorized torque event." That's twisted.
]]>"According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Continental knew about the defective air bags as far back as 2008."
A new [lawsuit][3] wants compensation for injuries or other losses during that time between Continental discovered the problem and actually did anything about it.
The law firm Kopelowitz Ostrow Ferguson Weiselberg & Gilbert has [more on that class-action][4].
]]>The automaker says lab results showed using urethane with a primer that expired in July 2015 always passed the tests. However, using urethane with a primer that expired in January 2015 failed 100 percent of the time.
Shocking.
]]>"NHTSA says to date, there are 306 incidents of Jeep Grand Cherokees rolling away after owners believed the SUVs were shifted into "Park." The 306 rollaway incidents resulted in 117 alleged crashes and 28 injuries. Those injuries include pelvic fractures, broken kneecaps, a ruptured bladder, busted ribs, sprained knees, trauma to the legs, lacerations to the face and various other injuries."
e-Shift is a monostable electronic assembly that removes the grooves and tactile feedback of a traditional gear shifter, and replaces it with something much more confusing. The result? More and more Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep owners have no idea if their car is in drive, reverse, or park.
The new shifter has led to an increasing number of vehicles rolling away after the driver exited. How e-Xciting.
For what it's worth, FCA changed the gearshift design for the 2016 model year.
]]>find out why a 2009 Dodge Journey airbag deployed for no apparent reason. The automaker later found 13 potential inadvertent airbag deployments with airbags made by Continental Automotive Systems.
Recently, Continental announced they needed to recall 5 million airbags that were susceptible to corrosion. The airbags in question might not deploy in a crash, which really defeats the point.
FCA says they aren't sure when the recall will begin.
]]>Darwin has an award for this sort of thing.
Rather than place blame, however, Dodge has decided to provide owners with free chocks.
They should be ready in April, 2016. Owners can call Dodge at 800-853-1403.
]]>The defect allows the trucks to move just by turning the ignition, without ever having to engage the clutch. According to reports, this allowed something truly awful to happen to one family:
"A child got behind the wheel of a Ram 3500 and turned the key. Even though the clutch pedal was not pushed, the truck lunged forward and hit and killed another child."
The affected trucks are the 2006-2007 Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider.
If you haven't had your clutch interlock switch repaired, or you recently bought the truck and you're just not sure, contact FCA US as soon as possible at 800-853-1403. More details are available on our site.
]]>Water and electronics are not friends. Once the ABS module gets wet it fries up like an egg and disables the anti-lock brakes. It might even disable the electronic stability control system (ESC) for good measure.
FCA hasn't mentioned when the recall will begin. Full details, including build dates for the affected vehicles, are available on our site.
]]>Full details about the recall, and contact information for both Chrysler and Dodge, are available on CarComplaints.com.
]]>Fiat Chrysler (FCA US) says that the transmission control module mounting bracket can "apply to much force and cause a circuit board malfunction". If that happens when you're out on the open road, hang on tight:
"My son was driving our car on the freeway, he heard a grinding noise, the car shifted into neutral all by itself and it would not come out of neutral. He took it into Vacaville Dodge (in California) who advised they fixed the problem and off we went. Less than one month later it happened again."
Full details about the recall --- including manufacturing dates, what dealers will have to do to fix it, and FCA's contact information --- can be found on CarComplaints.com.
]]>When Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) first recalled the vehicles in June 2015, they asked some owners to stop driving until the vehicles were repaired. With such a serious issues, you'd think FCA would make sure to get the fix right the first time.
You'd be wrong. A second recall was issued for the same problem just two months later.
June, 2015: The initial recall involved 7,700 SUVs, including the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.
The problem can cause lower control arms to break, rear-end stability problems or reduced brake performance.
FCA said they believed only 13% of the recalled vehicles actually had the problem. They just wanted to cover all their bases, except...
August, 2015: Turns out FCA didn't cover any bases when it used the wrong heat treatment during the "repair":
"About 5,485 model year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs might have rear lower control arms that received the wrong heat treatment. "
Visit our site for specific build dates of the affected vehicles. Owners with questions can contact Fiat Chrysler at 800-853-1403 and refer to recall number R38.
]]>"Days ago, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) recalled 667,000 trucks with airbags that can deploy just by slamming the doors. Add another 284,000 model year 2011-2014 Dodge Chargers to the list as the automaker says the curse of the sensitive sensors strikes again."
FCA says the problem is an overly sensitive front door pressure sensor. The sensor thinks you closing the door is actually a side-impact crash. I know you've been hitting the gym lately, but come on...
The recall was announced back in August, 2015, but at the time FCA didn't know when they'd start fixing the cars. It's very likely you've already received your recall notice. If you haven't (or if you have questions), contact Fiat Chrysler at 800-853-1403 and refer to recall number R35.
]]>"Loose engine covers that can dislodge and possibly cause a fire."
Seriously? FCA says if you drive your vehicle on unpaved or uneven roads, the cover can become dislodged and start to melt if it touches the exhaust system. Good times.
The recall covers the 2011-2015 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont (which is just the international name for the Journey).
]]>In fact, some owners say the only way to stop their car is to use the emergency brake (just don't mention that to these 2 owners who say their parking brake doesn't work).
You don't need a mechanics degree to know there's something wrong with this situation. Early indications are the master cylinder or brake booster are messed up. NHTSA plans to investigate the issue which currently affects about 121,000 cars.
If anything comes of the investigation, we'll let you know about it.
]]>"[There are] genuine issues of material fact that would allow a reasonable jury to conclude that the ‘false park’ defect was the legal cause of the accident and their deaths."
A false park event, or "park-to-reverse" event, occurs when a driver moves the gear shifter to "park" but the transmission isn't actually in park. The vehicle can then begin moving in reverse on its own.
The lawsuit says this defect led to the death of an elderly couple who were found pinned by their 2008 Grand Caravan in their own garage.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated "false park" reports in Chrysler vehicles before. Their investigation found 212 incidents caused property damage, 109 injuries and 7 fatalities, BUT they dropped their investigation because it happens "in all vehicles." If 2 wrongs don't make a right, what does 100 million wrongs make?
There was also a wrongful death lawsuit involving a "false park" incident in 2008. That case resulted in a $7.2 million settlement.
If anything comes of this revamped case, we'll let you know about it.
]]>To be fair to the part-time assembly worker who made the mistake, they had been trained on a machine for the Chrysler 300 and the team leader didn't catch the mistake.
The recalled Challengers were built between March 28th, 2015 and April 1, 2015.
Owners should have been notified by now and anyone with questions should call Dodge at 800-992-1997.
At least one Challenger owner is ticked off his $50,000 car came with a cheap, easily-scratchable interior. But so far, that's it. No engine ticking noises or steering alignment issues like the 2014. Well, at least not yet ...
If you have a complaint, we want to hear about it. Tell us the one thing that bothers you most about your Challenger.
]]>"Fiat Chrysler is recalling 1,762 model year 2013-14 Dodge Viper SRT cars because the doors can fly open while driving."
The problem is caused by the sealant that's applied to the switches on the Viper's door latches. Full details about the recall are available on our site.
]]>The system is doing a really bad job at telling you when your tire pressure is low, which is unfortunate when you consider that is its only job. Luckily, Dodge is issuing a recall to fix it.
Owners of the 2015 Dodge Dart Aero can call 800-853-1403 and refer to recall number P76.
]]>Dodge dealers will need to install a "software enhancement." If your car's gauges are spiked for more than 4 hours, please see your mechanic.
]]>FCA US says it's aware of one injury related to exploding Takata airbag inflators, but that incident occurred in Florida. The automaker said there have been no other reports of accidents or injuries. In addition, FCA US says over 1,000 laboratory tests have been conducted on airbag inflators but no problems were discovered.
The recalled vehicles include the 2004-2007 Dodge Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500 / 3500 Chassis Cab, Durango, Charger, Magnum, and Dakota.
]]>Chrysler says the vehicles have passenger frontal airbag inflators that are different from other metal Takata inflators used by other automakers. Chrysler says it has received no reports of accidents or injuries and even after laboratory tests on 600 inflators, none of the inflators were defective.
Recall notices should be sent out around January 15th of next year.
]]>To be fair, I tend to stall after a big turkey dinner as well, but car's aren't supposed to do the same thing. Yes, it's a double standard, Grand Caravan -- but them's the breaks.
NHTSA says not only will it look into the matter for the 160,000 Grand Caravans mentioned in the petition, but also any other Chrysler minivan with a similar gas tank design. This isn't the first time Chrysler vehicles have been under the spotlight for stalling engines after a getting a full tank of gas.
We'll let you know if anything comes of the investigation.
Unsurprisingly, stalling engines are a top complaint for the 2007 Grand Caravan but it's not the only issue owners are facing. There's problems with the tie rod ends, a smorgasbord of electrical issues and, well ... a whole lot else to take a look at it. Go ahead, I'll wait.
You back? I know it's a lot to take in, but now it's your turn to tell your car complaint story. If you've had a problem with your Grand Caravan tell us about it here. Your complaints help us collect data, monitor problem trends, warn other owners, find common solutions and sometimes even grab the attention of safety agencies. That's a lot of power in your hands.
]]>Read more about the issue and the terrifying tales of owners.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates safety issues with cars and trucks. Rear differential failure locking up the axle on the highway? Yep, definite safety issue. Driveshaft dragging on the ground? That qualifies as well. So it's no surprise that an investigation has been opened, here's a breakdown of what you need to know:
While the investigation is ongoing, it's important to add your complaint if something similar has ever happened to you.
"Chrysler Group is cooperating fully with NHTSA and would like to remind customers that this is an investigation, not a recall."
I'm sure customers will be relieved to hear that ... you know, once the tow truck driver drops them off at home so they can check their email.
]]>A faulty clutch interlock switch is possibly to blame for allowing the engine to crank when it shouldn't, but we won't know for sure until the investigation moves forward. The following trucks with manual transmissions are under investigation:
While the investigation is ongoing we urge you to keep your truck locked and not let children play near it. Once the investigation is complete, we'll let you know about it.
]]>Chrysler first learned of this problem in 2011 when some Charger police cars started having low-beam failures, leading to a recall. An investigation of the entire fleet was opened in November 2013 when additional complaints -- from non-Police vehicles -- started pouring in.
The recall is expected to begin this April. Chrysler dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and bulbs or possibly swap out the entire headlight assemblies.
Concerned owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 and give them recall number P08.
]]>