Dodge Challenger and Charger Owners File Suit Against Dodge for Rear Differential Problems Putting Driver’s Safety At Risk

A class action lawsuit filed in Delaware is accusing carmaker Dodge of problems with 2015-2019 Dodge Challengers and Chargers that come with V8 engines and are allegedly equipped with a defective rear differential.  The lawsuit, filed on behalf of six vehicle owners, specifically alleges that the rear differential, a part of the rear axle that helps to stabilize the car while it is turning at high speeds, was “not adequately designed and/or manufactured for the torque loads of the engines and transmissions exerted during acceleration.”  In plain English, this means that the muscle cars, when driven at the high speeds that many drivers specifically bought them in order to drive them at, can be more difficult to control and the rear differentials fail at a much faster rate than they were designed to. The lawsuit further alleges a failed rear differential can suddenly explode, showering the car’s underside with shrapnel, as well as that the failure of the rear differential can occur suddenly, leaving drivers unable to control their car and facing a potentially very dangerous situation. The drivers claim that, not only does the rear differential issue lead to the early failure of the rear differential itself, but that this defect causes other vehicle parts to fail early as well.  Finally, the vehicle owners also allege in their lawsuit that the value of their cars has also decreased significantly as a result of this serious design defect.  

California Lemon Law and Vehicle Defects Like the Dodge Rear Differential Problems

California has one of the strongest lemon laws in the country.  Set forth in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act, California’s lemon law was enacted in the first place to protect California consumers from having to deal with repeated repair visits back to the dealership for factory warranty repairs and/or for safety defects like the rear differential issues faced by Dodge Charger and Challenger owners.  These laws require that motor vehicle manufacturers offer buybacks for new cars (as well as used cars that are still in their initial warranty period) if the manufacturer cannot repair a defect that impairs a motor vehicle’s use, value or safety.  In the scenario faced by Dodge Charger or Challenger owners that led to the recent filing of the Delaware class action lawsuit, this could certainly constitute exactly the type of design defect that would be covered under California’s lemon law if the vehicle owners in the Delaware class action are successful in proving their claims. 

Contact Lemon Law Firm If You Own a Dodge Challenger or Charger and Have Experienced Similar Problems Or Were Injured Due to a Defect in Your Motor Vehicle

At the Lemon Firm, our experienced attorneys have represented numerous clients who have been injured by dangerous defects like those alleged in the recent class-action lawsuit filed by Dodge Challenger and Charger owners in Delaware.  We have been able to successfully recover compensation for our clients who were sold a vehicle that did not perform as intended and we can do the same for you. Contact us for a free consultation today if you have experienced problems like those experienced by the Dodge Challenger and Charger owners in the class action lawsuit described above or any other types of design or manufacturing defects with your vehicle.  Our experienced attorneys can be reached by calling (833) 536-6634.  The first consultation is free and we can take your case on a contingency fee, meaning that you will not pay a cent unless our experienced attorneys recover money for you.  Call us today!

dodge ram

Ram 1500 EGR Cooler Recall

By: Nicole Halavi

A class action lawsuit alleges Fiat Chrysler (FCA) sold hundreds of thousands of Ram 1500 trucks equipped with defective exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers between June 12, 2013 to October 23, 2019. The suit claims that the EGR coolers are prone to thermal fatigue, which makes the coolers more prone to internal cracks over time. An internal crack will then introduce preheated, vaporized coolant to the EGR system while the engine is running. This is a potentially dangerous situation as the intake manifold may combust and result in a vehicle fire if the mixture interacts with other hydrocarbons and air in the system. One of the plaintiffs in the class experienced just this: her truck suddenly lost power and caught fire.

Failed Recall

In October 2019, a Ram 1500 EGR cooler recall was announced for 107,898 trucks built between 2014-2019 in the U.S. FCA announced that a remedy for the EGR cooler issue was not yet available; but that the automaker was making every effort to find one as soon as possible. An EGR cooler is a component used to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases that are recirculated by the EGR system. The EGR system recirculates exhaust gases back into the engine in order to decrease cylinder temperatures and NOx emissions. The gas circulated by the EGR system can be considerably hot, however, especially in vehicles equipped with diesel engines. For this reason, many diesel engines are equipped with EGR coolers to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases before they enter the engine. Customers were told that they would be notified as soon as a fix was available, which created the expectation that a solution was underway. FCA also told customers to simply continue to monitor their coolant levels and contact dealers if the levels were consistently low.

Unavailable Replacement Parts

After the recall was issued, several plaintiffs claim that they took their trucks in for repairs, but dealers consistently informed them that the required repair parts were not available. Dealers were apparently told that replacement parts were very limited and as such, EGR coolers should be replaced only if the part has failed.

One plaintiff purchased a used 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel for his construction business in August 2019. He then received the recall notice a few months later. Months after the dealer was unable to replace his cooler, the plaintiff’s vehicle filled with smoke and lost all power while he was driving. Fortunately, the five occupants of the vehicle were able to exit before the truck exploded and was engulfed in flames. When the plaintiff notified the dealership of this horrific event, he was told the technicians could only repair one cooler per week and his truck was 20th on the waiting list.

What Can I Do if My Ram 1500 is Exhibiting EGR Cooler Issues?

If you are experiencing any of the above issues, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the defective EGR coolers in Ram trucks discussed above and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!