Suzuki Electric Lighting Defect Can Cause Fire, Class Action Lawsuit Says

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

On Wednesday, an electric lighting class action lawsuit was filed in Oklahoma federal court against carmaker Suzuki Motor of America Inc., alleging the company concealed an electric defect present in Forenza and Reno vehicles that causes the daytime running lights to overheat and start a fire.

The Suzuki electric lighting defect class action lawsuit claims the Korean carmaker was aware of the electric lighting defect as early as 2007, but allegedly continued to sell Suzuki Forenza and Reno vehicles regardless of the potential danger to car owners. In July of this year, Suzuki finally issued a recall on the 184,244 affected 2004 to 2008 Forenza and 2005 to 2008 Reno model vehicles, but has not informed car consumers when repairs for the electric lighting defect will be available.

Lead plaintiff Jason Dinwiddie filed this Suzuki electric lighting defect class action lawsuit after his 2007 Forenza vehicle began exhibiting problems linked to the defect. Dinwiddie claim that beginning in July, his vehicle’s headlamps would not turn off and would on occasion take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to completely power down.

In mid-August, the plaintiff alleges smoke billowed out from the vehicle’s dashboard, instrument panel, and pedal area during a drive. Dinwiddie claims he stopped the car, exited the vehicle, and immediately contacted his local fire department for help. The Forenza vehicle continued to fill with smoke and eventually flames also erupted within the car.

After Dinwiddie’s Suzuki vehicle was towed and repaired, a representative for the automaker informed the plaintiff that his personal insurance would have to cover the repair costs, even though Dinwiddie’s Forenza was covered under Suzuki warranty. Dinwiddie proceeded to file the electric lighting defect class action lawsuit after his insurer Liberty Mutual Insurance claimed the smoke and fire originated from the July Suzuki vehicle recall.

Suzuki did inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall stemming from the electric lighting defect this May, but waited to inform car consumers of the recall or the potential danger to drivers because of the electric lighting defect until July.

According to the Suzuki class action lawsuit, “Plaintiff contends that said delay was deliberate and calculated for the purpose of depriving consumers of knowledge of a dangerous defect and the lack of a solution for it.” Dinwiddie hopes to represent himself in this Suzuki class action lawsuit and a Class of all consumers within the United States who bought or leased a Forenza or Reno car.

Jason Dinwiddie is represented by Blake Sonne of Sonne Law Firm PLC.

The Suzuki Electric Lighting Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Dinwiddie, et al v. Suzuki Motor of America Inc, Case No. 5:14-cv-01127, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.