Auto Dealership Parts Price-Fixing Class Action Settlement

Settlements totaling $115 million have been reached in a class action lawsuit accusing certain automotive parts manufacturers of engaging in a widespread price-fixing scheme.

Automobile dealerships that purchased new vehicles or bought certain vehicle parts for a vehicle in the United States since 1996 may be entitled to payment from the class action settlement.

“The lawsuits claim that, as a result of the relevant Defendants’ conduct, Dealers paid more than they should have for the parts at issue in that lawsuit and paid more for the new vehicles in which those parts are contained,” the automotive parts antitrust class action settlement website states.

The automotive parts price-fixing class action lawsuit alleges the defendants conspired to fix, maintain and artificially raise the price of these component parts.

As a result, the plaintiffs allege, dealers paid more than they should have for these automotive parts and for new vehicles that contained these costs, and they were unable to pass all of the inflated costs on to their customers.

The settlements cover the following vehicle parts:

• Anti-vibration rubber parts
• Automotive constant-velocity joint boot products
• Automotive lamps
• Bearings
• Body sealings
• Brake hoses
• Ceramic substrates
• Electronic powered steering assemblies
• Exhaust systems
• Fan motors
• Fuel injection systems
• Heater control panels
• HID ballasts
• Ignition coils
• Interior trim
• Power window motors
• Radiators
• Shock absorbers
• Side door latches and latch minimodules
• Spark plugs (including standard oxygen sensors and air fuel ratio sensors)
• Starters
• Valve timing control devices
• Windshield washer systems
• Windshield wiper systems
• Wire harness systems

The settling defendants, which include Aisan, Aisin Seiki, Alps, Bosch, Bridgestone, Chiyoda, Diamond Electric, Eberspächer, G.S. Electech, Hitachi, HIAMS, INOAC, JTEKT, Kiekert, Koito, Mitsuba, NGK, NRC, NTN, Tokai Rita, Toyo, Yamada and Yamashita, deny the allegations.

Other defendants have not yet agreed to settle the auto parts price-fixing class action lawsuit.

Class Members who would like to opt out of or object to the auto parts price-fixing class action settlement must do so no later than Aug. 15, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the automotive parts settlement include automobile dealerships that indirectly purchased any of the covered component parts and/or purchased new vehicles containing these parts in the following states since 1996:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

Potential Award

$350 (minimum payment)

The actual amount each Class Member receives will depend on where the dealership purchased the vehicle or auto parts, the type and quantity purchased, and the total number of claims made by eligible Class Members. However, settlement documents estimate that Class Members who bought affected vehicles or component parts and file a valid Claim Form will get at least $350.

Proof of Purchase

To be eligible for payment from the auto parts price-fixing class action lawsuit, Class Members must submit a proof of Claim Form. If your dealership submitted a proof of Claim Form in the prior two dealership settlements, you do not need to take further action to participate in the settlements.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

1/21/2019

Case Name

In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Final Hearing

9/26/2018

Settlement Website

www.AutoDealerSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Auto Dealer Settlement Administrator
Gilardi & Co LLC
P.O. Box 404000
Louisville, KY 40233-4000
1-888-565-3171
info@AutoDealerSettlement.com

Class Counsel

CUNEO GILBERT & LADUCA LLP
LARSON • KING LLP
BARRETT LAW GROUP PA

Defense Counsel

N/A