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This settlement is closed!
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Trane U.S. has agreed to settle with consumers who claimed that some of the company’s Trane brand and American Standard brand air conditioners and heat pumps possess a defective part and the company’s attempts to fix the problem actually made it worse.
Class Members include all U.S. residents who are current or former owners of Trane and American Standard 1.5 to 5-ton air conditioners and heat pumps with certain serial numbers. The full list of affected serial numbers can be found here.
Elaborating on this legal news, the settlement website explains that most affected units were manufactured between November 2013 and September 2014. However, some affected units were made as late as 2017. The website advises that those consumers who are unsure if they are in the Class or not can contact the settlement administrator at 800-528-7199.
Consumers filed the Trane defective AC class action lawsuit alleging that some Trane and American Standard air conditioners contain unapproved rust inhibitors. This reportedly causes sticky deposits to form in and clog the thermostatic expansion value (TXV), which can in turn, cause the air conditioners to fail.Â
According to customers, Trane offered a repair to the failed air conditioners but this remedy was ineffective. Allegedly, service personnel used an acidic additive to break apart the deposits. However, according to the customers, this repair was not sufficient, because it can affect the long-term functionality of the compressor in the air conditioner.
The Trane air conditioner valve defect class action lawsuit asserts that Trane should have replaced the device to effectively fix the problem.Â
In settling the Trane defective AC class action lawsuit, the company does not admit any wrongdoing, saying that the additive is not harmful. However, both the company and the consumers have agreed to settle in the interest of avoiding the costs and risks of continuing to litigate.
In the consumers’ eyes, settling was a good way to give a large group of affected customers compensation, whereas if the Trane AC class action lawsuit went to court and was unsuccessful, they could receive nothing.
Class Members are eligible to receive reimbursement for their out-of-pocket repair costs that consumers might have incurred in trying to deal with the alleged defect. Eligible repairs include: replacing the TXV or coil, injecting an additive (sometimes referred to as MJ-X, Zerol Ice, or A/C Renew) before the settlement’s effective date.
The Trane settlement website explains that reimbursement for TXV replacements are capped at $575 and reimbursement for additive injections are capped at $250. Class Members can make claims for both if they paid for both.Â
The deadline to opt out of the settlement or to object to it is July 13, 2020. Class Members also are invited but not required to attend a final approval hearing set for Aug. 12, 2020.
The deadline to file a benefits claim is Sept. 25, 2020. They can be submitted either online or by mail.
The deadline to get a Preventative Additive Injection is Sept. 11, 2021. To receive the injection, contact any local Trane/American Standard service provider or dealer and reference bulletin number UN-SVB020H-EN.
Who’s Eligible
Class Members include all U.S. residents who are current or former owners of Trane and American Standard 1.5 to 5-ton air conditioners and heat pumps with certain serial numbers.
The full list of affected serial numbers can be found on the settlement website. Most units included in the settlement were made between November 2013 and September 2014. However, some affected units were made as late as 2017.
Potential Award
Up to $825.
Class Members are eligible to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket repair costs incurred dealing with the alleged defect. Eligible repairs include: replacing the TXV or coil, injecting an additive (sometimes referred to as MJ-X, Zerol Ice, or A/C Renew) before the settlement’s effective date.
The Trane US settlement website explains that reimbursement for TXV replacements are capped at $575 and reimbursement for additive injections are capped at $250. Class Members can make claims for both if they paid for both.Â
Proof of Purchase
Evidence of repair, such as a work order. The settlement website explains that Class Members seeking compensation from a coil replacement must provide evidence that it was replaced because of a stuck TXV.
Claim Form
NOTE:Â 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
9/25/2020 to file a claim for benefits
9/11/2021 to receive a Preventative Additive Injection
Case Name
Livingston, et al v. Trane U.S. Inc, Case No. 2:17-cv-06480, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey
Final Hearing
8/12/2020
UPDATE: The Trane & American Standard A/C, Heat Pump Settlement was granted final approval on August 12, 2020. Please note that claims will not be paid until after the claim deadline passes. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more.
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Class Counsel
Timothy N. Mathews
Zachary P. Beatty
CHIMICLES SCHWARTZ KRINER & DONALDSON-SMITH LLP
James C. Shah
SHEPHERD FINKELMAN MILLER & SHAH LLP
Defense Counsel
Gregory Ulmer
BAKER HOSTETLER
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36 thoughts onTrane & American Standard A/C, Heat Pump Settlement
What if you had to replace a while AC unit cause of a Tran AC do we still apply
Include me in this lawsuit
I had a Trane heat pump installed at my house 3 year ago, but I have been having issues after issue, first it was the capacity, no issues things happen, I had that replaced, Then came the connector again no problem had that changed, but just last week my 3 old machine that is still under a 10 year warrant is completely out of frion, and service claim it needs 6 to 9 pound of nitrogen, to find the leak and 6-9 pound of frion, and coil replacement. The total repairs are aprox 3095. I have reached out to Consumer care but I am being told the only thing they can do for me is to ask me to pay for the repairs then they can look to see if they can POSSIBLY reimburse some of the labor cost. I asked why should such a new product be having that many issues to begin with, but they say they Won’t replace it. I honestly don’t know where to turn in the middle of the Global Pandemic.
include me in this lawsuit
Exclude being this lawsuit
Yeah the picture is very misleading as most of the affected units were residential split systems. I know it threw me off a bit just reading the article title and viewing the picture. Definitely looks like an advertisement for ductless. 495 pages though! Sheesh Trane!
What is going on with your web guys this is the second screw up with pics I’ve seen the other is the Santa rosa BLM suit. Clean your house.
I had a complete Trane system installed 10/01/2019 do you think it could be a faulty unit in the future?? The A/C is a 2.5 ton and the furnace is 80,000 BTU
I’m an hvac contractor in Va Beach and wanted to respond to your question. Your unit should not be affected by that problem. It has been several years since we encountered this issue. In all honesty, that issue affected other brand names as well. The main problem was the solution used on the txv valves and those were outsourced and distributed to several other equipment manufacturers. I would not worry about your unit.
Cool Breeze Heating and Air, I have a Trane XL20i. After only 1 year I had to replace the capacitor. Could that be related to this lawsuit or have you heard of these capacitors going out prematurely?
…I bit more clarity on my comment… txv valves are manufactured by only a few manufacturers and distributed to multiple brand names of hvac systems. The problem did not just occur with TRANE/American Standard, it occurred on other brands as well and they thought of the same solution of adding the additive that really did not resolve the problem. But, once again we haven’t encountered this issue in several years.
Yes, agreed… As is, it looks more like an advertisement. If I were the woman in the picture I wouldn’t be smiling I would be sweating!
Please change the picture to something more like a traditional air conditioner or heat pump. A picture of a minisplit or ductless-style unit is likely to mislead consumers who have been affected by this issue since they may not own a mini split or ductless unit and the issue stated in this case is inapplicable to that style of air conditioner or heat pump.