Porsche Settles Windshield Glare Defect Class Action Lawsuits

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Porsche has agreed to settle several proposed class action lawsuits that accused the company of a windshield glare defect in certain vehicles that posed a safety hazard to drivers.

According to the deal, Porsche will pay millions to drivers who purchased or leased vehicles with a beige-colored dashboard, including Luxor Beige, Sand Beige, Cognac, Platinum Grey or Natural Brown that interfered with the ability of the drivers to see the road.

In March 2015, plaintiff Ed Chan filed the class action lawsuit alleging a design defect in the dashboards of certain Porsche vehicles.

The plaintiff contends that there is a very distracting glare on the front windshield so extreme that it inhibits the driver’s ability to see clearly through the windshield without dangerous distraction or impediment.

This alleged windshield glare defect was, according to the complaint, caused by the “reflection of light from the unusually light colored dashboards into the windshield, and then into the drivers’ eyes, can momentarily blind drivers or impair their ability to see the roadway.”

The windshield glare defect poses a “clear, unreasonable safety risk” to drivers and because it was not always present, consumers may not have noticed the glare prior to purchasing a Porsche vehicle.

Chan’s first amended complaint asserted claims on behalf of proposed nationwide Class for violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, breach of written warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, breach of express warranty and implied warranty.

In response to Chan’s claims, Porsche filed a motion to dismiss the case in April 2015, which was rebutted with the plaintiffs’ opposition motion the following month.

Oral arguments were set to commence in December of 2015 but were postponed to January 2016. At that time, the parties agreed to attend mediation which resulted in the proposed settlement agreement.

A separate federal district court case in California, Jones v. Porsche Cars North America, was also filed in 2015, making similar allegations and is also resolved with the settlement agreement.

The Porsche windshield glare defect settlement provides benefits to “all current and former owners and lessees of model years 2007 – 20016 Porsche brand vehicles that were sold or leased in the United States.”

Eligible Class Members who submit timely and valid claims will be reimbursed up to $175 for current owners and lessees of 2011 – 2016 model year vehicles, $75 for owners or lessees of 2007 – 2010 models, and $50 for former owners or lessees of the 2007 – 2010 models.

Additionally, Porsche has agreed to pay attorneys’ fees of up to $790,000 and expenses of no more than $50,000. Incentive awards of $3,750 will be paid to each of the plaintiffs as part of the Porsche windshield glare defect settlement.

A final fairness hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 28, 2017.

The plaintiffs are represented by Jordan L. Lurie and Tarek H. Zohdy of Capstone Law APC, Robert L. Starr of the Law Office of Robert L. Starr, Stephen M. Harris of the Law Offices of Stephen M. Harris PC and Joseph Santoli of the Law Offices of Joseph R. Santoli.

The Porsche Windshield Glare Class Action Lawsuit is Chan v. Porsche Cars North America Inc., Case No. 2:15-cv-02106, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

UPDATE: July 2017, the Porsche dashboard glare class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.