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.
A federal judge refused this week to throw out a class action lawsuit accusing the Fiat and Chrysler motor company of breaching a lifetime warranty it offered to consumers, but did grant some concessions to the automaker.
U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III said the bulk of the class action against FCA US LLC can proceed because there are facts in dispute that he cannot decide on at this stage and the company’s customers have a right to pursue their claims. The judge did, however, grant a request by the manufacturer to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims for “injunctive relief” in light of a decision previously made as part of the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
The bankruptcy court decided that damages for any breach of warranty claim stemming from FCA’s “Lifetime Warranty Provision” would be restricted to the cost of repair and labor for fixing an affected vehicle.
Named plaintiff, Paul Grundy, and his legal team filed the class action lawsuit against the Fiat Chrysler auto group in May in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Grundy sued on his own behalf and that of at least 27 other owners of specific 2006-2009 Chryslers, Dodges, and Jeeps for which the company reportedly failed to uphold its limited lifetime warranty.
According to the class action lawsuit’s complaint, Grundy and others were told when they took their vehicles in for repairs that the work would not be covered under warranty because they had not fulfilled the requirements of the warranty. To keep the warranty active, owners are supposed to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer for a prescribed inspection of the powertrain every five years.
The named plaintiffs, who come from 22 states, claim they were not given “reasonable notice” of the mandatory inspection clause in the lifetime warranty agreement and therefore, FCA’s practice of revoking the warranty for failure to uphold the terms is unfair and unlawful. The terms of the lifetime warranty were not included in the warranty manuals the owners were provided with when they purchased their vehicles, the class action lawsuit alleges.
Earlier this year, lawyers for FCA filed a motion with the court asking it to dismiss the case entirely on the grounds the inspection clause of the lifetime warranty was known to the vehicle owners. The owners were given documents explaining warranty in detail at the time of purchase as part of a standard sales procedure, the company argued. Copies of the warranty booklets were submitted to the court as evidence.
In his ruling this week, Judge Murphy said the booklets themselves could not prove the owners were aware of the existence of the inspection clause – the question of whether the owners were, in fact, given adequate notice of the conditions of the lifetime warranty are the factual dispute at the heart of the case.
Under the law, the judge is not allowed to make a determination of fact at this stage of a case, Judge Murphy wrote in his ruling. Instead, he must “accept all well pleaded factual allegations as true” and allow the plaintiffs to proceed with fact-finding.
Do you own a 2006-2009 Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep with a limited lifetime warranty? Have you been denied coverage of a needed repair because you did not meet the warranty’s requirements to have the vehicle inspected every five years? Tell us about it in the comment section below.
Lead plaintiff Grundy and the proposed Class Members are represented by E. Powell Miller, Sharon Almonrode, Emily E. Hughes, Dennis A. Lienhardt, and William Kalas of The Miller Law Firm PC and Richard D. McCune, David C. Wright, Steven A. Haskins, and Mark I. Richards of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP.
The Lifetime Warranty Class Action Lawsuit is Paul Grundy, et al. v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 2:20-cv-11231, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
277 thoughts onJudge Refuses to Toss Lifetime Warranty Class Action Lawsuit Against Fiat Chrysler
We own 2008 Dodge carvan that we been denied because of the same reason !,We need in thos lawsuit
I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. I have had multiple warranty repairs. I never knew the 5 year inspection was only valid in a 60 day window. According to my dealer, I met the 5 year inspection at 5 and 10 years. If I did, it was pure chance. I assumed if I never went 5 years between visits, then I was covered. A couple of years ago I had a U joint fail and tear the end off my transmission. It was fully repaired, no problem. A couple of months ago my truck started running very badly. I took it to my local mechanic to determine if the problem was not within the powertrain warranty. We determined it was within the engine, so I took it to my dealer. It was 14 days beyond the 5 year 60 day window. Had I taken it in as soon as it began, I would have met the window. Two weeks. These people clearly planned to defraud their customers out of their warranty. Criminal.
My 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 was purchased with a lifetime warranty. Recently I took the truck in for transmission issues for the third time with the same issue. This has been an ongoing problem. They stated that I did not have my five year inspection and voided my warranty. I was never told anything about a five year inspection.
I bought 2010 dodge journey and paid for lifetime warranty. Took the vehicle in for service in July of 2023. They told me it needs new trans and cost 9100 and car is only worth 3500. Mopar cancelled my warranty and sent dealer check for 3500. They said since repair costs are more then vehicle value they can pay me the lower amount.
I have a 2012 ram with lifetime warranty I went in for service they tell me that the part I need is Absolutely and they put in a used part and said that it is not covered by warranty because it’s used I told them I don’t care where they get the part it is covered by my warranty I have the max care Unlimited years, unlimited miles.
And they said it’s still not covered.
So when my truck finally needs the service from the warranty they’re denying.
Purchased 2009 Dodge ram. I had it service, still have the original documents, where the dealership did the complimentary maintenance inspection, that according to the Dealer Service Manager, was more than just the Powertrain requirements. had this done in 2014 (5 years) and 2018 and 2019 (4 years and 5) years – both within the +/- 60 days, and I just received response from Dodge Custormer who just began processing my “termination of coverage” that there was no “LPLW” form filed. Even with no notification that the inspection requirements were very time specific at sales, it just so happened that the vehicle was in dealer’s car in those windows and still the manufacturer goes to a form that needed to be filled out…. like how would I know that the document I received was not enough! Shame on Dodge/Chrysler for being so deceptive! Glad I kept the original paperwork.
We are also getting the run around and have done all our 5 year powertrain inspections on our 2008 Jeep Wrangler. Does anyone know of an attorney that has a current lawsuit that we could join in California or any state?
I’m also having issues with repairs on my 2009 minivan with a max care Warantee! I’d love to be added to this list to see if we can fight for our warranty rights! I’m in arizona now but bought the car in Minnesota in 2009 or 2010.
Tina@artsysmartsyclass.com
My son purchased a life time warranty from Mopar Fiat and when repairs were needed he was disqualified from any repairs. We are tying to find an Attorney to force the Company to repair the Fiat.
bought a 2009 Dodge Charger in 2009 with a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty plus the extra lifetime warranty to cover the rest of the vehicle.
was told my powertrain warranty was voided, because it was not inspected during a certain period. when i told them the vehicle was during that period with the dealership, (who never told me about this specific inspection while the vehicle was in their possession), that my regular oil changes (every 3 Months/3000 miles) were not good enough, it needed to be a repair to count. i have the original sticker where the lifetime warranty is advertised with any mentioning of limitation/requirements. never was i told about any requirements. found out that the inspection/requirements page is not easily accessible to the service department unless you specifically look for it. i don’t know if that is accurate. the vehicle is taken only to a dodge dealership for repairs, due to the lifetime warranty.
There was a lawsuit on this in Kansas…the car owner won! Check it out!
I have an 2008 Jeep Wrangler I bought new with the Lieftime Maxcare Wrap warranty and am getting the same runaround from Mopar like everyone else on this forum. I have been the pisterboy for meeting and documenting all scheduled maintenance requirements and 5 year inspections. My pavement prince Doesn’t leave the road, has 91K miles, and is probably within the top 5% of Wranglers this year in the country. Many upgrades. Sounds like we need to organize another Class Action Lawsuit.
I’m in!!! Please add me to the list!