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UPDATE: On Dec. 15, 2020, a federal judge refused to throw out a class action lawsuit accusing the Fiat and Chrysler motor company of breaching a lifetime warranty it offered to consumers.
Vehicle owners have filed a class action lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler, claiming the car manufacturer is not honoring its lifetime warranty.
The plaintiffs, which include 27 drivers from 22 states, allege that Fiat Chrysler is not standing by their lifetime warranty of 2006-2009 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles, sold and delivered on, or after, July 26, 2007.
One plaintiff in the Fiat Chrysler class action is Paul Grundy, a Michigan resident. Grundy says he purchased a new 2009 Dodge Journey which Fiat Chrysler represented came with a lifetime warranty.
In December 2019, Grundy alleges that he brought his vehicle to the dealership to diagnose and repair the vehicle’s engine components. He says Fiat Chrysler refused to make the repairs on the vehicle, saying the lifetime warranty was revoked because the vehicle had not undergone a powertrain inspection under the inspection clause of the warranty.
As a result of Fiat Chrysler’s breach of their obligations under the lifetime warranty, Grundy explains that he has suffered economic damages, which includes the cost of the parts and labor necessary to repair his vehicle.
In their lifetime warranty class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that Fiat Chrysler is not honoring their lifetime warranty because of a provision in the warranty that their vehicles must undergo a “powertrain inspection” within 60 days of each five year anniversary of its in-service date.
In addition, the vehicle owners state that Fiat Chrysler has repudiated its obligations to repair the vehicles altogether by “revoking” the lifetime warranties. Thus, the plaintiffs say that going forward they will have to incur further expenses to repair powertrain components in their vehicles.
The drivers claim that they were never given reasonable notice of the existence of the inspection clause in the lifetime warranty when they purchased their vehicles and that the inception clause is unconscionable.
In July 2007, Fiat Chrysler made an announcement that it would start to offer a lifetime warranty on 88 percent of its fleet models, the plaintiffs allege.
From 2007 to 2009, the drivers claim that Fiat Chrysler sold hundreds of thousands of vehicles by providing these lifetime warranty assurances to vehicle owners.
“Burdened by the financial promises made by the Lifetime Warranty offer, FCA now routinely voids the Lifetime Warranty because vehicle owners were unaware that they needed to have their powertrain inspected within that arbitrarily narrow window,” the Fiat Chrysler lifetime warranty class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs claim they were not informed of the lifetime warranty’s specific terms and conditions, specifically the inspection clause. They say that the terms of the lifetime warranty were excluded from warranty manuals that were provided to all purchasers of the 2006-2009 Class vehicles.
The terms of the inspection clause was included in the 2009 Class vehicles, but it is in fine print and indistinguishable from the surrounding text, the drivers explain. The inspection clause, they say, is atypical, serves no commercial purpose, and is one-sided.
The lifetime warranty was the main consideration of the putative Class Members when they purchased the vehicles, and Fiat Chrysler allegedly knew this.
The plaintiffs aver that Fiat Chrysler enticed them to purchase their vehicles by promising the lifetime warranty and then did not inform them of the terms and conditions that would subject the warranty to cancellation.
Questions of law and fact in this class action lawsuit include: 1) whether Fiat Chrysler breached the terms of the lifetime warranty by denying claims under the warranty; 2) whether the plaintiffs were provided reasonable notice of the inspection clause; 3) whether the inspection clause is unconscionable; 4) and whether the members of the class are entitled to equitable, legal, or injunctive relief.
The drivers say that, in connection with the purchase of their vehicles, Fiat Chrysler expressly warranted that the Class vehicles were covered by the lifetime warranty.
Under the warranty, Fiat Chrysler promised to cover the cost of all parts needed to repair powertrain of their vehicles that were deemed defective.
“FCA has breached the Lifetime Warranty by refusing to cover the cost of repairing defects in the workmanship and/or materials of the powertrain parts and components of the Class Vehicles,” the Fiat Chrysler limited warranty class action goes on to say.
Because of Fiat Chrysler’s breach of contract, the plaintiffs claim that they have been damaged in an amount to be proven at trial, which shall include all compensatory damages as well as incidental and consequential damages.
Do you own a Fiat Chrysler vehicle with a lifetime warranty that was declared null or void? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiffs 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 Fiat Chrysler Lifetime Warranty Class Action Lawsuit is 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.
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574 thoughts onFiat Chrysler Class Action Says Lifetime Warranty Is Unfair
This year, 2023, I found that Chrysler killed my warranty on my 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Truck which is a garaged vehicle with less than 20,000 miles.
Upon Purchase of this vehicle, the dealership, Freehold Dodge in New Jersey, pushed a LIFETIME WARRANTY on me for an additional $2400.
Knowing that this vehicle was going to be garaged and last many years, I purchased same.
The Dodge Dealership NEVER let me know that a DEFAULT Lifetime Warranty came with the drive train of that vehicle.
In early 2023, I attempted to utilize the PURCHASED Lifetime Warranty on the truck.
The dealership told me that the policy had been canceled and that I was to call Chrysler Customer Service.
Upon following that avenue, I found that the vehicle came with a DEFAULT Lifetime Warranty which had a stipulation of getting inspected every 5 years.
I did NOT know this fact, and lost BOTH warranties on the truck.
Over the summer of 2023, I tried to work through New Jersey Division Of Civil Rights (NJDCR) to resolve this issue which failed.
NJDCR emphasized that I BREACHED a contract between Chrysler and myself and did NOT inspect the power train warranty every 5 years.
I NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH CHRYSLER TO INSPECT MY POWER TRAIN EVERY FIVE YEARS. !!!
Just because the dealership slips a Warranty Manual into the glove compartment is NOT A SIGNED CONTRACT.
I have attempted to contact “The Miller Law Firm, P.C.” in Rochester, Michigan for help knowing that they handled a CLASS ACTION SUIT on this matter.
If I’ve ever felt rapped, this year was the time.
Chrysler has refused to honor my lifetime powertrain warranty on my 2009 dodge ram. They stated I never completed the 10 year inspection. I took the vehicle in at the appropriate time frame for the 10 year inspection and the dealer never performed the inspection? Chrysler says it’s my responsibility to make sure that it was done and that my warranty is no longer valid. I have over $2000 worth of repairs that need to be done. Exhaust manifolds.(2) and a leaky drivetrain.
Like Mark McCormack said, appears they are no longer honoring the Lifetime Powertrain Warranty.
Original owner here and completed each 5 year inspection on time. The transmission was replaced using the program. During the 3rd 5yr inspection in July 2022 the oil pan gasket and rear output seal were replaced using the program. The vehicle is back at the dealership for a possible engine replacement. Dealer will not get started because they now show the vehicle has only ever had the 36/36 general warranty which expired in 2010. The number the dealer contacts will only say it was never covered other than the 36/36 and offers no additional information or avenue for resolution.
Chrysler is fraudulently invalidating all lifetime warranties. We have provided them proof of original ownership, proof of all required five-year inspections being performed and proof that I am the original named warranty holder. After months, they still will not reactivate our warranty. We have documents to prove all of their claims of reasons to invalidate our warranty or fraud.
I have a 2009 grand dodge caravan I taken only to two Chrysler dealerships only now my engine blown there’s trying to get out of paying it it’s been sitting at the dealer since July 1 I had bumper to bumper unlimited miles they have screwed me every time they either can’t get the part or it’s never covered I need help I can afford thousands for lawyers but I have all the time I need to fight them if someone can show me how
Just got the news from our local dealership they told me our 2008 Chrysler 300 lifetime warranty is void because we didn’t bring it in for inspection every 5 years. I’ve got every receipt for my oil changes and all work done to it. Not once was I told in person or by email about the 5 year requirement.
Had lifetime warranty on my 2007 Jeep Commander and Chrysler warranty cancelled without any notice, I have copies of everything. I hope the case action attorneys will contact me to be added to the suit.
WE HAVE A 2009 JEEP WRANGLER WHICH CAME WITH THE LIFETIME TRANSMISSION WARRANTY….WE HAVE FOLLOWED ALL PROTOCOLS TO COMPLY WITH THIS WARRANTY AND HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK….EXAMPLE IN 2019 HAVING THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED THERE WAS A SMALL SEAL LEAK AND CHRYSLER PAID FOR
THIS AS STATED IN WARRANTY….THIS WAS DONE JUNE 2019…..NOW IF YOU GO BY THEIR FIVE YEAR TRANSMISSION CHECK WE ARE GOOD UNTIL JUNE 2024….WELL WE HAD ANOTHER SMALL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THIS MONTH JUNE 2023….THAT WAS $674.00 DOLLARS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO PAY……I HAVE SENT THEM ALL INSPECTIONS PAPERWORK AND THEY KEEP GIVING US THE RUN AROUND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FOLLOWED PROTOCOL…..OUR JEEP ONLY HAS 54,000 ORIGINAL MILES…..WE ARE IN OUR UPPER SEVENTIES AND $674.00 MEANS ALOT TO US. THE ASSISTANTS YOU SPEAK TO ARE ROBOTIC AND JUST KEEP SAYING ITS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED NECESSARY PAPERWORK WHICH WE HAVE…..WE ARE AT THE POINT TO SEND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS OF CHRYSLER……ALL WE WANT IS FOR THEM TO STAND BY THE WARRANTY THEY DECLARED……I WILL NOT GIVE UP AS I HAVE MORE TIME THAN MONEY.
We purchased a Town and Country back in 2008 with the Max lifetime warranty ($50 deductible). Paid about $2,000 for the warranty. We currently have 150k miles on the vehicle.. Today 6/22/2023 our local dealer (Crown Motors Holland MI) informed us our warranty is now null and void. I’ll be requesting a letter from Chrysler stated the exact reason for the termination of warranty when we pick up the vehicle this morning. Note, they did cover the vehicle s repairs this time. We were told it’s because we missed the last inspection. Believe me when I say, Chrysler covered all our warranty repairs for 15 years with no problems.
Mopar is still not wanting to honor their lifetime warranty in 2023. I purchased the warranty with my 2012 Ram 1500. It has been at the dealership since April. Mopar has done nothing but stall the entire process. The engine has a cracked head. They have proposed a buyout but still they keep saying it can take up to 45 days.
2015 Chrysler 300, with lifetime warranty, dealership had to submit a email with photos of damage. Warranty wrote back that due to mileage of vehicle it would not repair even tho the vehicle is worth 4 times cost of repair. This vehicle has had constant maintenance so I did not break warranty.
We bought the lifetime Mopar insurance from Moss Brothers in Moreno Valley, Ca and one month ago we had service on it. We had to pay out of pocket for repairs. We called Mopar and they said we could send the paper work in and get reimbursed, but would take 6 to 8 months. Where can we go to join a class action suit