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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 He says Fiat Chrysler refused to make the repairs on the vehicle, saying the lifetime warranty was revoked because the vehicle had not undergone a powertrain inspection under the inspection clause of the warranty.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
Update: Engine block was NOT cracked. Cylinder head installed in March was not torqued or ground correctly. This resulted in coolant in the cylinder. We had to have the Jeep towed to another location and have the engine rebuilt. I am now out the cost of engine rebuild, plus the cost of labor at the dealer ($500) plus the lost warranty.
I purchased 2009 Chrysler 300 anf lifetime warranty and had vehicled serviced in accordance with maintenance schedule. Repairs have been made also at same dealership. The transmission had problems and was towed to dealership. I was told the were wait8ng on parts. Repair was made but shifter problems occurred and had to be brought back. The car has been at dealer since January 2023 and many excuses made for why car still isnt repaired. Please reply I am interested in lawsuit.
2014 Dodge Ram Outdoors men FCA lifetime warranty. Air suspension failed. Dealership has truck for 8 months, Nothing
Hello, I am having the same problem. Purchased a 2009 Jeep wrangler and purchased the upgrade Max Care Lifetime warranty. I have not had any trouble with claims until last week when they informed me that my powertrain warranty was voided because i did not to a 10 year powertrain inspection back in 2019. I was totally unaware i needed one and feel the dealership should have asked me about it on one of my may visits thru the years. I am trying to fight this but i was recently diagnoses with stage 4 lung cancer (never smoked or worked with chemicals) and I have so much on my plate with this bombshell and the medical expenses i am racking up. I never thought my 2009 would be the last car i would ever own, but it seems this could be a possibility in light of my recent health problems. I had always counted on the Max Care Warranty i paid for when i purchased my new jeep in 2009 in San Diego.
Bought a 2008 dodge ram in May 2008. I also purchased the lifetime warranty which I was told had bumper to bumper coverage for the lifetime of the vehicle by the salesman. The transmission has failed and I am now being told that it is not covered because the warranty for the powertrain was cancelled. No cancellation notice was provided and no reason for the cancellation was given. In addition, the dealership initially refused to accept my vehicle for repairs stating it was too old to get parts. After a confrontation they agreed to accept the vehicle but repairs will cost $10000. I purchased the vehicle because of the lifetime warranty believing I would not have to purchase another in my lifetime
We have a 2012 Jeep Liberty, purchased new, including Lifetime Max Warranty. Vehicle has 150,000+ miles on it. We had cylinder heads replaced in March. We took it in a two weeks ago for a water pump, and now we are now told we have a cracked engine block. This vehicle has never overheated. The quote to replace the motor is $11,000+ which is ridiculous. MOPAR just canceled the warranty contract without permission offering $5,000 for the vehicle which is worth twice that much. Yes, we are very interested in this class action lawsuit.
Bought a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country and bought the life time warranty. I wasn’t informed of the 5 year power train inspection. Now after all these years and no claims they are cancelling my warranty. I am 77 and on a fixed income. I did not understand these provisions and the warranty never mentions the power train in covered items
I bought a new 2007 Chrysler Crossfire new from Monroe Dodge/ Chrysler in Monroe MI, who strongly emphasized the great value of the new lifetime, of original owner, powertrain warranty. I agreed that it was a very valuable selling feature, that convinced me to buy the new Chrysler and I also bought another $1900 “wrap” accessory ( alternator, ac compressor, etc-other than power train) lifetime warranty that is still honored (2023) by Fiat-Chrysler without any warranty 5 year inspections. I was notified \ reminded, in writing, by Chrysler Corp, a month in advance of the 5 & 10 year inspection dates. Both warranty inspections were scheduled by me and performed/passed & documented at Community Chrysler dealership, Martinsville IN.
The 15 year inspection was due in the covid year of 2022. No notification/reminder was received from Chrysler Corp. I finally remembered in April 2023, to ask the newly- displaced, moved to Bloomington IN Community Chrysler for the 3rd – 5 year inspection. They said I was too late and the “LIFETIME” power train was voided by Fiat-Chrysler in their service computer. These “Lifetime Power Train warranties” are a corporation legal scam to move slow selling Chrysler cars off their lots in 2007 with no intention of ever honoring the paper / computers they were written on.
I am the original owner of a 2009 Jeep Wrangler with a lifetime powertrain warranty and am interested in this lawsuit. I was not given proper notice of needed inspections and feel this warranty requirement was deceptive. I have my vehicle at the dealer I purchased it from (Champion in Lansing) for service to get a new transmission (approx. $5900) that should be covered under this warranty. I am frustrated and disappointed Jeep does not stand by this lifetime warranty.
I have a 2015 Ram 2500 4×4. How do I get in on the Class Action lawsuit.
Lifetime warranty for Torque Converter, Has been down for three months.