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Jeep class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiffs Jacob Reinkraut, Steve Smith, and Matthew Chapman filed a class action lawsuit against FCA US LLC.
- Why: FCA allegedly knew that some of its Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles contained a windshield defect that makes the windshield prone to cracking, fracturing, or chipping.
- Where: The Jeep class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.
- What are my options: CarShield provides vehicle service protection to brands like Jeep.
FCA US LLC manufactures and sells certain Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles with a dangerous defect that makes their windshields prone to cracking, fracturing, or chipping, according to a class action lawsuit filed May 23 in New Jersey federal court.
Plaintiffs Jacob Reinkraut, Steve Smith, and Matthew Chapman say they have experienced the windshield defect in their Jeep vehicles and had to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket to have their windshields replaced due to significant cracks.
The plaintiffs assert that they did not see anything impact the windshield before the cracks manifested.
Jeep windshield defect poses unreasonable safety hazard, class action says
FCA advertises its Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles as safe, dependable, and durable, the Jeep class action lawsuit says. However, they are allegedly manufactured with a defect that causes the front windshield to crack, fracture, or chip for reasons that would not cause a normal, non-defective windshield to fail.
The plaintiffs say that Jeep windshield cracking has occurred “during use of the defroster or having a small pebble from the road bounce up onto the windshield.”
When the Jeep windshield cracks, it can pose an unreasonable safety hazard because it affects the driver’s visibility and increases the risk of injury to vehicle occupants, the Jeep class action lawsuit alleges.
FCA knew about the Jeep windshield defect but concealed it from consumers, the plaintiffs claim. They note that FCA should have known about the issue from numerous customer complaints, field investigations, online forum discussions, and communications with service technicians.
Reinkraut, Smith, and Chapman say they would not have purchased their Jeep vehicles, or would have paid substantially less for them, had they known about the Jeep windshield defect.
The plaintiffs filed the Jeep class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of consumers who have owned or leased Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles for model years 2016 to the present.
In May, more than 132,000 model year 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokees were recalled due to fire risk.
Have you experienced the Jeep windshield defect? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
The plaintiffs are represented by Bruce H. Nagel and Randee M. Matloff of Nagel Rice LLP.
The Jeep windshield class action lawsuit is Racob Reinkraut, et al. v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 2:23-cv-02792-JMV-CLW, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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23 thoughts onJeep class action claims some Wranglers, Gladiators contain windshield defect
Any one else having mold issues from Jeep wrangler leaking rain water?
I own a 2018 Jeep Wrangler, I currently have a cracked windshield, estimate is around $900..
I have replaced my windshield one on my Jeep and my husband replaced his twice in less than 2 months. A tiny pebble caused the cracks
I had my windshield repaired on my 2016 jeep rubicon and 2 months later broke again by a rock. Had the windshield replaced and 9 months later broke again by another rock.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2019 just got a crack in the middle of windshield no chips smooth on in and outside, have no idea how it got there! $850 estimate to replace.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2019 just got a crack in the middle of windshield no chips smooth on in and outside, have no idea how it got there! $850 estimate to replace
2020 gladiator and been through 3 windshields in 1.5 years.
I have the same issue with my 2021Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 80th Anniversary Edition. I had it parked in the yard with sun beaming in on the windshield and it made a very loud popping. Noise and shattered straight top to bottom far left corners of the driver’s side. Then as my son and i were driving home in traffic it did it again dead center of my windshield just up under the rearview mirror and spidered clear across in every direction possible fully obstructing the driver’s vision of this vehicle… So bad that I have been pulled over by our local law enforcement for them to state that my jeep is now deemed unsafe and to park it until I can have this fixed. Which unfortunately I’ve been quoting and it’s over 880$ before taxes, labor and another 300$ smthg for the windshield to also be recalibrated due to all of it’s sensors and etc. This is really sad because unfortunately it’s my only means of transportation and being a single mom I definitely can not afford that.
We just had to replace our 2020 windshield from a crack in the drivers side top corner that just speared going down the road
I attempted to request a class action lawsuit for this same reason 2 or so years ago. I have replaced my 2017 Wrangler windshield at least 5 times in the 3 years I have owned it. My insurance actually dropped my glass for a period of time due to 2 replacements in a 60 period. A small stone kicked up from a vehicle in front of you can cause a crack. Forget if it happens during the winter, as soon as you turn the defrost on the whole windshield is cracked.
I am on my 4th windshield. I own a 2016 Jeep wrangler and constantly have issues with defective parts and replaced dang near everything including my windshield. I regret buying one.