Chrysler Clutch Safety System Is Defective, Class Action Says

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 class action lawsuit was filed in an Oklahoma federal court against Stoneridge Inc., FTE Automative USA Inc., and Arrow Manufacturing Co. for allegedly making defective clutch systems that were put in vehicles made by Chrysler Group LLC before undergoing a bankruptcy from 2009 to 2010.

Plaintiff Rickey Royal of California filed his class action lawsuit on Friday against the group of defendants alleging “they were involved in the vertical chain of manufacture, distribution, and sale of a clutch safety interlock switch, which is a product installed in certain manual transmission vehicles sold from the mid-1990’s to 2014.”

The clutch safety feature is suppose to keep a vehicle from starting up if the driver hasn’t pressed the clutch pedal all the way down.

“[The clutch safety interlock switch] functions to open and close an electrical circuit and contains a mechanical compression spring-loaded switch. If the CSIS is functioning properly, a vehicle will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed,” the class action lawsuit states.

In a manual transmission, this feature stops any unintended start-ups, since cars with manual transmissions are typically left in gear when turned off and can cause the car to lurch forward when turned on later, which could potentially lead to injury or property damage.

“The switch is defective because the return springs which act to open and close the ignition circuit when the clutch is operated suffers material and design defects that cause the return springs to break and the CSIS to stop functioning properly during ordinary and foreseeable use,” the defective clutch class action lawsuit states.

“This defect causes the switch circuit contact inside the CSIS to either remain in the closed position (permitting vehicle start-up without the clutch pedal depressed) or remain open (preventing ignition altogether),” it adds.

Since vehicles made with manual transmissions are typically left in gear when turned off “this defect creates a danger of unanticipated start-up and movement of the vehicle any time the ignition key is turned.”

In addition, it “also creates a risk of of a disabled vehicle unable to start at all.”

Royal owns a 2006 Dodge Ram that is equipped with this allegedly defective clutch safety system.

He claims that in January 2013, he was standing outside his truck, “when he reached in the open door and turned the key.”

“Mr. Royal intended to turn the key backwards to engage the car battery, but accidentally turned the key forward,” the class action lawsuit explains.

Royal was not depressing the clutch, however, “the vehicle started and began to move forward. Fortunately, Mr. Royal was able to jump into the truck and stop the vehicle,” preventing any injury or damage.

Shortly after, the California man took his vehicle to Vacaville Dodge, in which the mechanic confirmed that the clutch safety system “was stuck in the closed position because of the defect in the CSIS spring,” which allowed his vehicle to start even though his foot wasn’t on the clutch.

The clutch safety system was replaced by Vacaville Dodge, which he had to partially pay for, causing him to suffer economic loss because of the defective CSIS.

FTE Automative is responsible for manufacturing and distributing the clutch safety system to U.S. automakers. Stoneridge designed and distributed the subject model CSIS to FTE Automative.

Arrow Manufacturing manufactured, distributed and sold “wire compression springs to Stoneridge . . . for use in the CSIS” in question.

Old Carco is the name given to pre-bankrupt Chrysler, which is included in the class action lawsuit as a nominal defendant.

The alleged defective clutch safety system was installed in more than 1 million Chrysler vehicles from 1997 to 2008 model years.

Royal is charging Stoneridge with breach of express warranty. All defendants are being charged with breach of implied warranty and breach of implied warranty in tort.

FTE Automative, Stoneridge and Arrow are all being charged with indemnitor liability.

A class action lawsuit filed in a Texas federal court makes similar charges about Chrysler vehicles.

Royal is seeking to represent a nationwide class that excludes Texas residents.

Royal is represented by R. Chris Cowan of Cowan Law Firm and Jeffrey T. Embry and George Cowden IV of Hossley & Embry LLP.

The Defective Clutch Safety System Class Action Lawsuit is Rickey Royal v. Stoneridge Inc. et al., Case No. 5:14-cv-01410 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

UPDATE: December 2017, the Stoneridge clutch safety interlock device class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.