Dodge Ram Steering Defect Class Action Settlement Gets Initial OK

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On Monday, a California federal judge indicated that she would preliminarily approve a proposed $3.1 million class action settlement over an alleged Dodge Ram steering defect, but asked that claimants be granted 180 days to cash their checks instead of the proposed 60-day check cashing period.

This proposed Dodge Ram settlement would resolve a class action lawsuit filed in 2014 by plaintiff Shaun Sater. Sater alleged that certain Dodge Ram truck models had defective tie rods that were too weak to withstand normal use, and could cause the vehicle to shake violently or experience sudden loss of steering control.

Dodge Ram pickup trucks had been recalled over the steering defect, but those recalls were reportedly ineffective. Chrysler issued a new round of recalls shortly after Sater filed the class action lawsuit, and was finally able to fix the steering defect. Chrysler sought to dismiss the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit, but its motion for dismissal was denied in February 2015.

Even though Chrysler was able to fix the Dodge Ram steering defect, the class action lawsuit asserted that the motor company should have done so much earlier. Because of the delay, Class Members allegedly “did not receive the full benefit of their bargain and should be paid compensation based on the difference between the full market price they paid and the value of the defective trucks they were sold,” the plaintiffs argued.

The plaintiffs recently filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips to preliminarily approve the Dodge Ram steering defect class action settlement. Last week, Chrysler informed the judge that it agreed that the proposed Dodge Ram settlement is “fundamentally fair, adequate, and reasonable,” and that it should be preliminarily approved.

Class Members of the proposed Dodge Ram settlement include Californians who purchased a Dodge Ram 4500/5500 or Dodge Ram 2500/3500 between July 1, 2009 and Nov. 6, 2013. Under the terms of the proposed steering defect class action settlement, those who purchased a Dodge Ram 4500/5500 are entitled to a payment of $250, and those who purchased a Dodge Ram 2500/3500 are entitled to a payment of $195.

Approximately 7,100 Californians may be eligible for benefits from the Dodge Ram class action settlement.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the green “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

The plaintiffs are represented by Robert G. Loewy of Law Offices of Robert G. Loewy PC; Stuart A. Davidson, Mark J. Dearman and Elizabeth A. Shonson of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP; Steven L. Marchbanks of Premier Legal Center APC; Eric H. Gibbs, Dylan Hughes, and David Stein of Girard Gibbs LLP; and Gregory F. Coleman of Greg Coleman Law PC.

The Dodge Ram Steering Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Shaun Sater, et al. v. FCA US LLC (f/k/a Chrysler Group LLC), Case No. 5:14-cv-00700, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

UPDATE: The California Dodge Ram steering defect class action settlement is now open. Click here for information.