Another Jeep Class Action Filed Over Defective Wrangler Radiator

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Automaker Fiat Chrysler has been hit with a second class action alleging the radiators in Jeep Wranglers are defective.

Lead plaintiffs John Malizia and Mark Pustulka allege in their class action lawsuit that after hundreds of publicly available consumer complaints, Fiat Chrysler is well aware of a defect in Jeep Wrangler radiators that cause many of the vehicles’ systems to malfunction and fail.

Both plaintiffs claim that the heater in their 2013 Jeep Wranglers failed because of the defect. They say they would each have to pay more than $1,000 to fix the problem.

According to the Jeep class action, Fiat Chrysler uses two different methods, sand-casting and die-casting, to manufacture components of Jeep Wrangler’s Pentastar engines. Combining these two components causes sand to build-up in the radiator, leading to failure of other systems.

“This is not the first time Chrysler has experienced issues with its cylinder heads in the company’s Pentastar engines. In 2012, Chrysler voluntarily recalled 7,500 cylinder heads due to a ‘ticking’ sound in the engine, stalling, and other problems during use,” notes the Fiat Chrysler class action lawsuit.

This is the second class action to hit Fiat Chrysler over the allegedly defective radiator. Earlier this summer, another class action alleged that model year 2012 through 2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicles were afflicted by a defect that caused the heater, defroster and air conditioning systems to fail.

“During the production process, Chrysler does not sufficiently purge the sand from the cylinder head,” alleges the Jeep lawsuit. “Thus, excess sand is left in the cylinder head that seeps out gradually as the vehicle is driven.”

Furthermore, say the plaintiffs, “[a]ll sand must be removed or destroyed during production of the cylinder head or other component engine parts will experience extensive problems. Specifically, any residual sand that remains from the sand-casting process in the engine can also improperly circulate through the vehicle’s cooling system and settle in the heater core, radiator, and oil cooling systems. The sand forms a sludge-like build-up in the bottom of the radiator reservoir that continues to accumulate until heating and cooling systems malfunction and fail.”

The Jeep class action says that regular maintenance cannot fix the problems caused by sand build-up. Instead, an engine without any leftover sand casting must be installed in Jeep Wranglers.

The plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased or leased a 2012-2017 Jeep Wrangler, as well as a New York subclass for violations of state law. The Jeep class action alleges that Fiat Chrysler breached express and implied warranties and was negligent in allowing the defective components into their vehicles.

The Jeep Wrangler owners are seeking damages, attorney’s fees and costs, as well as declaratory, injunctive and equitable relief.

Malizia and Pustulka are represented by Mitchell M. Breit and Paul J. Hanly, Jr. of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, Daniel K. Bryson and John Hunter Bryson of Whitfield Bryson & Mason LLP, and Gregory F. Coleman of Greg Coleman Law PC.

The Jeep Wrangler Manufacturing Defect Class Action Lawsuit is John Malizia, et al. v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 1:17-cv-07039, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.