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.
On February 9, Chrysler Group LLC was hit with a proposed alternator recall class action lawsuit, alleging the carmaker does not have enough parts to repair and replace the thousands of Chrysler vehicles recently recalled for having a dangerous and faulty alternator and additionally has refused to compensate consumers for the cost of rental cars.
Lead plaintiff Robert Madatyan claims in the class action lawsuit that back in October 2014, Chrysler issued a recall notice for all of their brand name vehicles featuring defective 160 amp alternators that could catch on fire and shut down the engine while in drive. This Chrysler alternator recall notice simultaneously informed car owners and lessees that the parts needed to fix the defect would take about six months to obtain. During this recall waiting period, the automaker has asked consumers to refrain from driving the affected Chrysler vehicles or parking them near structures.
However, the alternator recall class action lawsuit alleges Chrysler has refused to pay for consumers’ rental cars, despite that fact that Chrysler car owners and lessees have been told by the automaker to not drive the defective cars.
According to the Chrysler alternator recall class action lawsuit, “Chrysler should, among other things, be required to furnish or pay for replacement vehicles until Chrysler fixes the defective vehicles and should pay damages and restitution to the owners and lessees of the vehicles for loss of use, loss of market value and other financial losses,” Madatyan claims.
Back in 2011, Chrysler allegedly began to design, manufacture, market, and sell the Chrysler vehicles with the defective alternators. According to the alternator recall class action lawsuit, there were about 434,581 Dodge Challengers, Durangos, and Chargers, as well as Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokees that were outfitted with the defective alternator. These defective 160 amp alternators allegedly cause these Chrysler cars to shut down and catch on fire. In some cases, the defective alternators would not completely shut down the car, but would then cause electrical failures, affecting the systems that allow drivers to steer and brake.
According to the Chrysler alternator recall class action lawsuit, the Chrysler alternator failure could occur without warning, leaving drivers without time to avoid traffic dangers. Additionally, the alternator defect can also cause a car to catch on fire even if it is off and parked. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that hundreds of Chrysler vehicle owners and lessees have filed complaints with the agency outlining the numerous problems associated with the defective alternators.
Madatyan brings several allegations against Chrysler, including claims of breach of express warranty, breach of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, breach of Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and finally one count of violating the California Unfair Competition Law.
The plaintiff seeks to represent himself in this Chrysler alternator recall class action lawsuit, as well as a Class of all owners and lessees of the following Chrysler vehicles: 2011-2014 Dodge Challengers, Chargers, and Durangos; 2011-2014 Chrysler 300; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees.
The plaintiff is represented by Hovanes Margarian of The Margarian Law Firm.
The Chrysler Alternator Recall Class Action Lawsuit is Madatyan, et al v. Chrysler Group LLC, case number BC571830, in the California Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
90 thoughts onAlternator Recall Class Action Lawsuit Hits Chrysler Group
Brandon Guillory
By Far My Worst Experience Ever! Absolutely Degrading and Dishonorable! WILLING TO PUT ME IN CAR THAT CAN CATCH FIRE OR COMPLETELY STOP ON BUSY HIGHWAY, possibly resulting in fatal accident. Guy name Don Taylor informed me about a recall on my alternator and insisted Chrysler Jeep Dodge City of Mckinney keep my car to repair it (His suggestion and idea). Told me to get rental on dealers behave. Days later he want to charge me for service $1000+ but I declined. Then I was told to come get my recalled vehicle without repairs, plus my rental was not covered. After attempting to drive my car home, it had additional issues prior to leaving it (Won’t accelerate over 30mph). The dealership gave me a loaner only to illegally threaten me to report the car stolen. Service manager Matt Lewis claims he couldn’t get in contact with me but stated his staff contact and talk to me the day prior. Matt Lewis hangs up in my face. After I dropped the loaner off, Chrysler Jeep Dodge City of Mckinney, as well as customer service never contacted me nor provide me with means of transportation. I have not been able to work for almost 2 weeks now. Customer service also hung up in my face. I’ve never been degraded and treated sooo poorly before.
They need to expand the alternator recall to the 180 volt not just the 160 volt. Car died in middle of heavy traffic. Could have been horrific accident. I cannot be the only one that had this incident with the 180 volt alternator. Chrysler will not reimburse me for the $800 repair on the 2012 Chrysler 300. If you have experienced this with the 180 volt and were not reimbursed, please post. They need to include the 180 volt alternator in this recall!!!!
Exact same thing happened to me March 2017, 2012 Chrysler 300. New recall now including other alternators so working on getting paid back $955.
As I was pulling out of a driveway, my 2012 Chrysler 300 slammed to a dead stop by itself. My neck & back hurt. My chin was bruised from my head hitting the steering wheel. I was only going 2mph. If this would’ve happened after i pulled into traffic, at 35mph, it would’ve snapped my neck & probably killed the people behind me. At 75mph, it would’ve flipped the car, killed me & everyone else on the road. This happened without any warning. I have been without a car, we had to pay $900 to replace it & now i’m terrified to drive it. If this car would’ve killed someone, i could not live with that. This car should not have been on the road- ever. What can I do about this?
I have a 2011 Chrysler 300 that began having problems in 2014 with acceleration, then an odd burning smell, then the next thing I know… it catches fire, overheats, lights flashing, no steering… complete failure in traffic.
It fried the battery and diodes on the alternator. I bought a new battery at nearly $200, pulled the alternator and had diodes replaced at $150, put it back in, checked all wiring for damage and all was ok. One week later, it happened again! I took it to a mechanic and had to spend $600 on a new fan motor as the previous time fried it. Three months later… it started acting up again! Had it towed to the dealership, alternator was bad and I was quoted $1000 to fix it. I had it towed back home, pulled the alternator again, diodes were melted… again! I spent $150 for new diodes, put it back in, called Chrysler to make them aware of the problem and asked for some sort of compensation on what I had spent. I have never been treated with such disrespect! The representative made it clear that my 3 year old vehicle had too many miles (65,000) and Chrysler would never compensate me for anything.
I drive as part of my job… which by the way… I lost because I didn’t have reliable transportation!
I informed the rep that Chrysler had failed it’s customers on this one and that I had read over 400 posts with the same complaint as I had.
The rep wasn’t moved by what I said so I informed her that I was heading to the attorney. It seemed under two months later… I received a letter from Chrysler acknowledging there was a problem but at that time, they didn’t know how to fix it. The letter stated that I shouldn’t drive my car or park it in my garage as it could catch fire. The letter instructed me to send all of my receipts in for reimbursement. I sent everything in and never received a check.
More than 6 months later I was sent a letter confirming a fix to the problem. I took it to the dealership to have the alternator replaced and after a few months… it started losing power again. I received notification of the class action lawsuit but I hoped Chrysler was in the process of reimbursing me based upon requesting my receipts.
As I stated… that never happened!
In total, I’ve spent several months… and now years, without a properly running vehicle,
Cash out of my pocket to fix their error, time off work doing my own labor to repair the alternator, lost my job and for what? It now sits in the garage and is hardly driven. This was my first… and last Chrysler purchase!
Same thing happened to my 2012 300 recently. Alternator failed in traffic. Complete dead stop in traffic. Vin number did not say my alternator was recalled. This is bs at it’s worse. We have been faithful Chrysler buyers since 2000, and this will be my last. What a piece of shite. Trunk lock, alternator, half the nav system wouldn’t work. So sorry to have bought this vehicle.
I have a NN V8 Dodge charger RT and the exact same light flickering, burning plastic smelll, windshield wiper power shut off car death happened to me in the middle of driving. Dealership said it was the alternator and is charging me $1000 to fix it. Car only has 67k miles on it
I have had my alternator replaced twice and this morning it caught on fire… they just towed it. I have a 2012 dodge Durango. Needless to say I’ve had a new transmission, 2 new head gaskets, new power steering pump and 2 alternators!!!
Monday April 24, 2017. My Dodge Challenger 2014 with ~36,000 total miles on it shut off in the middle of traffic. I was luck enough to have a police man push my stalled car into a parking lot where my car refused to turn on and displayed a check engine light. Finally my car turned on WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I was able to drive my car back to my place of residence. I turned my car off and on again and was able to drive to an auto repair shop where they did their own diagnostic and it came up NOTHING WAS WRONG. However, these employees printed off the sheet showing me this is a problem via alldatapro.com .
I contacted my dealership and they said THEY DID NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY VIN NUMBER. Because my car is still under 100,000 miles they will probably replace my alternator anyway (how gracious) but I want all of you to be aware THIS IS AN ISSUE and they are DENYING IT. They WILL NOT replace your alternator unless it is under cherry picked vin-numbers.
“Dear: (name)
FCA has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2011 though 2014 model year Dodge Durango, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and 2012 through 2014 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator.
The problem is… The alternator diodes on your vehicle may experience a rapid failure. Variability in the failure mode ranges from no output, reduced output, and/or a fully shorted to ground condition. Depending on the alternator failure mode and timing, vehicle electrical system voltage may drop to critical levels, disabling systems such as Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Control Module (ECM), and/or the Central Body Controller (CBC). The driver will have limited to no detection of the alternator failing, which can result in vehicle shutdown while driving and/or an underhood electrical fire.”
The notices goes on to say a dealer will fix it free of charge but obviously THEY WILL NOT. My Challenger fits this “recall” but the dealership and Chrysler says I am not able to be covered under the recall. Chrysler is DENYING this is a recall issue.
Please. Do something. People are GOING TO DIE. If you need my information for this case I will GLADLY give it and I will be recording my experience at the dealership.
– 2014 Dodge Challenger 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator with ~35,000 miles.
On the phone the man at the dealership said my car has the “new part” and he has “never seen a new part do this”. When I get to the dealership I will make them show me where exactly it says what part I have to verify this claim.
Same issue here. 2012 Charger SXT, 180A alternator. Had zero control over the car when it happened (4/9/17). Dodge is holding on to the “your particular alternator is not affected”. This is the second Charger that we have had with a clear wide spread issue that they refuse to own. I plan to file a NHSTA complaint. The dealership also quoted me $1400.
I was driving my 2013 Dodge charger, purchased brand new, on the freeway going 60+ when the battery light came on and not even 5 minutes after my car has a complete meltdown. All the lights on the dashboard came on simultaneously as well as the windshield wipers turning on by themselves with no way to stop them. I had no power steering or brakes not to mention the fact that I was unable to turn on my emergency lights. This was even more freighting because it was 7 p.m and my car is black. I was lucky enough to be in the far right hand lane when it happened so I was able to roll to a stop in the emergency lane. My car does not even have 50k miles on it and I’ve had it routinely checked, however, nothing was mentioned about the alternator. I was forced to 1400$ for a brand new one and will not be reimbursed because according to the chrysler dealership my “vin number is not part of the recall list.” Clearly it should be. Someone help because this isn’t right.
Just had the same thing happen to our 2012 Dodge Charger SXT AWD on 4/1/17. Not included in the rcall because it is a 180A alternator and the original recall was for the 160A alternator in 2014. Dodge issued another recall for the 220A alternator in 2016 as well. I would advise you to go to NHSTA website and file a complaint explaining your circumstances and that you also have the 180A alternator