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Amended Dodge Journey Brake Defect Class Action Lawsuit Filed
By Sarah Pierce
An amended complaint has been filed following the dismissal of a class action lawsuit alleging that the brakes on 2009 and 2010 Dodge Journey SUVs are defective and that Chrysler should cover the repairs under warranty.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas tossed the class action lawsuit in December after finding Chrysler did not breach its warranties and was not responsible to pay for the plaintiffs’ brake repairs because they fell outside the vehicle’s 12,000-mile warranty period.
In their third amended complaint, the plaintiffs clarified their theory that the entire braking system in the vehicles should be covered by Chrysler’s more extensive 3-year/36,000 mile warranty, not just the basic “wear-and-tear” items covered under the limited warranty, which include the vehicles’ brake rotors, pads and linings.
“The larger Braking System is covered through 36 months/36,000 miles because an automobile’s braking system consists of far more than just those wear items,” the amended class action lawsuit says. Therefore, it is Chrysler’s warranty obligation to actually repair the entire braking system, instead of simply offering customers a “band-aid” in the form of new pads and/or rotors that only temporarily mask the symptoms of the braking system defect, according to the complaint.
The symptoms of the alleged Dodge Journey brake defect include severe vibration in the steering wheel, violent shaking and grinding noises when the brakes are applied. This presents an unreasonable safety risk to consumers, in addition to unnecessary financial burdens due to repeated out-of-pocket repairs, plaintiffs say.
The new class action lawsuit also added a third plaintiff, Denise Shephard, who says she took her 2010 Dodge Journey into the dealership three times over a 2-year period to replace her brake pads and rotors. Shephard says she had to pay nearly $880 out of pocket after Chrysler refused to reimburse her for the repairs.
Shephard and plaintiffs Gabriella Tatum and Jamie Meyer are seeking to represent a nationwide class of all current and former owners and lessees of 2009 or 2010 Dodge Journeys who paid for a repair related to or stemming from the vehicle’s braking system. They also seek to represent several subclasses consisting of New Jersey and California owners and lessees.
The Dodge Journey Defective Brake Class Action Lawsuit case is Tatum et al. v. Chrysler Group LLC, Case No. 10-cv-4269, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiffs are represented by Seeger Weiss LLP, Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein Brody & Agnello PC., Berk Law PLLC and Kimmel & Silverman, PC.
Updated March 15th, 2013
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
56 thoughts onAmended Dodge Journey Brake Defect Class Action Lawsuit Filed
I purchased my 2009 Dode Journey a few months ago, thought I did my research, guess not! Bad vibrations in steering wheel at random times, told my rear brakes need replacing….very frustrating! Is it too late to be included?
I have a 2009 journey and the same issue. Every 10-12,000 miles new brakes a d rotors which is ridiculous. Let alone the violent shaking of the steering wheel where I constant my worry that I end up in an accident as it feels as the wheel is ready to fall off! THAT IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE!!! How do I get in on the lawsuit? Anybody have any info?
Thanks and good luck!!!
I too currently have a 2009 Dodge Journey that has been nothing but trouble since I purchased it a year and a half ago. Much like everyone else has described here, I just got my third bill for new brakes front and back. I am stuck paying $350 a month for a vehicle I can’t drive because I don’t have another $1600 to dump into it right now. I have tried to settle my issues with the dealership I brought it from but have finally come to the realization that it’s not their fault. It’s Chryslers fault for not taking care of their mistakes. I would love to be involved in any way I can. I have a good share of the history of the vehicle and have even talked to people who had owned it before me. My address is 130 Blakeville Road Eden, VT 05652.
Please include me too! I bought my 2010 Dodge Journey new and the brakes are ridiculous! Not to mention I’m on my 3rd UCONNECT in 6 years.
I had the brakes changed in my 2010 journey 3 times in 6 WEEKS!!! There are plenty of things wrong with my vehicle, not limited to the braking system. The transmission, the starter. What ever happened to the lemon law!!??
I would also like to be a part of this suit. My poor Dodge Journey has had the same continuing braking and vibration issues. I truly feel like it is a lemon. My husband says no more Dodges.
Would love to be included in this suit as well. 2010 Dodge Journey is a money pit and a pile of crap!
I would like to be included in the class action lawsuit. I own a 2009 Dodge Journey and have replaced brakes and or rotors at least 4 times. This is ridiculous. I just replaced brakes and rotors in February of this year and my steering wheel started shaking in October. Chrysler needs to be held accountable for all the money we are spending on their mistake.
I would like more information about this class action suit. I bought my 2010 Dodge Journey new after an accident totaled out my previous vehicle. I am a single mom with one vehicle for our family of 4 and thought this would be a good safe vehicle for my family. Quite the opposite! I have spent so much money on this car for repairs, have had 2 recall issues (one of which left me and one of my daughters stranded on the side of the road at night), and have also had to replace the brakes, rotor, caliper, more times than I can remember. The last time was in Feb. and now my car has already recently started shaking again when I apply the brakes. I have only driven about 9,000 miles since replaced last. There has to be a design issue with this vehicle that is causing the brakes to go bad so quickly.
I have a 2009 Dodge Journey SXT all wheel drive have the same problems replace brakes every 10,000 rotors usually warped from the heat ticking noise in motor $400 to replace radiator hose linking replaced all the plumbing y plastic was leaking $400 and now Wife was going to work came around a curve car made loud explosion like a blowout leaking gear oil transfer case blew up from inside now we have one vehicle can’t afford $3,000 to fix it I’m 43 never had problems like this with a vehicle never will buy a Dodge again half the time wont start just clicks.