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FCA US LLC has been hit with a class action lawsuit over an alleged manufacturing defect in certain Jeep Wrangler vehicles that damages the vehicles’ radiators, oil coolers and other components, causing the heater, defroster and air conditioning systems to fail.
According to plaintiffs Donna Mooradian and William Mooradian, Chrysler manufactures engine component parts by using expendable sand molds to form metal parts from alloys, a process called the sand-casting method.
The alleged radiator defect affects model year 2012 through 2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicles, the class action says. These vehicles have a Pentastar V-6 3.6-liter engine, which is reportedly made using a die-casting method instead of a sand-casting method. However, a sand-crafting method is used to make the cylinder head located on top of the engines.
The radiator defect allegedly occurs because Chrysler fails to sufficiently purge casting sand from the cylinder head during the manufacturing process. This excess sand gradually “seeps out” and causes the Jeep Wranglers’ radiators and oil coolers to “fill with a sludge-like residue that damages and ultimately destroys these and other components,” according to the Jeep Wrangler class action lawsuit.
“Plaintiffs and the Class do not learn of the existence of the Manufacturing Defect until the heating and cooling systems fail even though the sand starts to shed from the cylinder head and collect in the radiator immediately after the vehicle is driven,” the Jeep Wrangler class action lawsuit says.
When heating and cooling systems fail, the vehicle’s safety is compromised, the plaintiffs say. For example, drivers cannot defrost their vehicles, making it unsafe to drive in certain cold-weather conditions.
The plaintiffs assert Chrysler should have known about the manufacturing defect because pre-sale testing of the vehicles would have detected the issue by 2011. Further, hundreds of consumer complaints were lodged against Chrysler over this alleged manufacturing defect, so Chrysler should have been aware of the issue by June 2012.
However, Chrysler failed to disclose the radiator defect to consumers who had purchased the affected vehicles and continued to sell vehicles that allegedly contained the defect. Further, Chrysler refuses to cover the costs of labor and repair for the manufacturing defect during the warranty period, claiming instead that the problem was caused by owner misuse or external factors, the Jeep Wrangler class action lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiffs claim they leased a new 2013 Jeep Wrangler in 2013. After a few years, they noticed the heater and defroster emitted only cool air. When they took the vehicle in to a dealer, they were told that the radiator, oil cooler and heater core would need to be replaced, and that the repair was not covered under warranty.
The Jeep Wrangler class action lawsuit brings claims against FCA US LLC for breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranties, breach of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, and breach of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jack Landskroner and Drew Legando of Landskroner Grieco Merriman 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 Donna Mooradian, et al. v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 1:17-cv-01132, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.
UPDATE: The Jeep Wrangler Manufacturing Defect Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on December 21, 2017, due to individual settlements being reached.
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325 thoughts onJeep Wrangler Class Action Says Vehicles Have Manufacturing Defect
I’m on my 4th radiator on my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport Unlimited. 1st one went at 11K, 2nd at 40K, 3rd at 90K!! So far so good on the 4th but it’s probably just a matter of time!
I also have a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sport Unlimited. Put a new radiator in 4 weeks ago. I was told I need a new one again!! What a P.O.S!!!
I bought my 2015 JK off the showroom floor. Wishing 3 months I notice an antifreeze smell, took it to the dealer since it was under warranty. I fought for years about this issue. Every time I took it in I was told that they couldn’t snell it or see a problem. I could and other ppl could smell this. We pressure tested and nothing, finally replaced the radiator last year, working on needing to replace again. It’s bull crap that these issue were known and the dealer was not able to do anything about it. Why pay so much for a brand new vehicle?! ? Thank the Lord I have mechanics in my family to help.
Bought a 2017 Jeep Wrangler sport 3 months ago drove it once to Tennessee and now I need a new radiator already
I’ve got the same issue with my 2017 wrangler. Radiator needs to be replaced with 58k miles. Only 4 years old! How do we get reimbursed or covered for this!!!
I would love to join in on a class action lawsuit against them for putting out such a design flaw and not disclosing it. My 2016 JKU Rubicon only has 34k on it and it has had a number of issues, most recently a cracked radiator.
My 2016 JKU fan is all kinds of messed up too. How are we all screwed but SOMEONE got paid something. They usually have to leave the funds open for a year or two so people don’t get screwed out of settlement money.
I totally agree same problem
This is so disappointing because I’m having the exact same problem on my 2014 Rubicon with only 45k miles on it. It’s never been mishandled. A radiator should not go bad at 45k miles.
Same here. Maybe we should start a class action law suit?
I have a 2017 Wrangler Sport Unlimited with 29,000 miles.
Radiator is being replaced as I write this!
I am having the same problem on my 2017 jeep wrangler. Well kept not taken off road. My mechanic told me last inspection he was smelling radiator fluid.
My husband has been smelling it after 1 year of lease. I also would like to be part of this class action prior to having my mechanic fix it and me paying for it.
My 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sport lost the radiator at 30k miles, today the Jeep is leaking engine oil so I took it to my service station and they said the engine oil cooler housing needs replaced. I called the local Jeep dealership and they said it is not covered by warranty. Approx $1000.00 repair!!! This just honks me off???
I have a 2018 jeep wrangler bought it brand new fresh off a train with 3 miles on it. Its only 2 and a half years old and the check engine light has come on saying cylinder 4 misfiring took it to the dealer and they are saying i have to replace my head…how? This jeep has been taken care of. On top of that my apex protect warranty wants to put a used head they dont want to replace it they want to put a used head in my jeep. Which is the battle im currently facing. Any information would be great.
2017 wrangler unlimited. We parked and left car running for a few minutes. Caught a whiff of the sweet smell of anti freeze. Took it into the shop. Was told I needed a new radiator. on a 3 year old jeep??? We have treated it well, and net even taken it off road where we could have damaged something. But it’s not on a recall list, and the class action suit says it was dismissed because individual owners settled. So what about the rest of us jeep owners??
Have the same problem with my 2015 jeep radiator, had to have it replaced 53,000 miles
I have a 2013 Rubicon and the drivers side heat doesn’t work as well as the motor runs hotter than it should. The other issue is the engine uses a quart of oil every 4-500 miles.
I cannot drive this vehicle in the colder climate and have to constantly check and add oil this is unacceptable and I would like to join any class action law suit that is available please let me know.
I had to get my heater core replaced for that same issue.
I own a
2014 Jeep wangler started smelling antifreeze on drivers side of radiator Jeep has 56000 miles took Jeep to my Joplin mo dealership they charged me to look at problem and said radiator needs replaced for 700 dollars I asked about warranty and they said their is none service rep told me they just don’t build them like they used to I’m 64 he looked 20 what the hell im pissed shame on Jeep and their dealers
This is all so disappoint to read. 2015 JK Sport 2Dr – seemed like maybe my heat wasn’t as consistently hot for Winter 2018-19 but, when we got early cold spell this past November 2019 I knew something was wrong. Noticed coolant a little low in December. January 2020 took it to dealer – they said my radiator was splitting at seam, small, slow leak – they did a chemical flush. It helped for about a week – but it steadily declined. I chose not to pay the $725+ they wanted for a new radiator – instead I bought a Mopar OEM radiator and thermostat (just incase, $30) and took it to local shop – they installed the two new parts 48 hours ago, put in fresh coolant (second time in maybe five weeks) and, it seemed good – but we were around 40 degrees F. Two days later, February 14, 2020, we woke up to single digit degrees F – I let it warm up for about 20 minutes while I walked the dog and shoveled – heat seemed good – but within 5 minutes of driving the heat went away. Now what do I do? Pay dealer $3000 for new heater core? Do I assume the engine is damaged? Love my JK, don’t want to get rid of it – but I don’t know …