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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 have a 2015 wrangler Rubicon unlimited with 110000 miles. I’ve replaced the thermostat four times, water pump, all the sensors, oil cooler, belt, flushed out radiator four times. I’m the last 10-11 months. I’ve taken it to shops they replaced spark plugs, gaskets upper & lower. It runs great and don’t have any leaks anywhere, but after about two to three weeks it needs radiator fluid about half bottle. But it still runs hot off & on on the temperature gauge. Ive taken it to dealer twice told them about the issues and they wouldn’t even have me leave it there. Said it’s air pockets just bleed out the air.
It would be great if the manufacturer
would stand behind their product. I’m willing to pay for the labor just warranty the 3.6 penstar engine. Just let me know when we can start a class action suit I’m there. Lot of money & time this one issue has cost me.
I have a 2013 and have done the same thing. Replaced a bunch of parts and nothing. Still over heats n I lose power
I’m having the same issues with my 2016 Wrangler Unlimited. Thermostat replaced twice, just had radiator replaced, and I’m still having the very loud fan type noise that sounds like it’s working extra hard. Even stays on for a bit when I shut the jeep off.
How does a new class action suit get started for the rest of us for expenses or prevention service? 2016 wrangler.
Have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler standard and same thing happened with radiator and core! I wish I’d never bought it! They tried fixing it on warranty twice but no luck. It would work for a few more thousand kms and then we replaced the radiator and core-now it was off warranty. A real lemon!!!
Jeep never recalled these vehicles- a real cop out!!!!
File for lemon law to buy back jeep and your fees
We have a 2015 Wrangler Sports Unlimited and have had to repair the radiator as we were also smelling antifreeze. The next visit to the repair shop we had the oil cooler replace. Last visit to the repair shop because of a loud continuous ticking noise we had to replace the cams on the right side. Which cost us $4,100.00. 3 weeks after that repair we are smelling oil burning and even smoking. There is nothing dripping just seems to be leaking onto some part of the engine and burning. We have it at the repair shop now asking them to look and see if they can find where the oil is leaking from. Not a happy camper. Someone needs to hold Jeep Accountable.
2016 Jeep Unlimited check engine light came on replaced thermostat and then it starts running hot at Highway speed. At the dealership now having it checked.
Exact same thing here on my 2016 unlimited. Having radiator flushed and filled to find sand like sludge in there
I have had all the head gaskets replaced… Oil cooler twice… Radiator twice… The thermostat twice.. Jeep help me out with the first one lowering my cost from $4, 000 for one head cylinder down to 1,000… Then they damaged one replace that and then all the other replacements have been over the last 30,000 mi Just got a leak test done and said I failed the block test.. so now I need to replace all my heads. I call Jeep saying that this was all of the same issue and Jeep told me sorry there’s nothing we can do for you. To say the least, I am not pleased. And going to take this to a different level.
What’s the outcome of this lawsuit? Was it dismissed and that’s the end of it?
Yup, me too
62k miles, 2014 Jeep Wrangler, oil cooler.
Cost me $971
The same thing happened to me. I own a 2014 Jeep Wrangler sport Oscar Mike edition.. I took it into the shop due to a leak and they told me that my oil cooler housing Needed to be replaced due to a crack. Plus when I pulled it into the dealership all of a sudden my headlight lenses turned milky white and were too hot to touch. It actually made the round glass melt flat. The dealership said they have never seen or heard of that happening and I wouldn’t need to purchase two new headlight assembles. It was crazy we actually we’re talking to the service manager standing in front of the Jeep and it happened right in front of our eyes but the vehicle off. Of course the dealership will not help with wheel cooler assembly nor the headlight Assembly. My Jeep Wrangler has 51000 miles on it and has Always been Babied.
I am having all these issues. Since it was brought up in court before shouldn’t this be a fixable issue? They can research the lawsuit right?