A class action lawsuit was filed alleging Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator corrosion warranties are a “sham.” The lawsuit includes 2018-2021 Jeep Wranglers and 2020-2021 Gladiators. Jeep issued technical service bulletins over aluminum corrosion and bubbling paint, and knew about problems but didn’t fix them, says the lawsuit.

The affected Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles allegedly suffer corrosion problems which cause the paint to bubble, flake, peel, rust, and/or blister.

The class action lawsuit was filed by a Louisiana plaintiff who purchased a new 2018 Jeep Wrangler, a Maine plaintiff who purchased a new 2020 Jeep Gladiator, and Florida plaintiffs who purchased a new 2019 Jeep Wrangler when they lived in New York.

The plaintiffs assert, they overpaid because the premature corrosion is not covered in the warranty. The suit also says that the plaintiffs then had to spend a lot of money to get the panels repaired and repainted.

According to the Jeep lawsuit, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) began using aluminum in the body panels and chassis to improve fuel efficiency by reducing Jeep weight.

“in its brochures, Jeep boasted that the 2018 Wrangler was ‘Lighter in weight,’ noting that ‘high-strength, lightweight aluminum is used throughout the doors, hood, windshield frame, swing gate, and fenders to help Wrangler shed over 200 lb. It’s strong, durable and aids efficiency.’”  — Jeep Wrangler corrosion warranty lawsuit

Aluminum Jeep Wrangler body panels began in 2018

Automaker Jeep began using aluminum body panels and other stampings to reduce jeep weight. The lawsuit says Chrysler issued TSB 31-001-18 in March 2018 and entitled “Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair” for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The bulletin concerned “inspecting and if necessary, removing corrosion and refinishing the suspect aluminum hood, door, or liftgate panel.”

The class action lawsuit also says the 2018 TSB further directed dealers to apply pre-treatment wipes to the repair areas prior to refinishing the aluminum panels.

The suit alleges that the bulletin advised using an anti-corrosion pen on problem areas. But only if the panel did not qualify for replacement.

FCA issued TSB 31-001-19 in July 2019 which expanded the Wranglers beyond those sold in North America to include those sold in the regions of Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

And on October 27, 2020, FCA then issued TSB 31-002-20 which included the 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler and the 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator.

Why Jeep Wrangler warranty is a “sham?”

According to the class action lawsuit, the Jeep corrosion warranty also provided for extended warranty coverage of a period of 60 months for corrosion to “an outer-body sheet metal panel,” which FCA defined as “one that is finish-painted and that someone can see when walking around the vehicle.”

“This warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair or replace any sheet metal panels that get holes from rust or other corrosion. If a hole occurs because of something other than corrosion, this warranty does not apply. Cosmetic or surface corrosion — resulting, for example, from stone chips or scratches in the paint — is not covered.” — Jeep corrosion warranty

 According to Jeep Lawsuit, the corrosion warranty is a sham because it is “widely known throughout the automotive industry that aluminum body panels don’t perforate from corrosion, and thus, FCA knew that customers who had purchased the Class Vehicles could never take advantage of the CW to the extent perforation of the panel was a requirement to obtain coverage.”

The plaintiffs allege this means the extended warranty coverage for “an outer-body sheet metal panel” was misleading and deceptive.

The plaintiffs also claim the TSB repairs don’t fix the corrosion problems and do anything for the diminution of value that occurs from repainting the Jeeps. According to the lawsuit, repainted newer Jeeps are worth less than Jeeps with the original paint.

The Jeep corrosion warranty lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan: Orozco, et al., vs. FCA US LLC.

Are Other Owners Experiencing This Same Jeep Wrangler JL Corrosion Issue?

When carefully reviewing online Jeep Wrangler Forums and Facebook Group discussions, it’s found that there are many owners who are facing the same issues.

Final Thoughts

If you are an automobile owner and having manufacturing issues, you can contact us for a class-action lawsuit. Serious car problems require serious legal representation, especially when you are bringing a claim against a major automaker. 

At the Lemon Firm, our experienced attorneys have been able to successfully recover compensation for our clients who were sold a vehicle that did not perform as intended and we can do the same for you.

Contact us for a free consultation today if you have experienced problems like those experienced by the Jeep class action above or any other types of design or manufacturing defects with your vehicle.  Our experienced attorneys can be reached by calling (833) Lemon-Firm. 

By: Nicole Halavi

Jeep has now been a part of Chrysler for more than 100 years and offers a line of vehicles consisting solely of sports utility vehicles, including crossovers and fully off-road models. While Jeeps have consistently been in high demand in the auto market, consumers are now complaining of their various Jeep models exhibiting multiple defects. For instance, users complained of a jerky shifting defect in some Jeep models, and more recently, a rollaway risk in Jeep Cherokees has presented a serious cause for concern. Upon investigation, Jeep has recalled more than 82,000 SUVs to address user complaints regarding the rollaway safety danger.

If you are concerned that your Jeep Cherokee has been exhibiting serious defects, CCA is here to help. Feel free to call our experts today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.

What is the Rollaway Danger in Jeep Cherokee Models?

A vehicle rollaway can be hazardous and can also lead to fatal accidents. A rollaway danger occurs when a car’s parking and brake mechanism is of poor quality or is defected. Without an adequate park and brake system in place, the vehicle is at risk of rolling away and putting the driver in a potentially dangerous position.

The rollaway danger in the Jeep Cherokee is allegedly the result of an issue with the power transfer units (PTUs) as “differential input splines and the transmission output shaft may cause some input spline teeth to wear off, which may eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU.”

Over the past few years, users have filed complaints against Chrysler because of the Cherokee’s faulty brake system. Below are some of the common complaints involving the 2014-2017 models exhibiting brake defects:

“Parking brake has multiple issues. The brake squeaks when engaged and disengaged. When the car is auto started the parking brake no longer comes on.” – driver of a 2017 Jeep Cherokee.

“I was lucky. I was in heavy traffic when the brake pedal kicked back, and I had no power brakes. Crashed into curb, tied up traffic for 2 hours until roadside assistance towed the car away. It took them two weeks to get the part. If this had happened an hour earlier, I would have been off the side of a mountain and dead. This is the second time this SUV has nearly gotten me killed.” – driver of a Jeep Cherokee Limited 2.5L V4.

After receiving many complaints alleging defective park functions and motive power, Chrysler began an investigation to further address the defect. According to Chrysler, there haven’t been any reported fatalities or injuries caused by this defect. However, a Jeep owner claimed that the parking brake defect in his vehicle caused a car crash. As per the manufacturer’s report, more than 67,000 vehicles have been affected in the United States, about 13,000 in Canada and 10,000 outside of North America.

Chrysler has also announced a recall of more than 2,000 replacement PTU parts. As per the reports, the recall was expected to begin on July 31st, 2020.

What Can I Do if I’m Worried about the Rollaway Danger on my Jeep Cherokee Model?

If you have been noticing any of the issues discussed above, CCA is equipped with a set of experienced lawyers that are ready to help resolve your lemon law issues and obtain for you the compensation that you deserve. Best of all, our services come at no cost to you – all of our fees are paid by the automakers.

Contact our experts today for a free consultation at (833) LEMON-FIRM.

By: Sepehr Daghighian, Esq.

Jeep is a popular brand of American automobile, an owned subsidiary of the Italian-American automobile corporation, Fiat Chrysler. While Jeeps have been wildly popular for a number of years, Jeep owners have also struggled with troublesome transmission issues for years.  In particular, Jeep customers complain of jerky shifts, shift hesitation, lagging shifts, noisy shifts, and other troublesome issues.  What is worse, Fiat Chrysler has oftentimes been unable to correct the shifting problems. 

If your Jeep model has had shifting issues, CCA is here to help. We invite you to call our experts today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.

What Are Some Common Shift issues in Jeep Vehicles?

Over the past five years, Jeep has faced numerous complaints against improper and jerky shifts. Customers across different models of Jeep have been facing similar issues. Most of the claims raise concerns regarding broken and slippery gear shifts, sudden stops, and loud noises.

The most common problem raised against jeep vehicles were regarding rough and slippery gear shifts. According to customers, at times, the vehicles do not shift out of first/second gears, and this issue occurs frequently. This can be a hazardous situation and can lead to unfortunate accidents. A user of Grand Cherokee Outlander described the problem as, “I have owned the vehicle for just over one year. During this time, on 6 – 8 occasions, the transmission is either slipping or not shifting properly. On acceleration, occasionally, the transmission will not shift past 2nd gear causing the vehicle to rev extremely high, and it will not accelerate. You either need to shift into N or stop the vehicle completely, put into park, and start the process again.”

Another similar version of this problem is, at times, the vehicle suddenly shifts from a high gear to either first or second gear, which causes deafening revving sounds. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when you’re in traffic. A user described the issue as, “Recently we were accelerating and already in a higher gear and then all of a sudden the transmission shifts back to 1st or 2nd gear and starts revving very loudly. The only way to rectify the problem was to slow the vehicle and shift into park and start again. When this happens, it is startling, and depending on what traffic you are in, it can be very dangerous.”

These users have also been upset as they haven’t received much help from the dealers, “I took it to the dealer today, and they said they have never heard of such problems and nothing has turned up to be a problem. I want to solve it before someone gets hurt and my warranty period is over. Not sure what to do.”

Unfortunately, Jeep dealerships are oftentimes unable to satisfactorily correct the transmission issues.  Jeep customers are often told that the dealership cannot duplicate their concerns or that the harsh shifts are a normal characteristic of the vehicle’s transmission.  In other cases, the dealership attempts to reprogram the transmission’s computer; but the issues don’t go away.

Here is a partial list of the recent models that are known to have Jerky shift issues:

• 2013-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee;
• 2013-2020 Jeep Compass;
• 2013-2020 Jeep Wrangler;
• 2013-2020 Jeep Renegade;
• 2013-2020 Jeep Patriot; and
• Other Jeep models;

What Can I Do if My Jeep Model is Facing Shift Issues?

Have you been noticing annoying gear shift issues with your Jeep vehicle, such as sudden stops, rough and slippery gears, loud noises, or others? CAA’s set of experienced lawyers are here to guide you to a feasible solution. Our lawyers are well versed in issues plaguing all Jeep models. Feel free to reach out to us for a hassle-free consultation regarding your vehicle. 

Contact our experts for a free consultation at (833) LEMON-FIRM.

By Lauren C. Martin, Esq.

For years, CCA attorneys have heard complaints from concerned California consumers regarding Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee’s engine stalls and shut-downs. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), even 2019 Jeep Cherokees have been subject to numerous recalls and service bulletins regarding engine stalls and engine shut-downs.  Consumers have complained extensively to Jeep, NHTSA, and to attorneys like us about the dangerous defects in these vehicles.  

To illustrate a few, Fiat Chrysler Automotive (“FCA”), the manufacturer of Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee models, has 15 recalls associated with their 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Three of those recalls are related to potential engine stalling. First, in October of 2014, FCA issued a recall relating to the alternator failing. According to FCA, “if the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.” This recall also applies to their 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Charger, Durango, and Chrysler 300 vehicles, as well as all 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees. FCA’s remedy was to replace the alternator.

Again – in July 2017, FCA issued a recall addressing a very similar concern. However, FCA’s description expanded to include, “There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.” This recall also applies to their 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Charger, Durango, and Chrysler 300 vehicles, as well as all 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees. FCA’s remedy at this point was to inspect the alternator and replace it, if necessary.  Yet again – in November 2017, FCA issued a recall addressing the same concern. This recall also applies to their 2014 Dodge Challenger, Charger, Durango, Chrysler 300, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. Similar to their 2014 remedy, FCA’s fix in 2017 was to replace the alternator again.

Not only did the problems persist throughout the 2011-2014 model year (“MY”) Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles, they have persisted and are still concerns for the purchasers of FCA’s later models, including their 2019 MY Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles.

FCA’s 2019 MY Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee already have 9 reported recalls available via NHTSA. Four of those recalls are related to potential engine stalling or shut-downs. First, in May of 2018, FCA issued a recall relating to cylinder damage or camshaft failure which “can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.” FCA’s remedy is to inspect and repair/replace affected engine parts.  Just two months later, in July of 2018, FCA issued a recall relating to loss of drive from an incomplete transmission weld, which “if the transmission weld fails, the vehicle will stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.” FCA’s remedy for this would be to replace the entire transmission.

A month later, in August 2018, FCA issued a recall regarding the voltage regulator failing on the circuit board, thereby causing a stall or no-start condition. The remedy for this would be a replacement of the vehicle’s powertrain control module (“PCM”).  Two months later, in October 2018, FCA issued a recall regarding an incorrect transmission calibration which may result in yet another condition of the vehicle stalling. FCA’s remedy would be to re-flash the transmission controller.

Sadly, the issues presented by these vehicles go beyond just an annoying inconvenience – they also pose a serious safety risk to drivers.  For instance, the owner of a 2019 Jeep Cherokee with only 3,000 miles on it described the issues as follows: “multiple times engine has completely shutdown. Worst part is two times this happened in traffic, near miss accidents. This mostly happens in morning hours when i apply brake at traffic signals or when i take left/right turn, battery alert pops out on screen and engine shutdown, then I need to press alert/emergency button which flashes all indicators and # alert the world that my Jeep has screwed up again.”  

Stalling, no-start, and shut-down conditions are ongoing concerns for Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee owners. CCA attorneys possess the knowledge and experience in handling claims arising from issues with FCA’s Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee issues, including those relating to engine stalls and shut-downs. If you’ve experienced any of these issues, or your vehicle continues to exhibit these issues, please call CCA for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.