In most cases, lemon law claims revolve around a specific issue with a single vehicle or a small number of SUVs. However, sometimes vehicle defects are so widespread that they result in class action lawsuits. However, California attorneys are arguing that owners should consider opting out of a settlement regarding a Jeep transmission case.
Each of the vehicles used a nine-speed ZF automatic transmission, with the number of gears supposedly helping fuel economy. Instead, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that the transmission was so rough that it affected driving.
The vehicles affected include the:
- 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee
- 2015 Jeep Renegade
- 2015 Chrysler 200
- 2015 Ram ProMaster City
Terms of the Class Action Settlement
The class is comprised of those who bought one of the named vehicles who made at least three transmission-related complaints to a Fiat Chrysler dealership. Owners of any of these vehicles who DO NOT opt out by January 2, 2019 will get:
- $2,000 or a trade-in value of up to $4,000 on other Fiat-Chrysler vehicles; and
- An extension of the warranty on the class vehicles of up to six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Why Opt Out in Favor of a Lemon Law Case?
Simply put, the terms of the agreement offer relatively little value for California car owners. As noted in other articles, the consumer protection laws in California and federally offer owners the ability to seek a full refund or purchase if the car is still under warranty. There are specific issues regarding these vehicles due to their age, however, consulting with an experienced lemon law attorney should help establish the facts of your potential case against Fiat Chrysler.
