DODGE/JEEP UPDATES
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This lawsuit has been assigned over to be handled by another law firm. Please email cchurko@napolilaw.ca if you wish to register to be a participant in this class action and to obtain details about it.
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This action relates to the failure of the air bag suspension system. If you bought, leased, or operated a vehicle that would fit this description below, you have a potential claim and are likely eligible to join in our class action lawsuit.
The vehicles affected are:
Dodge Ram 1500 model year from 2013-2020;
Dodge Ram Rebel model year from 2013-2020; and
Jeep Grand Cherokee model year from 2013-2020, with the optional equipment option Air Suspension, 4-Corner 9.
The claim asserts that there is an inherent defect in the air bag system and this defect exists in all vehicles manufactured and sold in Canada. The defect triggers in very cold weather. When a vehicle equipped with the defective suspension system is operated outside in a cold climate over a period of days, the system fails. This typically manifests by making the vehicle largely unusable un a safe manner. Many impacted owners, leaseholders, and operators of such vehicles have experienced a system failure that has required the vehicles to have to go in for repair and replacement. Often, when the system was replaced, it would fail again when exposed to cold climate conditions. To combat this, some affected consumers would put in a standard system. Due to the failure and/or defect of the suspension system, other non-related parts would prematurely fail. In combination, this has led to increased down time for vehicles, increased warranty repair time, increased repair costs for impacted owners, and a decreased value to the vehicle on trade in or resale because of the substantial repair and warranty repair history of the vehicle or type of vehicle. All of which results in an artificially depreciated value for affected owners.
The claim alleges that the Defendants knew about this issue, but given that it would only trigger in colder climates, the economics of fixing the problem for all vehicles resulted in a decision being made to do repairs or warranty work, on a one by one failure basis. In making that decision, the Defendants did not bother to try to correct the manufacturing defect in the product, nor to direct increased production of the defective parts. Many affected owners likely experienced problems and delays in getting the defect addressed when taking the vehicle in for warranty, because there was high demand for replacement parts and not enough were being made to cover all of the failures being experienced.
For now, we need to obtain your email and contact information. We will eventually want to get your VIN for the vehicle, so if you sold it, you may have to go back to the dealership from whom you acquired it, or the dealership at which you had warranty work, or maintenance performed, to get the information on both the VIN, and the specifics of your repairs.
As we start moving along, we will be in contact with you to collect the necessary information to corroborate your entitlement to be a member of this class action, in order for you to be included in any potential settlement which may be obtained. If you start collecting the data purchase, warranty, and repair records now, so you have them for when we need them to help you with your claim.
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If you are a potential class member, it means that we can obtain compensation for you in regard to all of the potential losses you may have. Those may vary to a degree for people, but everyone will experience the following:
Loss of value to vehicle on trade in or resale;
Higher warranty and repair costs resulting from accelerated failure of the defective parts and parts impacted by that failure;
You may have other potential losses from lost income from the vehicle downtime or claims for injuries that may have resulted in the failure of the system.
Right now, this claim is alleging the claims and issues on behalf of a large number of people. We still have to attend at court in order to obtain approval to run this claim on behalf of everyone. We are in the process of putting together the materials to do so. The more people that confirm they have experienced the defect and failure our claim alleges, the stronger our claim and chances of being certified, and as a result, the more likely it will be that we can obtain compensation for your losses.
It is our practice to collect clients information and communicate any information we need via a block reporting email and periodic website updates. We have found this is the most effective way to communicate with our clients, as when there are many clients, it is far more efficient and allows us to focus on asserting your claim effectively. We ask that you do not email us seeking individual advice because we do not have the resources or retainer to give individual advice. Rather, if you have a pertinent question, please review the emails and website for our updates and your questions should be answered. If you post a question that is not addressed that needs to be, we will post the answer on our website for the benefit of everyone.
We look forward to representing you in this claim. If you email us at gloria@guardian.law we will collect your information and look forward to assisting you.
Best regards,
Kevin P McGuigan