Anne Bucher  |  October 29, 2020

Category: Auto News

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Dodge ram 1500 trucks regarding the class action lawsuit

FCA Canada Inc. and FCA US LLC are facing a class action lawsuit that alleges certain Dodge Ram vehicles have an exhaust gas recirculation cooler (EGR) defect that causes it to crack internally and leak coolant, leading to a risk of engine compartment fire or sudden loss of power.

The vehicles named in the class action lawsuit include model year 2014-2019 Dodge Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with a 3.0 litre EcoDiesel engine containing EGR coolers.

Dodge Ram 1500 EGR Cooler Allegedly Susceptible to Thermal Fatigue

According to the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit, the exhaust gas recirculation coolers are vulnerable to thermal fatigue, which can cause them to crack internally over time and leak coolant. The coolant leak can reportedly cause combustion within the intake manifold, which can lead to an engine compartment fire and/or the sudden loss of power in the vehicle.

The Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit says that, since 2002, diesel engines include cooled exhaust gas recirculation to meet nitrogen vehicle emission standards required under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

The EGR system in the affected Dodge Ram vehicles reportedly recirculates a portion of the engine’s exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders, diluting the oxygen in the incoming air stream and providing gases inert to absorb combustion heat to reduce temperatures within the cylinders.

The EGR cooler is a key component of the EGR system, the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit explains. The EGR cooler lowers the temperature of the exhaust gases circulated by the EGR system.

According to the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit, the EGR cooler is subjected to high heat. However, this component is allegedly “unreasonably fragile” because thermal fatigue leads it to crack.

“This cracking is catastrophic as it can introduce pre-heated vaporized coolant into the vehicle’s EGR system,” the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit says. “As such, this can result in combustion within the intake manifold leading to engine compartment fire and/or a sudden loss of power.”

Class Action Lawsuit: FCA Knew of Dodge Ram 1500 Defect Since 2014

Plaintiff Andrew Keith Jacquard, who purchased a new 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 3.0 litre EcoDiesel vehicle in 2019, says the FCA defendants knew since at least 2014 that the EGR coolers tended to crack due to thermal fatigue. However, they did not open an investigation into the issue until May 2019.

When an October 2019 recall was announced, FCA finally admitted that the EGR cooler was vulnerable to thermal fatigue and could pose a serious safety hazard. However, FCA informed owners and lessees of the affected vehicle that there was no available remedy for this dangerous defect, Jacquard says.Stressed out man having truck issues regarding the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit

According to the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit, FCA informed customers that they would be notified when a remedy was available, and that they should immediately contact their dealer to schedule a service appointment for repairs when they receive this notification.

FCA reportedly sent notices to owners and lessees of the affected vehicles; however, the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit alleges that owners and lessees of the affected vehicles were routinely denied a repair due to the unavailability of the necessary parts.

According to the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit, authorized dealerships had been told by FCA that “part supply is extremely limited” and thus the EGR cooler should only be replaced “if the part has failed.”

Plaintiff Says Class Members Suffered Financial Loss 

Jacquard claims that no reasonable customer would have purchased one of the affected Dodge Ram vehicles, or they would have paid less for the vehicle, if they had known about the EGR cooler defect.

Despite allegedly knowing about the EGR cooler defect since 2014, the FCA defendants allegedly continued to advertise the benefits of the 3.0 litre EcoDiesel engine in the affected Dodge Ram vehicles, while concealing the EGR cooler defect.

“The Defendants represented that the Affected Class Vehicles were free from defect and advertised that they were safe, durable and reliable, all of which was untrue,” Jacquard says in the Dodge Ram 1500 class action lawsuit.

As a result, owners and lessees of the affected Dodge Ram vehicles have suffered financial losses because the vehicles are worth less than they paid for them, and because they may require expensive repairs, car rentals, towing charges, and other costs due to the Dodge Ram defect.

The defendants are also facing a class action lawsuit over allegations certain Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles are equipped with a defective air suspension system as well.

What do you think about FCA’s efforts to address the Dodge Ram EGR cooler defect? Do you own any of the affected vehicles? Tell us in the comment section below! 

Jacquard is represented by K.S. Garcha.

The Dodge Ram 1500 EGR Cooler Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Andrew Keith Jacquard v. FCA Canada Inc., et al., Case No. S2010558, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada. 

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16 thoughts onDodge Ram 1500 Class Action Lawsuit Alleges EGR Cooler Defect

  1. Paul Woeszczak says:

    2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel. EGR Cooler Failed and Melted the manifold, Truck has never been the same. Turbo failed shortly after the repair. A significant oil leak was found coming from the Turbo oil lines. Oil and fuel lines replaced. Now my engine is seized. please add my name to this class action Lawsuit.

  2. Shane Kearley says:

    Please add me
    truck blew a piston apart.
    i believe it was due to the camshaft slip.
    egr not replaced
    black soot in the coolant

  3. Henry McCallum says:

    I have two EGR replacements on my 2017 Ecodiesel truck along with numerous failures. Over heating and being left on the side of the road due overheating and EGR failure has occurred twice. Other problems have been O2 sensor and electronic throttle control. The check engine light comes on frequently, what a piece of junk! I would love to be added to a list that will hold Dodge/Ram accountable for this issue.

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