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Certain Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles are equipped with an optional air suspension system, which is marketed as a luxury upgrade, that allegedly doesn’t work when temperatures fall below freezing.
As a result of this faulty air suspension system, owners of the affected vehicles have had to spend time, effort and money to replace the air suspension system, the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit Canada alleges.
What is the Alleged Air Suspension System Defect?
The Air Suspension 4-Corner is reportedly marketed as a luxury upgrade and vehicles with this upgrade are sold at an increased selling price.
According to the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit Canada, this air suspension system uses a compressor to operate, but this compressor allegedly fails due to condensation, dampness or moisture that causes the internal valves to jam, blowing control fuses. As a result, the affected vehicles experience accelerated wear and tear on other vehicle components, “including, but not limited to, the fuses, relays, bolt joints and bushing which in turn affects the alignment of the wheels.”
This air suspension system defect allegedly causes operators of the vehicles to experience issues with safety, comfort and ride quality. In some cases, the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit says, the air suspension defect can result in the airbags being deployed while the vehicle is being driven. “This causes the brakes and tires to become locked up, causing additional damages and need of repair to the Affected Vehicle,” the air suspension defect class action lawsuit claims.
Plaintiff Christopher Heard filed the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a proposed Class of persons or corporations in Canada who purchased one of the following model year 2013-2020 vehicles with the optional Air Suspension 4-Corner 9: Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Rebel, or Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Christopher says he purchased a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 that was equipped with the Air Suspension 4-Corner system. Had he known about the air suspension system defect, Christopher claims he would either not have purchased the vehicle in 2016 or he would not have paid as much for it.
According to the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit Canada, Christopher has had to spend time, effort and money to repair the vehicle and its components even though he had been diligent in servicing and maintaining the vehicle. Eventually, he says he sold his Dodge Ram 1500 at a loss.
Christopher says that he, along with the other putative Class Members, did not receive the benefit of the bargain when they purchased vehicles with the allegedly defective air suspension system.
“[R]ather, they purchased and/or leased vehicles that are of a lesser standard, grade and quality than represented, and they did not receive vehicles that met ordinary and reasonable consumer expectations regarding safe and reliable operation,” the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit says.
The defendants named in the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit include Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC, FCA Canada Inc., WOCO Tech USA Inc., and Mopar Canada. WOCO manufactured the allegedly defective air suspension parts and Mopar was allegedly contracted with WOCO to distribute the parts to Dodge dealerships in Canada for replacement in the Class vehicles.
Defendants Allegedly Concealed Air Suspension System Defect
Christopher alleges that the defendants knew that the air suspension defect existed soon after it was initially installed in the 2013 models of the Class Vehicles because a number of vehicles soon came back with reports that the air suspension system had failed. However, they failed to issue a recall for the defect, “as the defect does not create a readily identifiable loss or failure of the Air Suspension system, until it is operated for extended periods of time in a colder climate.”
The Dodge Ram class action lawsuit Canada asserts the defendants intentionally concealed the air suspension system defect from Class Members even though they were aware that defects in design, manufacturing, materials, assembly, and/or workmanship caused the system to fail in colder climates.
Christopher says that, if the defendants had adequately tested the air suspension system, they would have learned that it tended to fail in colder climates and should have therefore altered the system to prevent such failure.
According to the Dodge Ram air suspension defect class action lawsuit, Christopher and the other Class Members have likely paid several thousand dollars to repair or replace the defective air suspension system.
“With so many Affected Vehicles being concentrated in areas with colder climates, some users, operators, owners or lessors have experienced substantial delay and wait time for a particular dealership to locate and obtain replacement parts,” the Dodge Ram class action lawsuit alleges.
In some cases, Class Members may have experienced loss of control of their vehicles due to the air suspension system defect that resulted in property damage and personal injury, which in turn affected their insurance rates.
Are you thinking of purchasing a car? Learn more about what to look out for when you’re buying a car in Canada.
Do you own a Dodge Ram or any of the affected vehicles? What do you think about this air suspension system defect class action lawsuit? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
The Dodge Ram Air Suspension System Class Action Lawsuit is Christopher Heard, et al. v. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., et al., Case No. 2001-09528, in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Canada.
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637 thoughts onDodge Ram Class Action Lawsuit Claims Defective Air Suspension System
I have a 2016 Dodge Ram Limited with the same issues everyone else is having. I bought new tires 6 months ago and already had to replace them. Now the dealership told me I need to replace several other parts costing another $2100 and the issue still isn’t resolved. I want answers but I’m getting the run around because the dealership doesn’t know how to fix the issue.
I have a 2014 Ram 1500. My air system failed and the dealership wants $7500 to repair. It’s a nightmare to drive it as it bumps so bad it’s hard to keep it straight. I’m on a wait list to have it fixed. I think they need to offer a recall fix if they want me to continue to buy their vehicles & tell my friends positive instead of warning them.
Air suspension went out and I almost wrecked on freeway
I purchased a 2013 dodge ram sport in May 2013 brand new from red water dodge in alberta it wad sold to me with the air ride system marketed as the new state of the art suspension system I paid over 62000 dollars for this truck it was a 7 year loan at 791 dollars per month payment which I just paid the last payment Sept of 2023 10 years later an extra 3 years because I continually had to excersise a 2 month deferall every year that the bank offered only because of the thousands of dollars in repairs every single winter that I have owned this truck due to the total failure of the air ride system every winter I have well over 40000 dollars in repairs directly as a result of this air ride system and not once have I even got an apology from dodge and even as I’m writing this I am putting my truck back into dodge to take out the air ride system and replace with a regular suspension which they are charging me another 5000 dollars ti do I’m at the end of my rope with no options ihave two parents dying in Ontario with stag 4 cancer I can’t even afford to go see them because this truck takes every single dime I have to keep running and now because of all the stress I’m under last mont I myself have suffered a major heart attack so I’m probably not going to be around for much longer but I just wanted someone to know what dodge has done to me and more importantly my family
Sincerely Joey Johnston
Just a blue collar working middle class truck driver P.S: I don’t know how these CEO ,s from dodge can look themselves in the mirror disgraceful what they have done
I have the same problems as others. Air suspension does not retain height setting. Drops completely on driver’s side within minutes. Compressor and bags constantly activating to maintain setting, etc.
Al
2016 1500 Ecodiesel Limited
I have a 2019 Dodge Ram with air suspension and i am experiencing problems with it at my right front end slowly losses air when parked for 45 minutes thanks for keeping me up to date with lawsuit
I have a 2017 grand Cherokee summit I had to replace the air bags twice in 6 months and now the air lines as well . It took a month for the parts to come in . I am also getting calls from Lakehead Motors asking me if I want to trade in my vechile vehicle I have appointment there to have it fixed . I had no idea about thia lawsuit until today now I know why they are asking me to trade in my vechile. They ate liable for the damages and paid a s suffering caused by this Air ride suspension. 6 months ago my drivers rear bag deflated I paid 1500 and then it went again within 6 months and now I have both reat bass deflated and the lines also need to be replaced. They told me 1 bag is under warranty but the other isn’t and neither ate the lines . I believe they are negligent from the replacement of the first air bag which now has caused thou7 of dollars in damages and who knows what other damage is caused as the vechile isn’t fixed it . Could be alignments wheel wells and I also had to have all the brakes done which coated 2800 dollars yes I know that was a total rip off and they got me good .. had I known the air ride was Nitro compressed into the bags I would have never bought this vehicle. They didn’t tell me about the air ride suspension in that way they told me it would help with off roading and the vehicle clearance is better than others .I also live in North western Ontario which is a colder climate with alot of snow and these air bags do not operate well in colder wet climates. Had I known about this when I purchased this vechile I would have never purchased it . Now I am aware of the lawsuit and I will be contacting a lawyer and also become a claimant.
I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram Rebel and it too has issues with the air suspension. Constantly deflates over night. Drives like garbage. Any information on anything I can do would be greatly appreciated.
My 2017 eco diesel dodge Ram 1500 has had nothing but issues since I bought it new in 2018. The air suspension has been replaced under warranty now about 7 times minimum of 1-3x a winter, o rings, cgr, etc. first year it was in the shop every month. I was told that because I live in Canada there’s no lemon car policy. So upset with this purchase, I even asked for them to take the air suspension out, they wouldn’t as stated it is under warranty and I’d have to pay to not have it. (Kinda funny to me as the amount of times they have inconvenienced me and repaired it, I’m sure it would have more than be paid for). I would love to get in on the class action suit
2013 same problem. Drops overnight. Have to wait for 15 minutes before normal ride height then drives 20 yards just for it to drop back down.