Dodge Ram Class Action Lawsuit Claims Defective Air Suspension System

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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