Dodge Charger, Challenger, Chrysler 300 accused in 2-million lawsuit

A new class-action lawsuit has been filed against FCA US, LLC, and Lear Corporation, targeting approximately two million vehicles, including popular models like the Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300. What sets this lawsuit apart is the claim of a broader “conspiracy” rather than just a design defect.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, raises concerns about electric front-seat height adjusters used in various vehicles, such as the 2011–2023 Dodge Charger, 2011–2023 Dodge Challenger, and 2011–2023 Chrysler 300, among others. These vehicles are said to share a similar faulty mechanism supplied by Lear Corporation that can fail during certain rear-end collisions.

The heart of the lawsuit revolves around the powered seat-height adjustment assembly found in modern vehicles. This assembly consists of components like an electric motor, a gearbox, a threaded shaft, a traveling nut, and a welded bracket. The plaintiffs allege that during low-speed rear-end collisions, the seat-height adjuster can collapse downward due to failure at the weld point, leading to potential deformation or collapse of the mechanism.

While the complaint does not suggest that the seat detaches from the vehicle floor, it emphasizes that the height mechanism itself can deform or collapse under rearward loads during impacts. This issue could have profound implications for occupant safety, affecting factors like seat belt angle, occupant posture, and airbag alignment, which are crucial for managing occupant motion during a crash.

Despite these claims, it is important to note that no court ruling, recall action, or federal crash test failures have been officially established. The allegations in the lawsuit rely on testing commissioned by the plaintiffs’ attorneys, and no findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have been cited at this stage.

The lawsuit underscores the significance of proper occupant positioning in ensuring the effectiveness of vehicle safety systems in the event of a collision. Any unexpected changes in seat height during a crash could potentially compromise the performance of seat belts and airbags calibrated for specific seating geometries, potentially impacting occupant safety. While the case raises technical concerns that warrant attention, it is essential to await further developments before drawing conclusive judgments.