On January 31, 2024, a jury trial concluded in a class action lawsuit alleging a defect in the headrest of certain Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles.
This verdict comes nearly four years after the lawsuit was filed in February 2020. As previously reported by U.S. Auto Law, according to the lawsuit, the “active head restraint” mechanism in the headrest, designed to rapidly push the headrest out to catch the occupant’s head upon a rear-end collision, allegedly deployed even without a collision. The plaintiffs claimed the force of such impact could cause serious harm to the head and neck and create a risk of collision. They further alleged Chrysler “concealed the risk from consumers,” “issued a public statement denying its existence,” and simply replaced the allegedly faulty component when vehicles were brought in for repair with “new, equally defective replacement” active head restraints.
The complaint claimed this alleged defect WAS due in part to the use of a cheap plastic component inside the active head restraint, with the affected vehicles including:
2010-2018 Dodge Journey
2010-2011 Dodge Nitro
2010-2012 Jeep Liberty
2010-2017 Jeep Patriot or Compass
2010-2012 Dodge Caliber
2010-2018 Dodge Caravan
2011-2018 Dodge Ram C/V
2011-2018 Dodge Durango
2011-2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2010-2014 Sebring/Avenger
2011-2018 Chrysler Town & Country
2011-2018 Chrysler 200
2011-2018 Chrysler 300
The jury found that the plaintiffs proved by a preponderance of the evidence that FCA US LLC violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Act, but did not find FCA US LLC’s deceptive or unfair act or practice was the cause of the actual damages sustained by each class member.
The case is closed pending post-trial motions.
The case is Jason Nuwer, et al. v. FCA US LLC, et al., case number 0:20-cv-60432-AHS, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
