Chrysler and Dodge have been joined at the hip since Walter Chrysler purchased the Dodge Brothers auto company in 1928. The two brands have seen their share of ups and downs during their nearly 100-year partnership, with the 21st century being a mostly down period for them, at least in terms of quality. Recent Chrysler and Dodge models have been plagued with reliability problems, largely stemming from corporate cost-cutting by their parent companies.
At Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys, our Ventura attorneys have represented hundreds of people who owned and leased late-model Chrysler and Dodge vehicles that simply could not be repaired, even after multiple attempts. We have successfully used California’s lemon law to help these consumers get monetary compensation and have their defective vehicles bought back, allowing them to move on and get a better vehicle.
Common Chrysler and Dodge Lemon Law Claims
Chrysler is no longer the industry titan it once was, with its model lineup having been cut in recent years to the point that today it produces just two vehicles: the Chrysler Pacifica minivan (gas and hybrid versions) and the Chrysler 300. Those two vehicles, along with other recent Chryslers that are no long in production, are known to have several problems that could lead to lemon law claims. Some of these issues include:
- Transmissions: Chrysler/Dodge transmissions have been a weak point for years. The 9-speed transmission used in the Chrysler 200 suffered from hard shifts, lurching and a wiring harness defect that caused unexpected shifts into neutral. The company’s 8-speed, 6-speed and 5-speed automatic transmissions, used in the 300, Pacifica and Town & Country, all had their own issues of slipping, hard shifting and complete failure as well.
- Engines: The 2.4 liter 4-cylinder used in the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart suffers from oil burning problems and stalling; often the only fix it an engine replacement, but they replace it with a new 2.4L, which often means the same problem happens again with the new engine. The 3.6 Pentastar V6 also suffered from oil consumption and stalling in certain model years.
- Vibrations: Axle vibration, steering vibration and brake vibration afflicted the Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango and Dodge Journey in certain years.
- Push-to-start: The push-to-start button/system was a known failure point on the Chrysler 300 and some early Pacificas.
- Fuel system: Various Chrysler and Dodge models suffer from faulty fuel pumps and fuel supply lines, leading to no-start or stalling situations.
- Windshields: Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles in the 2020-2021 model year have windshields that are not properly bonded to the car and can detach, leading to a crash. Earlier Dodge Durango (2012-2013) had windshields that allowed water to seep in at the base, often causing electrical problems.
- Soft-top and hard-top convertible issues: Convertible models of the Chrysler 300 and 200 sometimes experienced mechanical failures that caused the top to become inoperable.
- Uconnect system: The Uconnect infotainment system often freezes, goes blank and randomly reboots.
California Lemon Law Applies to New, Used and Leased Chrysler and Dodge Vehicles
While Chrysler and Dodge don’t produce many different vehicles today, remember that California’s lemon law applies to more than just new vehicles. You could be covered even if your Chrysler or Dodge model is no longer in production, such as the Dart or 200.
You could also be covered even if you didn’t buy the car new. Lemon law applies to certified preowned (CPO) used cars and non-CPO used cars, even if the warranty is expired.
If you own a late-model Chrysler or Dodge that has had the same problem repaired times (or two times if the problem is potentially dangerous) and it still isn’t fixed, you could have a valid lemon law claim. Check out our Consumers’ Guide to Lemon Law for more information.
Is Your Chrysler or Dodge a Lemon? Our Ventura Attorneys Can Tell You.
At Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys, California lemon law is all we do. We know the ins and outs of the law and we’ll use our knowledge to benefit you. To discuss your Chrysler or Dodge vehicle, please call our Ventura office at 866-761-2317 or complete this this online form today.
