Settlement Reached In Ram / Cummins Emissions Lawsuit

A preliminary settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit involving certain 2013 to 2015 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty trucks equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engines. The lawsuit, which names both Chrysler and Cummins as defendants, has been in court for seven years. Chrysler has denied all allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the significant costs and disruptions of ongoing litigation.

Background of the Lawsuit – 

The class action lawsuit was initially filed in 2017, targeting hundreds of thousands of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) Ram trucks in the U.S. with 6.7-liter Cummins engines. The lawsuit alleges that 2013 to 2015 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty trucks require expensive repairs, suffer from decreased fuel efficiency, and emit illegal levels of emissions. According to some plaintiffs, repairs performed by dealers resulted in a 25% reduction in fuel mileage, leading to significant financial losses.

Defects and Affected Vehicles – 

The lawsuit claims the affected trucks have Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems that did not perform as advertised. Additionally, two specific defects were highlighted: the “washcoat defect” and the “flash defect.” These issues are said to cause the trucks to emit illegal levels of pollutants and reduce their fuel efficiency.

The settlement applies to individuals and entities who purchased or leased new 2013, 2014, or 2015 Ram 2500 or 3500 trucks with a Cummins diesel engine between November 26, 2014, and July 13, 2016, in 16 states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Settlement Details – 

As part of the settlement, Cummins will contribute $4.8 million and FCA US, LLC will add $1.2 million to a fund covering the costs, including attorney fees and expenses. The estimated payout to each eligible truck owner is approximately $100.40, though the final amount will depend on the fees, costs, and incentive awards approved by the court.

The settlement also includes specific payments to the named 17 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who will each receive $5,000. The attorneys representing the plaintiffs are seeking at least $1.8 million for their efforts.

Next Steps – 

A final fairness hearing for the settlement is scheduled for October 10, 2024. Truck owners who are part of the class action will be contacted if their vehicle identification number (VIN) qualifies them for the settlement.

Source: CarCompliants.com