Suits & Settlements: The Car Pro Legal Roundup

In this week’s Suits & Settlements, you’ll find the following reports:

• RAM 1500 OWNERS SUE OVER HURRICANE ENGINE CONTROL PROBLEMS
• FCA SETTLES WARRANTY CLASS ACTION OVER VALVE-TRAIN PARTS
• GM DURAMAX OWNERS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUEL-PUMP SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS
• MINNESOTA USED-CAR DEALER TO PAY $100,000 AND REFORM SALES PRACTICES

RAM 1500 OWNERS SUE OVER HURRICANE ENGINE CONTROL PROBLEMS

FCA US is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that certain 2025 Ram 1500 pickups equipped with the 3.0-liter Hurricane engine can suffer from control-module problems that cause stalling, hesitation, misfires and sudden loss of power. According to the federal complaint, plaintiffs Charlene Norberg of Wisconsin and Tim Craig of Florida allege defects involving the engine control module, powertrain control module or related systems can cause warning lights, diagnostic trouble codes, loss of engine power and other problems. Norberg alleges her truck experienced repeated problems including stalling, battery failure and eventually entering reduced-power mode while driving. Craig alleges his Ram 1500 Rebel began displaying numerous warnings with approximately 1,200 miles on it and that safety systems became disabled. The lawsuit alleges FCA knew or should have known of the claimed problems through pre-production testing, dealership repair information, diagnostic data and customer complaints but failed to adequately disclose or repair them. The plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide class of current and former owners and lessees of 2025 Ram 1500s equipped with the 3.0-liter Hurricane engine, along with state subclasses. They are seeking damages and other relief. FCA has not been found liable, no class has been certified, and the allegations of a common defect have not been proven in court.

FCA SETTLES WARRANTY CLASS ACTION OVER VALVE-TRAIN PARTS

FCA US has reached a class-action settlement over allegations that it failed to provide proper warranty coverage for certain expensive valve-train components used in some Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. The lawsuit alleged that FCA improperly treated some valve-train parts as being covered only by shorter warranty provisions when plaintiffs contended they should have received longer coverage. Under the settlement, qualifying owners may receive extended warranty protection and reimbursement for certain previous repair expenses. A federal judge granted preliminary approval to the settlement June 29, 2026. FCA agreed to settle the litigation without a trial, and the settlement does not constitute an admission that the company violated the law. The case is particularly important to owners because valve-train repairs can become expensive quickly, and the central dispute involved exactly how long FCA was obligated to cover those components.

GM DURAMAX OWNERS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUEL-PUMP SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS

Additional payments were distributed Aug. 31 to eligible owners participating in the General Motors Duramax diesel fuel-pump settlement. The class action involved certain 2011 through 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine and sold by authorized GM dealers in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Plaintiffs alleged that the Bosch CP4 high-pressure fuel pump used in the trucks was not adequately compatible with U.S. diesel fuel and could fail, potentially contaminating the fuel system with metal debris and leading to costly repairs. GM denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle the litigation. Initial payments were issued March 23, with the latest distribution covering additional qualifying claims and residual payments. For Duramax owners who have followed this case for years, the Aug. 31 distribution marks another significant step toward completing the settlement process.

MINNESOTA USED-CAR DEALER TO PAY $100,000 AND REFORM SALES PRACTICES

A Minnesota used-car dealer and its owner have agreed to pay $100,000 and change their business practices to resolve allegations that they deceived customers and violated the state’s Used Car Law and other consumer-protection laws. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the settlement Aug. 31 with Midwest Car Search and owner Scott Spiczka, resolving a lawsuit his office filed in April 2024. The state alleged that the dealership falsely represented some used vehicles as certified, added expensive vehicle service contracts to purchases without proper authorization, failed to provide warranties required by Minnesota law and did not give customers clear Buyers Guide disclosures. The attorney general also alleged that the business operated under an unregistered trade name that heavily targeted Spanish-speaking consumers. Under the settlement, Midwest Car Search must pay $100,000 and reform its sales practices. The dealership and its owner agreed to the resolution of the allegations without the case proceeding to trial. For used-car shoppers everywhere, this case is another reminder to carefully examine the Buyers Guide, purchase agreement and every add-on before signing—and never assume the word “certified” means anything unless you know exactly who is doing the certifying and what that certification includes.

 Photo: ChatGPT Plus/CarPro.