2013-2016 Dodge Dart Transmission Class Action CERTIFIED

After initially being denied certification, owners of 2013-2016 Dodge Darts equipped with the Fiat C635 engine may finally see some benefits after the presiding court reversed course and certified the class action.

The class members allege:

… an inherent defect in the hydraulic clutch system (“Clutch System”) that existed in all Class Vehicles at the time of sale that causes the clutch pedal to lose pressure, stick to the floor, and prevents his gears from engaging and/or disengaging. [Owners allege] that the clutch defect is caused by the degradation of the clutch reservoir hose, which releases plasticizer and fibers, causing contamination of the hydraulic fluid that bathes the components of the Clutch System. As a result, the contamination causes the internal and external seals of the clutch master cylinder (“CMC”) and clutch slave cylinder (“CSC”) to swell and fail. When fluid in the hydraulic system becomes contaminated, all of the components that have been exposed to the contaminated fluid must be replaced and any steel tubing must also be thoroughly cleaned with brake cleaner and blown out until dry to ensure that none of the contaminants remain. The clutch defect causes stalling, the failure to accelerate, and premature failure of the Clutch System’s components, “including the clutch master cylinder and reservoir hose, clutch slave cylinder and release bearing, clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel.”

FCA recognized the problem in 2016 when they implemented a voluntary customer service action, Service Bulletin 06-001-16 entitled “Clutch Pedal Operation X62 Extended Warranty” (“X62 Extended Warranty”) to address the issue of the contaminated hydraulic fluid caused by the degradation of the clutch reservoir hose and involved the “replacement of the hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir hose” for the 2013-2015 Dodge Dart vehicles.

The entire opinion can be read here.

If you're in California and you’ve taken your Dodge Dart to a dealership for any issue, ranging from transmission stalling, transmission failure, clutch failure, or any other warranty concern, we can help you…. AT NO COST TO YOU! Valero Law, APC is a California consumer protection firm dedicated to protecting the lemon law rights of California consumers and ALL cases are taken on a contingency basis, meaning if there is no recovery, there is absolutely no fee to you! Feel free to call at 424-299-4447 for a free case evaluation!