- Owners want Chrysler to buy back their Pacifica Hybrid models recalled in 2023.
- A judge recently dismissed a nationwide class, but the lawsuit is still proceeding.
- Plaintiffs originally sued Chrysler just two weeks after it recalled the Pacifica Hybrid.
Ordinarily, car manufacturers who need to issue a recall will notify owners, have dealers perform the necessary repairs, and return to developing and building cars. However, for some car owners, a simple recall isn’t enough, and that’s exactly what dozens of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids believe.
Back in January 2023, more than 67,000 Pacifica Hybrid models were recalled after Chrysler identified a faulty wiring connector in the transmission that could cause the minivans to shut down without warning. The proposed fix sounded straightforward enough at the time, with dealers instructed to update the Power Inverter Module software and, in some cases, the instrument panel.
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However, just two weeks after the recall was announced, Chrysler faced a class action lawsuit about the issue. The case involves more than 30 Pacifica Hybrid models and continues to move through the courts.
FCA moved to dismiss the case as a nationwide class action, and, according to reports, Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey recently ruled in its favor. The lawsuit can still proceed, but only for customers in 18 US states. Which states are included has not yet been disclosed.
Owners Want Buy-Backs
The lawsuit claims that Chrysler should be required to buy back affected vehicles at their Blue Book value from the day before the recall was announced. Notably, none of the named plaintiffs reports experiencing the shutdown issue that led to the recall.
FCA also argued for a full dismissal, noting that when the lawsuit was filed, it had only issued temporary software updates to alert drivers to a possible problem. At that stage, a final repair had not yet been developed.
In a related ruling, the judge agreed with FCA that there was no evidence the company knew about the defect before announcing the recall. The decision pointed to 16 customer complaints, 242 warranty claims, 59 field reports, and 6 customer assistance records as the basis of FCA’s awareness.
