Ram 2500, 3500 Anti-Lock Braking System Defect Texas Class Action

FCA US, LLC makes Ram trucks, but the complaint for this class action alleges that certain model years of Ram 2500s and Ram 3500s are “unsafe and defective[.]” The complaint claims that the vehicles have defective hydraulic control units (HCUs) and anti-lock braking systems (ABSs) that can malfunction and cause the ABS, cruise control, and traction systems to stop working properly.

The class for this action is all Texas residents who own, owned, lease, or leased a 2017-2018 Ram 2500 or 2017-2018 Ram 3500 in the US or its territories.

The complaint describes the ABS system as “an important safety feature in vehicles that prevents wheel lock up during emergency braking or low traction situations—thereby helping prevent loss of drive control. The ABS system has sensors that monitor the deceleration of each wheel. If the deceleration occurs too rapidly, the other components of the ABS system work to control the deceleration so that the wheel does not lock up.”

If the ABS is not working properly, the complaint alleges, “braking can become more difficult, especially in situations where brakes need to be applied quickly. Failure of the ABS module will also result in other connected systems [failing], such as cruise control and traction control.”

FCA has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) about the defect, the complaint says, describing the problem as “C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control—General Electrical Failure.” It seems that the ABS module that need replacement may be in short supply, the complaint suggests, meaning that the problem cannot be fixed promptly.

The complaint alleges that FCA clearly knew or should have known about the problem, including through its own durability testing on its Road Test Simulator, known as “The Shaker.” The complaint alleges, “The Shaker mimics a wide range of on-road and off-road driving surfaces and puts a lifetime of wear and tear of a vehicle in only one month’s time.”

The complaint alleges that, because of federal safety standards, “[b]efore selling the Vehicles, FCA was required to ensure that the ABS worked properly. However, according to the complaint, FCA continues to sell the trucks at issue without warning buyers or potential buyers about the problem.

Auto makers are required to report defects to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which also collects consumer reports of problems with vehicles. The complaint alleges, “Complaints of the [HCU and ABS] Defect in the Vehicles date back to at least October 29, 2018.”

The complaint reproduces a number of the online postings by consumers at the NHTSA website and elsewhere, complaining of the HCU and ABS defect.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Automobile
Tags: Anti-Lock Braking System, Defective Automobile