A Lawsuit Was Required, But Dodge Minivan Owners Eventually Received Compensation | Carscoops

      In addition to the settlement, Dodge plans to provide an extended warranty to address any malfunctioning door locks.

      

       8 hours ago

      

      

      

      

      

       by Brad Anderson

      

      FCA has agreed to resolve a lawsuit regarding sliding door actuators in Grand Caravans.

      Malfunctioning door actuators may prevent owners from locking or unlocking the sliding doors.

      FCA will implement a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty extension for the affected vehicles.

      Automakers often face legal issues, particularly when mechanical problems result in expensive difficulties for drivers. It's a common pattern — something fails, customers voice their concerns, and lawyers swarm like vultures over an unresolved warranty claim. Most of these instances settle quietly before they ever go to trial, and now FCA is doing just that with a class action lawsuit related to its 2017–2018 Dodge Grand Caravan.

      

      Faulty Door Lock Actuators

      Door lock actuators can be susceptible to failure over time in many vehicles. I, for example, needed to replace a door lock actuator on my Renault because one of the small electric motors inside had malfunctioned. In the instance of the Dodge Grand Caravan, a lawsuit claimed that the actuator could deteriorate over time, leaving owners unable to lock or unlock the sliding door.

      Read: Ford Recall Displeases Owners and Now They’re Suing

      Although the automaker does not admit liability for any defect and denies the presence of a fault, it has agreed to a voluntary settlement. There is no information on how much the settlement may cost FCA, but it will allow the company to avoid the expenses related to ongoing litigation.

      While the financial implications of the settlement remain unknown, FCA has announced that it will offer a warranty extension for affected vehicles. This new warranty will cover the cost of parts or labor required to repair a failing door lock actuator for 10 years after the vehicle’s initial service date or up to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

      

      Warranty Extension and Possible Reimbursements

      As part of the proposed settlement, FCA will extend the warranty for impacted vehicles. This new coverage includes the repair or replacement of the sliding door lock actuator for up to 10 years from the vehicle's original service date or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

      Moreover, customers who purchased or leased a Dodge Grand Caravan between January 1 and December 31, 2017, and have already incurred expenses to address the problem, can request reimbursement.

      The settlement is still awaiting court approval. The US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is set to decide whether to approve or reject the proposal during a hearing scheduled for September 16.