Offers over $307M in substantial cash payments to class members,
plus emissions modifications and extended vehicle warranties
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/EcoDieselClassAction?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#EcoDieselClassActionlt;/agt;–Judge Edward M. Chen of the United States District Court, Northern
District of California today granted final approval of the $307.5
million Fiat Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep (FCA) “EcoDiesel” class action
settlement, which will provide eligible owners and lessees with
substantial cash payments and an extended warranty following the
completion of a government-mandated emissions modification to affected
vehicles.
Under the agreement between consumers and FCA and Bosch, approximately
100,000 owners and lessees of Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0-liter
diesel vehicles from model years 2014 to 2016 are eligible to file
claims and receive the settlement’s benefits. Most owners will receive
$3,075 once the repair – a software reflash – is completed.
“We are pleased the Court has granted final approval of this settlement,
which will allow consumers to finally receive the vehicle they were
promised, plus cash compensation. This agreement accomplishes our goals
of holding FCA and Bosch accountable for their diesel emissions
cheating, and of compensating consumers while protecting our
environment,” said Elizabeth Cabraser, Court-appointed Lead Counsel and
chair of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, who negotiated the
settlement on behalf of class members. “Now that the Court has granted
final approval, eligible class members can begin the claims process.
They should visit the settlement website for more information on their
benefits and what they need to do to get them.”
Class members should sign up immediately at www.ecodieselsettlement.com/
to receive detailed information about the claim submission period and
process, the settlement’s benefits, and to be notified when the Approved
Emissions Modification is available. Eligible owners and lessees will be
able to obtain the repair at a FCA Authorized Dealer or, in certain
areas, through a Fiat Chrysler employee and receive the associated cash
benefit.
Current owners and lessees have until February 3, 2021 (21 months from
today), to submit a claim, and until May 3, 2021 (two years from today)
to complete the repair and receive compensation. Former owners and
lessees will have until August 1, 2019 (90 days from today) to submit a
claim. FCA will pay eligible claims on a rolling basis as they are
received and approved, and offers are accepted by Class Members.
For the cash payments, most owners will receive $3,075; former owners,
lessees, and former lessees will receive $990. For example, an “Eligible
Owner” who owned a subject vehicle on January 12, 2017 (Notice of
Violation or NOV date) and completes the repair will receive $3,075.
They will also receive an extended warranty that covers all parts and
systems affected by the emissions modification. Former owners and
lessees who sold their vehicle after the NOV date can also file claims
to receive a portion of the total cash compensation assigned to the
vehicle if it receives the repair. Class members who sold their vehicle
after January 10, 2019, will not be eligible for compensation.
The Extended Warranty term is the greater of (i) 10 years from the date
of initial sale or 120,000 actual miles on the vehicle odometer,
whichever comes first; and (ii) 4 years or 48,000 miles from the date
and mileage of installing the Approved Emissions Modification on the
vehicle, whichever comes first. The extended warranty will be provided
free of charge and will be fully transferrable if owners or lesees sell
their eligible vehicles in the future.
To receive the settlement’s benefits, class members will need to file a
claim online. Claim forms can be accessed and submitted through the
Settlement’s website (www.ecodieselsettlement.com/).
To start a claim online, class members should navigate to the Online
Claims Portal, where they will be asked for their VIN (Vehicle
Identification Number) and other information required to create a claim.
They will be required to submit supporting documentation to complete the
claim, which may include current vehicle registration, and a copy of
their driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification.
In general, eligible owners and lessees should complete a claim before
scheduling an appointment for an Approved Emissions Modification.
However, if a class member receives an Approved Emissions Modification
prior to submitting a claim, they will still be eligible for cash
compensation if they submit a valid claim prior to the deadline.
Payments will be processed once the Approved Emissions Modification is
performed.
Class members will receive more information about the terms of the
settlement via mail and email. The full details of the settlement are
also available at the Settlement’s website. Additional information can
also be found on the Court website: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/emc/chryslermdl.
Contacts
Source/Contact:
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Elizabeth
J. Cabraser, 415-956-1000
www.lieffcabraser.com
