Lawyers from Beasley Allen, including Dee Miles, Clay Barnett, Mitch Williams, and Dylan Martin, have taken legal action against FCA US LLC, the manufacturer of Ram trucks, over a significant safety issue in vehicles equipped with the eTorque system. The lawsuit claims that the eTorque system defect leads to sudden stalling, automatic shifting to park, and emergency brake engagement without warning, putting drivers and others at risk.
According to the lawsuit, these stalling incidents have been observed across various driving conditions, posing a danger to individuals on the road. The eTorque system, described as FCA's hybrid technology, is designed to improve performance and efficiency in vehicles like Jeep and Ram models through features such as stop-start functionality, eRoll Assist, and regenerative braking.
The affected vehicles listed in the class action lawsuit span from 2019 to 2023 and include the Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Wagoneer models. Beasley Allen initially filed the lawsuit in February 2023, alleging that FCA was aware of the defect before consumers made their purchases but failed to disclose it.
Despite FCA's recall of the 2021 Ram 1500 trucks with eTorque in April 2023, excluding other models and years, the plaintiffs continued their pursuit for justice. Testing conducted with an independent automotive consultant contradicted FCA's explanation of a rich fuel condition causing the stalling events.
After FCA attempted to dismiss the complaint in July 2023, citing the recall as a resolution, Judge Mathew Leitman denied the motion in January 2024. Subsequently, the parties have entered the early stages of discovery as they move towards trial. The case, Fisher, et al., v. FCA US LLC, 23-cv-10426, is being heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.