A class action lawsuit filed on June 19th in a Michigan federal court alleges Stellantis, formerly known as FCA US LLC, knowingly sold vehicles with faulty Uconnect infotainment systems. The lawsuit details a range of problems with the Uconnect 5 system, including navigation glitches, unreliable Bluetooth connectivity, and even failing backup camera displays, potentially creating safety hazards for drivers.
Uconnect is a multimedia and video interface—often referred to as an in-car entertainment or in-vehicle infotainment system—in the vehicles’ center console. Among other things, Uconnect operates the visual for the backup camera, the controls for the audio and radio system, cell phone connectivity, weather information, and the navigation system.
An infotainment system is designed to be the gateway between the driver and the vehicle’s safety, navigation, communication, and entertainment features.
The specific vehicles listed in the lawsuit include:
“Rather than reliably providing these features, the vehicles’ infotainment systems are plagued by a series of issues stemming from a common defect that causes many features—including the navigation, audio system, and Bluetooth connectivity—to malfunction, operate intermittently, and even become inoperable,” the lawsuit states.
Lisa Bostelman, a resident of Pennsylvania, is among eleven plaintiffs alleging a widespread defect in the Uconnect 5 system installed in certain Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep, Ram, and Dodge vehicles from model years 2021 to 2024.
She specifically highlights safety concerns as a key factor in her decision to purchase a new 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. She states that reviews of the vehicle's features and conversations with the dealer emphasized safety and reliability as key selling points. The lawsuit contends that Stellantis failed to disclose a known defect in the Uconnect system that impacts certain advertised safety features, such as the backup camera.
Bostelman's experience exemplifies the problems alleged in the lawsuit. Just a month after purchasing her Pacifica, she began experiencing recurring issues with the Uconnect 5 system, including black screens, freezing displays, and Bluetooth connectivity drops.
These malfunctions forced her to take her eyes off the road to troubleshoot, creating a dangerous distraction while driving.
Despite seeking help from her authorized FCA dealership as early as April 2022, with less than 5,000 miles on the vehicle, Bostelman's problems persisted. The dealership initially verified the malfunctions but offered no repairs.
Subsequent attempts to address the issue included an ineffective software update in August 2022 and a radio replacement in February 2023. Unfortunately, neither attempt resolved the problems with the Uconnect system.
As of February 2024, Bostelman continues to experience the same malfunctions and has yet to receive any notification from Stellantis regarding a permanent fix or modification to address the defect.
Stellantis isn't alone in facing legal action over car software issues. Similar lawsuits have been filed against other car makers. In 2020, Subaru settled a software defect lawsuit for an estimated $8 million, and Honda (Acura) agreed to a similar settlement for an estimated $30 million.
In the Stellantis infotainment defect class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs are seeking to represent all US residents who purchased or leased a vehicle equipped with the allegedly defective Uconnect 5 system.
They are suing for various damages including negligent misrepresentation, common law fraud, breach of express and implied warranties, violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, violations of various state consumer protection laws, and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit also seeks injunctive relief, compelling Stellantis to issue a fix or recall for the affected vehicles.
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