Jeep Wrangler Class Action Lawsuit Over Sudden Shutdown Problems Removed to Federal Court

Chrysler faces a class action lawsuit over problems with certain Jeep Wrangler 4xe models, which may suddenly shut down while being driven, posing a serious accident risk for consumers.

The Jeep Wrangler class action complaint was originally brought last month in the Superior Court of Forsyth County in Georgia, but the auto maker filed a notice of removal (PDF) this week, transferring the case to the U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia.

Aaron Kappler is named as the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, which seeks class action status to pursue damages for similarly situated owners, alleging that the manufacturer failed to disclose a defect in the electric hybrid systemm which causes certain Jeep Wranglers to shutdown suddenly and without warning.

According to the complaint, on July 22 Kappler was driving his newly leased 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe on a highway when the Jeep’s electronic display suddenly displayed an error screen referencing the electric hybrid system seconds before the engine, air conditioning, navigation and all other systems suddenly shut off.

Kappler reports he was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road where he immediately contacted a licensed Jeep dealership to schedule a service appointment for August 2, 2021. However, Kappler indicates the dealership never instructed him to stop driving the vehicle.

Two days prior to the appointment, Kappler and his family were driving on a highway when the electronic display flashed an electrical system error that instructed him to pull the Jeep over seconds before the Jeep completely shut down once again. The complaint states the family avoided nearly being involved in a high speed rear end accident on the highway, as Kappler desperately tried to pull the shutdown vehicle across three lanes to the highway shoulder.

The complaint states the vehicle was towed away from the scene, and has been stored between two dealerships since July 31, with no explanation or any material update, leaving the Kappler family without a loaner or temporary vehicle.

Kappler further states the defect causing his Wrangler 4xe shutdown is not the only one reported, citing at least five other reports of similarly situated Jeep Wrangler 4xe owners filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Despite multiple reported incidents to NHTSA and to FCA US, LLC, formerly known as Chrysler, the manufacturer has failed and refused to notify the public of the potential danger, nor has it issued an investigation or recall to remedy the alleged widespread problem.

Kappler accuses FCA US, LLC of intentionally concealing the known defect(s) of its Wrangler 4xe electronic hybrid system to avoid costly repairs, with more than 18,900 vehicles sold to consumers nationwide.

The average cost of the defective Wrangler 4xe vehicles is approximately $51,025, and the lawsuit indicates the plaintiff and accompanying class members would have chosen an alternative electric SUV or would have paid significantly less for the vehicle if the shutdown defect had been disclosed by the manufacturer.

The class action complaint presents claims of fraudulent concealment which have allegedly enriched the manufacturer, while putting the burden of expenses related to a known, and undisclosed, defect on the consumer.

Kappler further petitions the court to mandate a recall of the allegedly defective Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles to prevent shutdown incidents that put consumers at risk of serious and potentially fatal auto accident scenarios.

To date, Jeep has not issued a recall or opened an official investigation to determine the root cause of the shutdown defects in Wrangler 4xe vehicles.