If you own a lemon Chrysler Pacifica, contact Allen Stewart today.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will recall more than 200,000 late-model vans after finding a potentially dangerous parking brake problem.
The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based manufacturer will recall 240,242 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles build between June 15, 2016 and April 6, 2018.
The affected vehicles have a Manual Park Release that can be accessed after removing a shifter override plug without using a tool. This puts these vehicles out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards requiring such overrides only be accessible using a screwdriver or other tool.
If the MPR is unintentionally actuated, the vehicle could inadvertently move, increasing both crash risk and bystander injury risk.
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FCA engineers first learned on March 22, 2018 testing indicated the affected vehicles’ shifter override plugs could be removed with much less force than intended. An investigated removed a plug without using a tool on March 26, 2018, demonstrating the problem. The manufacturer conducted additional tests between March 28 and April 26, 2018, confirming plugs used in production before April 6, 2018 could be removed too easily.
The company decided to institute a recall on June 7, 2018.
FCA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MPR plug, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is U50. Owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to help you. Lemon law attorneys assist their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.