WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE ZF 9HP TRANSMISSION?

According to one FCA class action lawsuit, Fiat Chrysler knew the transmission had problems that could make FCA vehicles unsafe to drive.

The lawsuit alleges that vehicles with 9-speed transmissions experience multiple defects. For example, rough, delayed or sudden shifting, failure to shift, and grinding or loud noises during shifting. Other issues are sudden or harsh acceleration/ deceleration, loss of power, premature transmission wear and transmission failure.

Fiat Chrysler transmission problems can make it difficult or unsafe for drivers, specifically when changing lanes, merging into traffic, or accelerating from stops or onto freeways. Drivers that attempt any of these with a faulty 9HP transmission face an increased risk of a crash.

WHAT VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED?

Fiat Chrysler’s subsidiaries in the United States include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM. The following FCA vehicles come equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission and owners may be eligible for individual legal assistance if they experience recurring issues:

• 2020–2025 Chrysler Voyager
• 2022–2025 Chrysler Pacifica
• 2020–2023 Jeep Cherokee
• 2020–2022 Jeep Compass*
• 2020–2025 Jeep Renegade
• 2020–2022 Ram Promaster City
• 2020–2025 Fiat 500X

*Not as a standard transmission

FCA 9-speed transmission issues in earlier model years have prompted class action lawsuits against Fiat Chrysler. If you are included in existing class action lawsuits and/or settlements, your individual right to sue may be affected.

Milisits v. FCA represents owners and lessees of 2016–2020 FCA vehicles equipped with ZF 9HP automatic transmissions. According to affected owners, Fiat, Chrysler and Jeep 9-speed transmission issues include delayed acceleration, abrupt forward propulsion and sudden loss of power. Affected vehicles include 2016–2020 Jeep Cherokee, 2016–2020 Jeep Renegade, 2016–2017 Chrysler 200, 2016–2020 Promaster City, 2017–2020 Jeep Compass, 2017–2020 Chrysler Pacifica and 2016–2020 Fiat 500X.

Moran v. FCA represents owners and lessees of 2017-2021 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles equipped with 3.6-liter V6 engines and 9-speed automatic transmissions. These cover ZF 9HP automatic transmissions referenced in Milisits v. FCA and the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica transmission problems. The Chrysler Pacifica lawsuit has since reached settlement.

If you do not know what transmission your vehicle has, locate your owner’s manual in your glove box or contact your local FCA dealership. If you have the ZF 9HP transmission with defects listed in the class action lawsuit Chrysler Pacifica faces, you may have a defective vehicle on your hands.

WHAT DOES THIS LAWSUIT MEAN FOR ME?

If you have a 2020 or newer FCA vehicle with common 9-speed transmission issues, you may have a viable lemon law case against your manufacturer.

However, many owners of 2016–Present FCA vehicles with ZF 9HP transmissions may be automatically included in one or more class action lawsuits. At least one of these lawsuits alleged that FCA knowingly sold a faulty product to consumers who had little way of knowing of the transmission defects.

These lawsuits can affect your individual right to sue in California. If you want to retain the right to sue individually, you may have to opt out of the applicable class action before a specified deadline. Your eligibility for a lemon lawsuit and your need to opt out will depend on your vehicle model and model year. For example:

• Most 2020–2025 FCA Vehicles: You may be eligible to pursue an individual lemon law claim. We recommend a consultation with a lemon law attorney. If you are included in existing class action lawsuits, an attorney can help you opt out of them before certain deadlines pass.
• 2017–2021 Chrysler Pacifica: They are included in the class action settlement and likely cannot sue individually unless they opted out of these lawsuits in time.
• 2016–2019 FCA vehicle owners: The time limit for filing a lemon law claim has most likely passed. However, some vehicle owners may still legally benefit from remaining in existing class action lawsuits.

CAN I STILL PURSUE A CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW CLAIM?

If you have successfully opted out of one or more class action lawsuits, you may pursue a California lemon law claim against Fiat Chrysler.

The California Lemon Law states that your vehicle is considered defective if there is a defect that affects the vehicle’s use, safety or value. Additionally if an authorized dealership or repair facility cannot fix the recurring problems with a reasonable number of attempts within the warranty period. The number considered “reasonable” is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The California Lemon Law allows California residents who own or lease defective vehicles to take legal action against auto manufacturers. As long as you have opted out of the class action lawsuit, and the statute of limitations hasn’t run out, you can pursue a California lemon law claim.