A Louisiana couple has filed a lawsuit against a major automobile manufacturer, alleging that their newly purchased vehicle is riddled with defects that the company has failed to address. The complaint was filed by Oksana Dalton and Richard C. Dalton in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on December 18, 2024, naming FCA US LLC as the defendant.
The plaintiffs, Oksana and Richard Dalton, allege that they purchased a new 2023 Jeep Wrangler from Sterling Automotive on January 28, 2023, for $65,000. The vehicle was intended for personal use but soon revealed multiple defects. According to the Daltons, these issues include significant safety concerns with the battery and charger, which they claim have no available fix and pose a fire risk. Despite numerous attempts to have these defects repaired under warranty by FCA US LLC—commonly known as Chrysler—the problems persist. The Daltons argue that Chrysler breached both express and implied warranties by failing to provide a defect-free vehicle or adequately repair it when issues arose.
The lawsuit invokes several legal claims against Chrysler. Firstly, it accuses the company of violating Louisiana's redhibition laws by selling a product with hidden defects that substantially impair its value and use. Under these laws, the Daltons seek rescission of the sales contract—a return of their purchase price plus associated costs such as finance charges and insurance premiums—arguing they would not have bought the vehicle had they known about its flaws beforehand. Additionally, they claim violations under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act due to Chrysler's failure to honor written warranties guaranteeing repairs for material or workmanship defects within specified periods.
The Daltons are seeking various forms of relief from the court: rescission of their purchase agreement; reimbursement for all costs related to buying and maintaining the defective vehicle; compensation for diminished market value; damages for loss of use; civil penalties; punitive damages; mental anguish compensation; attorney fees; and other litigation expenses. They also demand a jury trial to resolve these matters.
Representing themselves legally is Richard C. Dalton from Scott, Louisiana. The case has been assigned Case ID 2:24-cv-02901 but does not yet list any presiding judges or attorneys representing FCA US LLC.