More Than 2 Million Dodge and Chrysler Vehicles Targeted in New Seat Design Lawsuit

A new lawsuit alleges that more than two million vehicles from Dodge and Chrysler have a defective seat design that can pose safety risks for drivers and passengers. The complaint, filed in federal court, claims that certain model years of the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300 and other vehicles suffer from seats that fail prematurely and can lead to pain, discomfort or even back problems for owners.

Key Points
FCA faces a lawsuit over alleged faulty electric seat-height adjusters in 2 million vehicles.
Plaintiffs claim the part may collapse in rear-end crashes, risking occupant safety.
The case seeks class-action status; outcome depends on crash-test data and regulatory response.
From One Courtroom to Another
Fresh off a win in court over Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat resale values, FCA US – the American side of Stellantis – is back in the legal hot seat. This time, it’s not about money or market trends. The focus is on a hardware issue that could impact driver and passenger safety.

A new class-action lawsuit says FCA and seat supplier Lear Corporation sold over 2 million vehicles with a faulty electric seat-height adjuster. According to the complaint, this part, found in several Dodge and Chrysler models, can collapse in certain rear-end crashes. If that happens, the seat could suddenly drop, shifting the occupant out of position with the car’s safety systems.

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The lawsuit calls this a design and testing failure, and says FCA and Lear didn’t warn buyers about the problem. The case is now in federal court in Texas.

What the Lawsuit Says
The heart of the lawsuit is a small part called the seat height adjuster bracket. This piece connects to the seat frame and raises or lowers the seat when you hit the switch. The complaint says the bracket – about the size of a stick of gum – can fail in a rear-end crash.

Here’s how it works: an electric motor spins a screw, moving a nut and bracket to raise or lower the seat. In crash tests run by the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the bracket reportedly broke during a 25-mph rear impact. That caused the seat to drop, potentially leaving occupants out of position for seat belts and airbags.

Vehicles listed in the complaint include:

2011–2023 Dodge Charger
2011–2023 Chrysler 300
2011–2023 Dodge Challenger
2011–2017 Chrysler 200
2013–2016 Dodge Dart

According to the legal filing, the seat foam and structure deteriorate far sooner than expected, even under normal use. The plaintiff argues that owners are left with seats that lose support and comfort and that automakers should have known about the problem before selling the vehicles. The lawsuit says the defect is widespread and that affected drivers should be compensated for what they consider to be substandard safety and comfort from their vehicles.

The complaint seeks to represent all owners of affected Dodge and Chrysler models in the United States. If the court certifies the case as a class action, owners of these vehicles could be eligible to join and have their claims heard together rather than in separate lawsuits. Attorneys for the plaintiff allege that the seat problem is not a minor annoyance but one that affects the value and usability of the vehicles.

Neither Stellantis nor the specific Dodge and Chrysler divisions have publicly responded to the filing. It is common in cases like this for manufacturers to review the complaint before issuing a statement or preparing a formal legal defense, which may take time as the case progresses through the court system.

This lawsuit adds to a string of recent legal challenges involving vehicle design and consumer expectations. Owners and prospective buyers of affected models will be watching the case closely to see whether it moves forward as a class action and what kind of resolution might be possible for those who feel their vehicles did not live up to quality standards.