– A class action lawsuit against a Chrysler key programmer alleges that millions of vehicles in the U.S. are defective because criminals break windows and illegally use key programmers to steal the vehicles.
The illegal use of main programmers is a serious problem nationwide, but as long as there are criminals willing to use legal means illegalthe problem has remained for many car manufacturers and vehicle owners.
It is similar to a standard hammer that can be used to build a nice house, or to hit someone in the head illegally. Except in this case, criminals use legitimate key programming devices in illegal ways to steal the vehicles. And vehicle owners claim it’s Chrysler’s fault.
Instead of filing a lawsuit against the criminals who break windows and steal vehicles, the lawsuit blames Fiat Chrysler, claiming millions of vehicles are “defective.”
The 393-page class action lawsuit alleging theft of Chrysler key programmers includes millions of 2012-2024 Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles equipped with Sentry Key Engine Immobilizer Systems (SKIS) and push-button ignition systems.
This includes popular models such as the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The class action lawsuit against Chrysler’s key programmer alleges that the vehicles have a “serious safety defect: the anti-theft and ignition systems are easily bypassed by novice thieves and do not meet federal and industry safety standards.”
This argument is similar to hundreds of lawsuits filed against Hyundai and Kia over a lack of “engine immobilizers” in all but Chrysler vehicles Are equipped with immobilizers.
Hundreds of individual, state government and class action lawsuits failed to blame the teenage criminals, instead placing all the blame on Hyundai and Kia.
In Hyundai’s case, teenage criminals broke windows, destroyed steering columns and removed ignition switches to steal the vehicles. Those teens recorded their crimes, posted the videos online and “challenged” other teens across the country to do the same. It became known as the “Kia Challenge.”
Many of these car thefts resulted in fatalities, and in some cases the parents of the murdered teenage criminals sued Hyundai and Kia, claiming the vehicles were defective because they did not have immobilizers, technology that is not required in the US.
In another lawsuit, a Hyundai owner sued the automaker after she was shot in the chest by criminals who stole her Hyundai Elantra.
The Chrysler theft class action lawsuit says the vehicles Doing have immobilizers, but the vehicles can still be stolen. In fact, the vehicle owners who filed the class action complain that they believed the vehicles could not be stolen as long as the keys were removed, the windows were closed and the vehicles were locked.
According to the lawsuit against key programmers of Fiat Chrysler (FCA), FCA concealed from consumers the fact that the vehicles could be stolen.
The key programmer’s class action claims that Chrysler not only concealed the alleged defects, but also allegedly made a “calculated decision to prioritize profits over the safety and security of their customers’ vehicles.”
Even though the vehicles met or exceeded all federal safety standards when they were sold, or otherwise could not have been sold, the plaintiffs allege the opposite and allege that the vehicles violate federal standards.
Below are the Fiat Chrysler customers who filed the class action lawsuit alleging theft of key programmers, but note that several customers who filed the stolen vehicle lawsuit never had their vehicles stolen.
Cicely Tegeler / Arizona / 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (no theft)
Burton Way Investments, LLC / California / 17 vehicles (no theft)
Jeremy Mora / California / 2021 Ram 2500 (thief broke out a window and stole the vehicle on June 13, 2024)
Paul Soberano / California / 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (thief broke open the rear window and stole the vehicle on December 8, 2023)
Wanya Warren / Pennsylvania / 2016 Dodge Challenger (thief stole the vehicle on March 20, 2022)
Mark Pfeifer / Florida / 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee (no theft)
Aron Wozniak / Florida / 2023 Dodge Charger (no theft)
Emmanuel Turcotte / Florida / 2024 Ram TRX (thief broke a window and stole the vehicle on April 4, 2024)
Emma Pire / Georgia / 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4XE (no theft)
Joseph Curb / Illinois / 2020 Dodge Charger (thief stole the vehicle on November 2, 2022)
Dawn Gibbs-Allen / Illinois / 2021 Ram 1500 (no theft)
Christian Keating / Missouri / 2023 Dodge Challenger (thief broke a window and stole the vehicle on May 11, 2024)
Michelle Laskowsk / Illinois / 2021 Dodge Durango SRT (thief stole the vehicle on December 10, 2023)
Katrina O’Connor / Illinois / 2016 Dodge Charger R/T (thief stole the vehicle on September 2, 2020)
Aric White / Illinois / 2017 Dodge Challenger R/T (thieves broke the windows and stole the vehicle twice, on September 2, 2020 and September 4, 2022)
Narciso Maldonado / Illinois / 2018 Dodge Durango (Thieves broke the windows and stole the vehicle twice, on October 10, 2022 and February 28, 2024)
Anthony Spangle / Indiana / 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee (no theft)
Walter Kwak / Indiana / 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee (no theft)
Garrett Pfeifer / Maryland / 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 (no theft)
Michael Bush / Michigan / 2018 Jeep Wrangler (no theft)
Daniel Chandler / Michigan / 2016 Dodge Challenger (thief stole the vehicle on February 12, 2024)
Labraun Crayto / Michigan / Jeep Grand Cherokee (thief stole the vehicle in February 2024)
Tamara Darby / Michigan / 2016 Chrysler 300S (thief stole the vehicle on January 29, 2024)
Ivy Stryker / Michigan / 2020 Dodge Charger (thieves attempted to steal the vehicle on December 13, 2022, but failed)
Leslie Wilczewski / Michigan / 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (thief broke a window and stole the vehicle on December 22, 2023)
Doug Yarringto / Missouri / 2021 Dodge Charger (thief broke a window and stole the vehicle on February 20, 2024)
Larry Cole / California / 2019 Dodge Charger (thief stole the vehicle on September 1, 2023)
Joyce Jones / New Jersey / 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee (no theft)
Carl Patelli / New York / 2022 Dodge Challenger (thief broke a window and stole the vehicle on December 8, 2023)
Charles Zimmerschied / Oregon / 2021 Dodge Challenger (no theft)
Cameron Cardin / Texas / 2022 Dodge Durango (thief stole the vehicle on March 6, 2024)
Andrew Morill / Illinois / 2019 Dodge Charger (thief stole the vehicle on March 1, 2023)
Jenna Forster / New Jersey / 2015 Dodge Charger (thief stole the vehicle on June 28, 2024)
The class action lawsuit alleging theft of a Chrysler key programmer was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Michigan: Ivy Stryker et al., v. FCA US LLC, et al.
The plaintiffs are represented by Simon Law Firm, PC, Berardi and Associates LLC, Fegan Scott LLC, Gray Ritter Graham and Olsman MacKenzie Peacock.
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