Chrysler & Jeep Sudden Stopping

Chrysler & Jeep Loss of Drive from Incomplete Transmission Weld

Did your Chrysler Pacifica or Jeep Cherokee suddenly stop moving, causing you to crash your car? If you were hurt, call the Law Offices of Jason Turchin today at (800) 337-7755. Florida Products Liability attorney Jason Turchin handles a wide range of automotive defects that result in injury to drivers and passengers, and he wants to help you with your claim too.

When you are driving, the last thing you expect is for your car to suddenly stop without warning. If the transmission weld fails, however, your car could potentially stop moving due to a manufacturing defect, seriously increasing the risk of crash and injury to not only you, but others on the road as well.

The Incomplete Transmission Weld

Chrysler issued a recall in September 2018, notifying owners of the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and the 2019 Jeep Cherokee that a component in the transmission may have been improperly welded, which could cause the transmission not to transmit engine torque to the wheels. If engine power cannot reach the wheels, they will stop turning, which in turn would cause the vehicle to come to a stop moving at any given time.

If your car suddenly loses motive function and stops, the impact from a crash could be catastrophic and you could be severely injured.

Common injuries from sudden impact may include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Blunt force trauma to the head and body
• Spinal cord injury
• Fractures
• Lacerations
• Internal bleeding
• Death

Liability of the Manufacturer for a Defect

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product deviates from its intended purpose and is assembled in a way that is dangerous to consumers. The transmission of a car is designed so that it transmits engine torque to the drivetrain. Torque is the twisting force that causes rotation to the wheels. If the transmission is assembled in a way that prevents the transmission to transmit torque to the wheels, it is dangerous to consumers and may constitute a manufacturing defect.

A plaintiff who is hurt due to an incomplete transmission weld may be able to hold Chrysler, the manufacturer of the defective vehicles, liable for damages if he or she can prove either:

• That the transmission as assembled is unsafe. This is called strict liability, which exists when a defendant committed an action, regardless of the defendant’s intent or mental state at the time the action took place.
• That Chrysler breached its duty of care to consumers to build a transmission using reasonable care. This is negligence, which exists when a defendant’s failure to use reasonable care results in harm to another person.
• That she had a reasonable expectation that the transmission was functioning properly, and more importantly that the car would not suddenly stop moving under otherwise normal conditions. This is known as breach of implied warranty of merchantability. In other words, the manufacturer or seller has guaranteed that the product will function the way it is intended, and the consumer has that expectation when purchasing such a product. For instance, a reasonable person would not buy a car if she expected it to stop without warning while driving.

If you suffered injury in a crash due to your Chrysler Pacifica or Jeep Cherokee’s sudden and unexpected loss of motor function, don’t hesitate to call us. Jason Turchin is an experienced products liability attorney in Florida, who has handled many claims involving injuries resulting from automotive defects. Call us today at (800) 337-7755 to get started on your products liability claim. It’s always a free consultation!

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