Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler Lemon Law Claims in California

Is my Jeep's death wobble a lemon law case?

It can be, if the wobble is a warranty-covered condition that persists after a reasonable number of repair attempts, because a violent front-end oscillation plainly affects safety. The phenomenon, a rapid shaking of the front axle and steering after hitting a bump at highway speed, has been widely reported in solid-front-axle Jeeps and was the subject of a class action that FCA settled, with the settlement providing free replacement of a failed front suspension steering damper for 8 years or 90,000 miles on covered vehicles.

Here is the distinction that matters: a free damper is a repair, not a refund. If your Jeep keeps coming back with the same complaint after repairs, the Song-Beverly Act's refund-or-replace remedy under Civil Code section 1793.2(d)(2) is still on the table.

What Stellantis problems show up most in lemon law claims?

Three patterns dominate the public record:

• Uconnect infotainment faults. Class action litigation alleges that the Uconnect systems in certain Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler vehicles freeze, reboot, and lose navigation, audio, and Bluetooth. Screens that also host the backup camera raise the stakes. We break down how to document these in our guide to Stellantis infotainment and software faults.
• Stalling and loss of power. Recalls in recent years have addressed engine stall conditions, including a recall of about 131,700 model year 2021 Ram 1500 trucks with the 5.7 liter eTorque powertrain for software that could cause stalling, and a recall of more than 24,000 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids after a flawed over-the-air update could cause a sudden loss of propulsion.
• Death wobble. The front suspension issue described above, reported mainly in Wrangler and Gladiator models.

Recall repairs, TSB repairs, and ordinary warranty visits all count toward the repair-attempt math. So do days waiting for backordered parts.

Has Stellantis opted in to the AB 1755 procedures?

Yes. As of July 6, 2026, the DCA's published list shows FCA US LLC, the Stellantis company behind Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler, elected in to the AB 1755 procedures on April 25, 2025. Ford and General Motors are also on the list, while Toyota and Honda are not. The list is published by the Department of Consumer Affairs at dca.ca.gov, and elections bind for five years, so FCA's election runs into 2030.

Manufacturers can elect in at any time, so check the current DCA list when your claim starts.

Why it matters: because FCA US has elected in, the procedures at Code of Civil Procedure sections 871.20 through 871.30 impose a filing deadline of one year after the warranty expires, capped at six years from original delivery, plus a 30-day pre-suit notice to preserve civil penalties and mandatory mediation. For a manufacturer that has not opted in, the older rules apply, with a longer limitations period and no notice or mediation gate. Our AB 1755 hub explains both tracks.

How many chances does the dealer get to fix my Ram?

A reasonable number, and the Tanner presumption in Civil Code section 1793.22 gives concrete benchmarks: within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, two or more repair attempts for a defect that could cause death or serious injury, four or more for the same nonconformity, or a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days out of service. A stalling complaint is the kind of safety defect where two documented attempts can be enough. And a claim can succeed without meeting any benchmark; the presumption is a floor, not a ceiling.

What does a Stellantis buyback involve?

A repurchase from FCA US typically runs through a written demand with your complete repair history, evaluation by the manufacturer's customer care or repurchase group, a written offer stating the refund and the mileage offset, and a surrender appointment at a dealership where the vehicle is returned, the lender is paid off, and your check is issued. The refund must include your down payment, your monthly payments, official fees, and incidental damages like towing and rental cars. California law also requires the title of the reacquired vehicle to be branded as a lemon law buyback.

The mileage offset under Civil Code section 1793.2(d)(2)(C) is the only lawful deduction: miles at the first repair attempt divided by 120,000, times the price paid. On a $61,000 Ram first serviced for the defect at 8,400 miles, that is 0.07 times $61,000, a $4,270 deduction. You can estimate your buyback with our calculator.

What if FCA refuses or delays?

A willful failure to comply exposes the manufacturer to a civil penalty of up to twice your actual damages under Civil Code section 1794(c), and fee-shifting under section 1794(d) puts a prevailing consumer's attorney fees on the manufacturer. Because the opted-in procedures apply to FCA claims, the 30-day notice has to be sent correctly or the penalty can be lost, which is a detail worth getting professional help with.

Owners weighing brands can compare our GM guide and Ford guide, both manufacturers that also opted in, or start at the California lemon law pillar for the fundamentals.