Published
July 6, 2026
If you drive a Charger, Challenger, Chrysler 300, 200 or Dart with power seats, this suit is about a part you never think about — the bracket that raises and lowers the seat — and what the plaintiffs say happens to it in a rear crash.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes a class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. FCA US LLC has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
FCA US — the Stellantis subsidiary that makes Dodge and Chrysler vehicles — is facing a proposed class action alleging that the electric seat-height adjuster in about 2 million of its cars is defective and can collapse in a rear-end collision, potentially at speeds as low as roughly 25 mph.The case is captioned Alexander v. FCA US LLC and was filed on February 5, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The named plaintiffs, Richard Alexander and Evelyn Alexander, bring the suit against FCA US and seat-component supplier Lear Corporation. FCA has not been found liable, and the claims remain unproven.
Status
Complaint Filed
Proposed class action · Alexander v. FCA US LLC · N.D. Tex. · Filed February 5, 2026
Allegation
Seat-height adjuster can collapse in a low-speed rear crash
Suit says a bracket in the power seat-height mechanism can deform in rear impacts as low as ~25 mph across ~2M vehicles
Can I Claim?
No — nothing to claim yet
No settlement, no fund, no claim form at this stage
What the Lawsuit Alleges
Many FCA vehicles offer a power seat that a driver or passenger can raise or lower with a switch. According to the complaint, the mechanism that adjusts the seat height relies on a bracket that the plaintiffs allege is not strong enough to keep the seat stable in a crash. The suit alleges that in certain rear-end collisions, that bracket can deform or collapse, allowing the seat to move rearward — a movement that safety engineers generally associate with an increased risk of occupant injury because it can change how a seat belt and head restraint protect a person.The plaintiffs allege the problem can occur even in relatively low-speed impacts, including collisions at speeds around 25 mph. The complaint frames the case as more than a simple design-defect claim: it alleges that FCA US and Lear knew about the alleged weakness and did not disclose it to buyers, and it pleads federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims alongside breach of warranty, fraud, and unjust enrichment. As with any complaint, these are allegations only; no court has found that the seat design is defective or that either company concealed anything.
Which Vehicles Are Named?
According to the complaint, the affected vehicles are FCA models equipped with the power seat-height adjuster, covering roughly 2 million cars:• 2011–2023 Dodge Charger
• 2011–2023 Dodge Challenger
• 2011–2023 Chrysler 300
• 2011–2017 Chrysler 200
• 2013–2016 Dodge Dart
No class has been certified, so the exact vehicle and model-year list is not final and could change as the case proceeds. As with any complaint-stage case, a vehicle appearing on this list does not mean a specific car has experienced a problem — it means the model is within the group the plaintiffs are seeking to represent.
Is There an FCA Seat Settlement Yet?
No. This is a lawsuit, not a settlement.That means:
• There is no settlement fund.
• There is no claim form.
• There is no payout, and no deadline to act.
• Owners do not need to do anything in the lawsuit at this stage.
The filing of a complaint is the start of a case, not the end. FCA US has not been found liable simply because a lawsuit was filed. If the case is ever resolved through a settlement, or a class is certified, a formal claims process with its own eligibility rules and deadlines would be announced separately.
Who Could Be Affected?
The proposed class covers current and former owners and lessees of the named Dodge and Chrysler vehicles with the power seat-height adjuster. Because the case is at the complaint stage, the class definition is not final and could change.If you own one of these vehicles, it may be worth keeping your ownership documents and any records of seat-related repairs or concerns in case a class is later certified or the case settles. If you have a safety concern about your specific vehicle, you can check for open recalls by entering your VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup and report a safety problem to NHTSA. There is nothing to file in the lawsuit right now.
Why This Case Matters
The suit targets some of FCA's best-known nameplates — the Charger, Challenger, and 300 — and folds a familiar seat-safety debate into an aggressive RICO framing that alleges coordinated concealment. It sits alongside a wave of complaint-stage auto-defect cases moving through the courts, including the Toyota UA80 transmission class actions, the GM 6.2L V8 L87 engine failure lawsuit, and the Honda Odyssey airbag class action. Many of these cases turn on the same questions: what the automaker knew, when, and what it owes owners for an alleged defect.What Happens Next?
From here, the case moves through the early stages of federal litigation. FCA US and Lear may answer the complaint or move to dismiss — the RICO claims in particular often draw early dismissal motions — the parties may exchange information in discovery, and the plaintiffs would eventually ask the court to certify the proposed class. Any of these steps can take months to years, and the case could be amended, narrowed, or resolved along the way.OpenClassActions.com will continue watching the docket for major updates, including a motion to dismiss ruling, class certification activity, any related recall, or a future settlement or claim form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an FCA seat-height adjuster settlement yet?
No. Alexander v. FCA US LLC is a proposed class action filed on February 5, 2026 in the Northern District of Texas. There is no fund, no claim form, and no deadline. FCA US has not been found liable.What does the lawsuit allege?
The complaint alleges the power seat-height adjuster in about 2 million Dodge and Chrysler vehicles has a bracket that can deform or collapse in low-speed rear crashes, and that FCA US and supplier Lear knew about the alleged defect and did not disclose it. The allegations are unproven.Which vehicles are covered?
The suit names 2011–2023 Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 models, 2011–2017 Chrysler 200 models, and 2013–2016 Dodge Dart models with the power seat-height adjuster. No class has been certified, so this could change.Do I need to file a claim?
No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim and no deadline. Keep your ownership and repair records. If a class is later certified or a settlement is reached, a claims process and deadlines would be announced separately.Sources
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas — docket for Alexander v. FCA US LLC (filed February 5, 2026), via CourtListener: CourtListener Docket Search• Carscoops — "Stellantis Seat Adjuster Lawsuit" (Dodge/Chrysler seat-height class action): Carscoops
• NHTSA — Recalls & safety-issue reporting (check your VIN and report a problem): NHTSA Recalls
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Status
Complaint Filed — Proposed Class Action
Case Title
Alexander v. FCA US LLC
Defendants
FCA US LLC · Lear Corporation
Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
Date Filed
February 5, 2026
Claims
RICO · breach of warranty · fraud · unjust enrichment
Official Court Page
CourtListener Docket
