A Virginia family’s dream truck lands them in federal court: When life gave them a lemon, they sued! | Breaking news

Written by: Sam Orlando

introduction:

ROANOKE, Va. – Ah, the allure of the American pickup truck. The 2022 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie 4×4 SUV has everything a truck fan could want: towing capacity, rugged looks, and — according to one Virginia family — according to a new federal lawsuit — a feature-rich collection of tech issues to keep you updated. With your affairs. toes. Because who wouldn’t want to pay just $82,351.82 for a truck with a faulty steering column and adventure radio?

the case:

Zachary Barrett Martin and Roger Barrett Martin of Salem, Virginia, took FCA US LLC, the manufacturer of their Dodge Ram, to… Court over claims that their “new” car turned out to be a lemon. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and raises two main issues: an alleged violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Virginia Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, colloquially known as the “Virginia Lemon Law.”

American tale:

You see, the Martins thought they had achieved the American dream when they took home a Dodge Ram on May 16, 2023. However, they claim that dream quickly turned into a legal education program that included visits to Berglund’s Chrysler Jeep of Roanoke for multiple rounds of “Let’s ‘Fix the truck!’

Oh details:

The lawsuit documents read like a mechanical horror story. Not one, not two, but several attempts were made to fix the steering column that made strange clicking noises, according to the complaint. Then there was the radio that strangely suggested looking for a fix. Just for fun, the Martins also had to deal with loose wheel bearings and a check engine light that was very committed to working, coming on several times.

Time off road:

The real zinger? The truck was out of service for 34 days due to repair attempts, forcing the Martins to rent the vehicles. Because everyone knows the best part of buying an $82,000 car is not driving it.

Claims and damages:

The Martins are seeking to recover the purchase price, $20,000 for inconvenience and loss of use, plus attorney’s fees and court costs. I mean, who wouldn’t want some form of compensation for inadvertently purchasing a six-figure legal headache?

The bigger picture:

This lawsuit not only highlights the Martins’ misfortune, but also raises questions about consumer protection and the effectiveness of warranties. And let’s not forget that there’s now a battle to see if Martin’s Dodge Ram is just a quirky anomaly or a blatant example of quality control that misses the mark.

Conclusion:

Since the Martinezes chose a jury trial, the fate of their lawsuit is uncertain. But one thing is clear: The Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4 is the gift that keeps on giving—if your definition of “gift” extends to steering problems, check engine lights, and a grand tour of the American legal system.