A class-action lawsuit filed in Texas federal court alleges that Stellantis and Lear Corporation concealed a defect in electric seat adjusters affecting roughly two million vehicles. The suit claims the powered front-seat height mechanism can collapse during rear-end collisions, potentially altering occupant positioning and compromising restraint system effectiveness.

Named in the lawsuit are the 2011-2023 Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300, plus the 2011-2017 Chrysler 200 and 2013-2016 Dodge Dart. Plaintiffs argue that forces during low-speed rear impacts concentrate on a weld in the seat adjuster mechanism, causing it to deform or fail. The suit alleges "mail and wire fraud" and claims the risk increases when seats are adjusted higher.

The engineering claims center on a conventional motor-and-gearbox system where the weld connecting the threaded shaft to a bracket is identified as the weak point. While the seat doesn't detach from the floor, the mechanism allegedly collapses downward during impact, potentially changing seat belt geometry and airbag alignment. Notably, the lawsuit cites no failed federal crash tests or recalls, relying instead on testing commissioned by plaintiffs' attorneys.