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Dodge Back in Court over SRT Hellcat Durango
When Dodge announced that it would drop a 710-hp supercharged Hellcat V-8 into the Durango, we were glad to see the engine finding a home in a new application. We loved that powerplant in its smaller platform mate, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, where it made a measly 707 hp. Touted as a limited-production, one-year-only offering for 2021, the Hellcat Durango sold out almost immediately. Some of those buyers are still locked in a class-action court battle over Dodge’s claims of its limited-production status.
At the time, Dodge thought tightening emissions standards would mean they’d have to shelve the Hellcat engine for the 2022 model year, making the 2021 Durango the last hurrah for a 700-plus-horsepower Mopar SUV. After going on hiatus for the 2022 model year, it was back for 2023. And 2024. They’re currently offering three versions of the Hellcat Durango for 2025.
Although the stay of execution was good for most horsepower junkies, some of those initial 2021 Durango SRT buyers weren’t happy that the supposedly one-year-only run had been resurrected for three more years of production. In 2023, seven of buyers filed a class-action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, armed with videos and statements from Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis stating the brand’s plan to build the Hellcat SUV for just one year. That legal battle seemed to show signs of a settlement, but the defendants are back in court again according to an article by CarComplaints.com.
Dodge’s defense hangs on the fact that the buyers did not necessarily base their purchase on the vehicle’s supposed rarity, or treat their SRT Durangos like a prized investment stored away for safe keeping. Have there been any 2021 Hellcat Durangos for sale recently with single-digit odometer readings? There’s also the understanding that vehicle manufacturers change product plans frequently and rarely comment on future products. There’s a lot of flux in the industry, after all. The big factor for us seems to be the existence of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. If there hadn’t already been a Hellcat-powered Mopar SUV, then a single year of Durango production might have been a bigger deal.
The seven defendants represent approximately 0.2 percent of the roughly 3000 Hellcat Durangos produced for the 2021 model year, and we’re finding it difficult to sympathise too much when they’re upset that Dodge didn’t stop Hellcat production. As we often remind our readers, especially when talking about cars that may increase in value like those we mention in our Bull Market list, it’s usually better to buy something that you’ll enjoy owning and hope that the experience is worth the cost rather than to simply expect a big return. Regardless, those defendants do seem to have some bargaining power and will likely come out with something to show for their time in court.
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That’s a dumb thing to sue over. If you offer something as a limited run and it sells like hotcakes, any businessperson with two brain cells to rub together is going to make more
I was told years ago by an old fella. “Anything marketed as collectable / limited / special edition etc in fact is the opposite”.
What a ridiculous claim that a special edition car isn’t special.
What a bunch of dweebs. I’d throw the case out and charge the plaintiffs with waste if court resources
Wow, commenter’s seem a little jealous!! You can see the ads online. Plaintiffs definitely have a case. There is a facegroup with several hundred people who will immediately file/join a class action lawsuit. Trying to read anything into the sales number is a fools game.
It really isn’t jealousy – it’s more that (a) cars are meant to be driven (in my opinion) and not hidden in garages and traded like stock, and (b) if the thing is selling, they are going to sell more, every time, without question. Anyone wrapped up in this lawsuit ignored both of above
I’d be interested in seeing how they try to quantify damages. They would need to be able to show what the value would have been had there been only one year of 3,000 Hellcat Durangos. 3,000 isn’t exactly a small number, and that doesn’t even account for the Jeeps already in existence. Given even low-volume doesn’t guarantee value, the damages part of the claim is going to be a hill to climb. Ultimately, the lawyers will win, getting 40% of the “go away” money Dodge offers in the settlement.
Owners of ‘75 and ‘76 GM convertibles tried that when GM said those would be the “last” convertibles made. In 1986 the Corvette was available as a convertible again and many other GM models soon followed. As they always say most cars are NOT good long term investments. But cry babies still buy them as such and cry.
To the best of my understanding, “ collectibles “ are always at the very least a bit of a gamble. What would prompt anyone to be upset when a manufacturer “hits the mark” with a new product and decides to keep it going?
This particular legal effort just validates my cynical old man perspective that there is someone who will sue over anything.
What’s next… weather?
Well, if memory serves, people have sued over weather forecasts.
Maybe law schools are over-producing?
Any “investment” is a win or loose situation. Cry babies who figure on a win are the same ones who play the lottery and go to Vegas to make money. The 21s are a limited production. It wasn’t reintroduced until 23. Make the plaintiffs pay Dodges legal fees and the lawyers eat their own fees. I hope Dodge doesn’t settle just to save money and make it go away.
Unfortunately, standing for principal can bankrupt a defense. And being a for-profit company, it’s all about the bottom $$. In the jury’s eyes it’s usually little guy vs big company, so it’s rare when the verdict doesn’t side with the consumer. The company will go the less expensive route practically every time.
It’s probably more about the limited production “markup” than the production numbers. Anyone recall the 1990 ZR1 $40k over list and the resulting fights?
It’s a frivolous lawsuit to me. Also it’s a Dodge. Sure it could be collectible but it was never going to be some ultra-rare a few hundred at the most kind of vehicle. The case needs to be tossed.
Glad they kept on making them. Should have bought them for good reasons like to drive them. Dealerships are always looking for ways to maximize their profit, that’s how they stay around which this Dodge probably helped them out. But maybe Dodge can help them out with things like new tires which if they drive it like it’s meant to be they have a need.
Lawyers will be the only winners
Dealers can’t have double standards. Nobody should!!!!
This goes for everything in life. Only say what you are going to do. Don’t say one thing and do another.
No sides taken here just facts!!!
If you do you must pay the consequences!!!!
They said the same thing about my 2018 Demon.
I hope they get slapped down, and hard.