When car companies and parts suppliers design or manufacture defective products, affected consumers can seek to hold those companies accountable in court. Seeger Weiss’ storied automotive litigation practice represents plaintiffs across a broad range of cases, from parts recalls to design defects and emissions fraud, recovering billions of dollars for car owners and lessees.
Seeger Weiss has been involved in some of the nation’s most important automotive litigation. Our attorneys were critical to the success of the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, which held the car company to account for selling illegally polluting vehicles fitted with defeat devices to circumvent EPA emissions standards. Notably, founding partner Chris Seeger served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and helped negotiate the over $20 billion settlement – the largest consumer auto industry class action settlement ever. Seeger also served as lead counsel in the Mercedes-Benz Emissions Litigation, securing more than $2 billion to settle the company’s false “clean diesel” claims, including $700 million for affected consumers.
Seeger Weiss partners routinely hold leadership roles in some of the most noteworthy automotive lawsuits, and our firm represents thousands of customers all over the United States in litigation against major carmakers such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Subaru, and Volkswagen.
*Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
No one should suffer because a manufacturer chose its profits over your safety or the reliability of your vehicle. If you would like to speak to a professional regarding your rights, please fill out the free case evaluation form and an experienced member of Seeger Weiss’ staff will contact you. Initial consultations are free of charge and do not create a legal relationship.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Christopher Seeger was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, where he helped to negotiate the historic settlement, while Seeger Weiss partner Dave Buchanan also played a critical role in the ultimate success of this litigation.
In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., alleging four-cylinder VW and Audi diesel cars with model years 2009 – 2015 were equipped with computer software in their “Clean Diesel” cars to circumvent EPA emissions standards for air pollution. The EPA called it a “defeat device,” and an enforcement investigation was initiated. Customers who had purchased or driven in these vehicles unknowingly emitted more emissions and incurred higher fuel costs than they were led to believe by Volkswagen.
In the initial settlement, plaintiffs’ counsel secured an over $15 billion settlement, the largest consumer auto industry class action settlement in United States history. The settlement included $10 billion for affected consumers and an additional $4.7 billion to remediate environmental damage caused by the vehicles. Actions in subsequent years brought the settlement total to over $20 billion.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Christopher Seeger was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, where he played a key role in securing the settlement for consumers in the class-action lawsuit against Porsche and Volkswagen for falsifying emissions and fuel economy data.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys alleged that Porsche, which is owned by Volkswagen, physically altered the gears connecting the drive shaft and rear axle and manipulated the software installed in vehicles used in government tests to appear to perform more efficiently. The cars sold to customers did not contain these alterations. Swapping these parts deceived regulators and consumers alike for Porsche models sold in the U.S. from 2007-2017, leading customers to pay for features they did not receive, incur higher fuel costs, and make more frequent trips to the gas station.
In 2022, Christopher Seeger helped secure a settlement with Volkswagen and Porsche totaling a minimum of $80 million for thousands of consumers.
Christopher Seeger and Scott George of Seeger Weiss, together with co-counsel, were appointed Class Counsel for a nationwide settlement class of Land Rover owners and lessees.
The litigation alleged that certain 2013–2016 Range Rover Evoque, 2015–2017 Discovery Sport, and 2013–2015 Land Rover LR2 vehicles were built with a defectively designed turbocharger, welded from two separate cast pieces, that could loosen, jam, and fail prematurely, in some cases damaging the engine. Plaintiffs claimed Jaguar Land Rover knew of the defect and failed to disclose it to consumers.
Eligible class members can recover up to $3,750 in reimbursement for out-of-pocket turbocharger repair or replacement costs, and up to $12,000 for engine damage caused by turbo failure, along with an extension of Land Rover’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty covering future turbocharger and related engine repairs.
Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss serves as Class Counsel in both the Honda/Denso and Subaru/Denso fuel pump class actions, representing nationwide classes of vehicle owners and lessees alongside co-counsel.
Both cases alleged that certain Honda, Acura, and Subaru vehicles were equipped with low-pressure fuel pumps manufactured by Denso containing a plastic impeller that could absorb fuel and warp over time. A warped impeller can cause the fuel pump to fail, leading vehicles to stall, lose power, or fail to start while driving, posing a safety risk to drivers and passengers.
The Subaru settlement, covering roughly 2.3 million vehicles, provides a 15-year extended warranty for fuel pump replacement, reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket repair costs, and loaner or towing assistance. The Honda settlement, covering approximately 6.2 million Honda and Acura vehicles, received preliminary court approval in 2026 and provides substantially similar relief: a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty extension, reimbursement of repair costs, and free loaner vehicles during repairs.
Automotive litigation is a type of consumer protection litigation focused on legal issues stemming from the design, production, and sale of defective automobiles. Litigation may be needed to redress economic harms suffered by consumers, even if they have not yet suffered any personal injury.
Automotive claims are litigated differently depending on the type of misconduct, the nature of the underlying defect, and how widespread its effects are. Anyone who experiences any sort of injury based upon a defective product, even if only financial, may be eligible to bring an individual claim against the manufacturer. Oftentimes, because automobiles are sold to thousands, if not millions, of people, these cases can be organized as class action lawsuits to streamline legal proceedings and fully hold the companies accountable.
In a class action lawsuit, one or several plaintiffs file a lawsuit on behalf of a larger group of affected consumers and will seek to represent a class of similar purchasers or lessees. For example, drivers who were sold Volkswagen vehicles with “defeat devices” that allowed them to circumvent EPA emissions standards for air pollution were certified as a class in the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation.
Similarly Situated:
A class action lawsuit is brought by people who are in a similar situation. For example, in an auto class action, the group of plaintiffs all purchased the same vehicles or vehicles with the same defect and were likely injured economically because the safety or value of their vehicles compromised in the same manner in violation of a state or federal law.
Original Plaintiff Goes to Court:
This lawsuit begins when one or more people approach an auto defect lawyer about an issue, and as the investigation proceeds, the lawyer determines that a larger group of people were affected. Only the first lead plaintiff or plaintiffs go to court with his or her attorneys, but they will ask the court to permit them to represent all purchasers or lessees of the same vehicles. If a class is certified, everyone in the class will be benefitted whether through a settlement before trial or when a trial results in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff(s) and the class(es). Most class action lawsuits do not go to trial, but rather, are settled with court approval.
Amount of Settlement or Award:
Plaintiffs in class action lawsuits receive money based upon many factors, including the size of the class, the type of harm caused by the defect, and the amount of damages, such as out-of-pocket losses incurred or diminished vehicle value. The settlement or award may be given in a lump sum and divided amongst the plaintiffs based on certain criteria, or may be subject to a claims process. We discuss more on class action settlements and awards under, How Much Can I Get from a Class Action Lawsuit?
A design defect exists when the design of a product is inherently dangerous or does not function properly.
A manufacturing defect arises from errors in production that cause some of the items produced to not meet the manufacturer’s intended design. Oftentimes, manufacturing defects stem from flaws in the production process, such as using low-quality materials or relying on improper manufacturing techniques.
Our lawyers have fielded claims related to almost every type of manufacturing defect, including:
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
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