The 2023 Dodge Durango Hellcat is one of the most multi-faceted SUVs on the market but owners of the 2021 model year aren’t happy about it. They allege that Dodge violated consumer protection laws, consumer fraud laws, and is guilty of false advertising.
Unlike most of the SUVs on the market that make 700 or more horsepower, the Durango can fit seven people in it, tow up to 8,700 pounds, do 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, and costs less than $100,000. That’s a killer package that most of us are wildly excited about.
Their gripe comes down to the fact that Dodge returned the Durango Hellcat to production after saying that the 2021 version would be the only one. To be very clear, Dodge made zero bones about it. The 2021 model year was indeed touted as “only a single model year run.”
More: The Manual Returns To The 2023 Dodge Hellcat Challenger For One Final Year
That isn’t the only issue though because the quote above continued with the words “ensuring that it will be a very special, sought-after performance SUV for years to come.”
Somewhat understandably then, those same models aren’t anecdotally as valuable now that the Durango Hellcat came back out for the 2023 model year. To that end, 2021 Durango Hellcat buyers are alleging that Dodge pulled a “classic bait and switch” with the SUVs that they own says The Drive.
The actual lawsuit alleges a number of violations of state laws surrounding consumer protection and false advertising. The lawsuit paperwork makes it seem as though the plaintiffs are throwing everything they can at the wall with the hope that something actually sticks.
Keep in mind though that, most likely, they’ll have to prove that Dodge knew all along that it would reintroduce the Durango Hellcat for 2023 when it made the statements about the 2021 model. It’s certainly plausible but seems highly unlikely. For now, the assumedly-wealthy folks who originally purchased the 2021 Durango Hellcat will have to wait to see if they can squeeze some more cash out of the company that build the SUVs that they bought. We’ll keep an eye on this story as it develops.
