Cummins class action

Just got a card in the mail telling me there's a class action suit pertaining to a crack in the engine block in 1998-2001 pattern 53, 5.9 cummins engines in Dodge pickups. It claims a crack develops on the passenger side of the block and leaks coolant. The Cummins owner can file a claim if the engine has more than 100,000 miles but less than 250,000 miles on the engine. If the suit is successful, up to $500 will be paid to go towards replacing the block. Anyone heard about this? I'm throwing the card in the wastebasket because mine has more than 250,000 miles, and I'm not supporting some class action suit that earns the attorneys millions while I would just get UP TO $500. $500 sounds like a mere pittance compared to the real cost of replacing the block. Jim

i got one of those also and trashed it,I think these class action suits are getting way out of hand.

I haven't seen that one specifically, but by ignoring it you are supporting it. The lawyers will just keep your share.

There should be a note about specifically asking to be excluded. You have to send a letter to someone. This does two things: (1) it preserves your right to go against Cummins on your own if you do have a problem and (2) it makes the lawyers remove you from the "class".

I got one in the mail a few days ago. I think taht truck is in a couple thousand pieces now though HAHAHA. $500 bucks isn't worth the time of folling with it if you have already had to replace the block and bought all the parts new including the block if you couldn't get a used one. If you paid someone to do it $500 won't cover the labor.

Looks like this card is merely a first notification. If I want to continue I need to request a claim form and if I read it right I hace to have a cracked block before I file the claim form.

Have any of you guys even heard of this crack happening in the first place? Jim

(quoted from post at 10:03:57 11/04/11) Looks like this card is merely a first notification. If I want to continue I need to request a claim form and if I read it right I hace to have a cracked block before I file the claim form.

Have any of you guys even heard of this crack happening in the first place? Jim

Click to expand...

Yeah, I have heard of the crack, I guy I know got his early 24 valve replaced under warranty because of it, it is really not a bad crack and I think it could have been fixed by someone who knew what they were doing with Ni-rod and some heat. I didn`t think it was common enough for a class action, it probably is not. Some lawyer makes a million and 32 people get $500 :roll:

Would $500 even cover the gaskets?

I got one as well. The topic of 'porous blocks' has been on the radar for Dodge owners for some time. Having put 170,000 miles on it I figure mine is OK. There did appear to be a time limit for claims. I tossed mine in the glove box JUST IN CASE. I can read it while waiting for the tow truck.

The problem is that you have to opt-out of these kinds of suits in order to really not be included. When you do that, the pot gets bigger for everybody that doesn't opt out. Regardless, the law firm that brings the suit gets millions while everybody else gets virtually nothing.

I stand corrected - - the lawyers here will only get an amount not to exceed $750,000. Not even a million. First one I have seen that low!!
Link to claim site

Fixerupper, my brother has a white 140 that had the same problem, cummins said the know about the problem and they said we aren't going to do anything about it.sooooooo @ $4000.00 plus the tractor has a new engine. maybe this is alot bigger problem than we think.cummins is getting off cheep i think everyone who had this problem should get the $500.00 just 2 cents, chuck

Cummins had a problem with just what was known as the "53" block. Years back it was an issue, but I haven't seen one with a problem in years now.

Interesting. It was about that time that I occasionally drove a brand new Freightliner FL70 single axle fuel truck. It was a nice simple truck. Air ride, 6 speed synchronized, 210 HP to compete with the ubiquitous DT466. Was I surprised to learn it was the little 5.9! It kept up, but was working its heart out. We couldn't figure out where the coolant was going. You could smell it, but never saw a sign of it. I don't remember how, but finally it was learned it sprayed coolant out of the block when hot, onto the back of the exhaust manifold, vaporizing it! Off it went to Freightliner and Cummins for a new block.

53 blocks are mainly seen in 99 model trucks but I've seen them in 98's to 01's. they were about all gone by 02 I think. They will crack on the driver side of the motor towards the front most of the time. That happens to be where the number 53 is cast into the side of the block as well. In betweed the injection pump and the vac./ps pump. I would guess if you have over 150k you shouldn't have much to worry about.

Well that's interesting because on the postcard I was sent they claim Cummins "strongly denies these claims". Uhhuh! Jim

If people remember the lack of honor at the Dodge company, in not correcting their problems, perhaps the sale of Dodge products will suffer to the point that they will find a motive to make their issues right. How much Stimulus did Ford recieve? If I hadn't learned a long time ago that Dodge makes a terrible truck, I would be very upset to hear that the company that sold a defective engine will not correct their problem, but, like I said, I don't expect enough from Dodge to get disappointed.

$500. is a joke. I suppose you have to take it to their dealer and pay all of the other costs then have $500. reduced from your bill?

For more on the problem check this out

http://www.locknstitch.com/dodge_truck_cummins_block_crack.htm

Owen, thanks for the link. It puts me a little more at ease now that I know what causes it. I'll have to take a flashlight and see if I can find a 53 on the block-if it's even visible.

As for the "Dodge puts out junk" issue, this is a Cummins issue and it doesn't look like the issue lasted long before it was alleviated. Jim

I remember a few years ago when McDonalds had a monopoly game going and whatever the hired accounting company was that was hired to oversee the thing, pulled a fast one and was skimming off of the game or something like that. McDonalds caught wind of it and went to the authorities, whom looked into it, and sure enough. They asked McDonalds to keep the game going until they could build a case, so McDonalds did. When the authorities announced that they were going to make the move to bust, McDonalds cancelled the game. That triggered a class action lawsuit, brought by a lawyer in Cook County, IL, because Cook County, IL, is said to be one of the highest payout locations in the nation, and it only takes 4 people to trigger a class action lawsuit, one of which the attorney is NOT supposed to be, but was in that case. I remember that lawyer being interviewed on the radio when he did that. Whatever became of that? He was probably paid to shut up and drop it to save far more money from litigating the case in the long run.

Every now and then while minding my own business, I will get a card in the mail, telling me that I am part of a class action lawsuit, because someone that I never heard or or met is looking out for my best interest, whether I like it or not, netting me pennies if I agree and the good hearted lawyers million$, just for little ol' unknowing me. Too bad we don't have the good old days when guys wore holstered sidearms and could just as easily call someone out into the street to walk off ten paces, turn, and get it over with for some stranger that involved himself in the wrong place one too many times.

53 block? Will have to go look in the daylight tomorrow to see if I shuld be expecting a leak, I guess. Thanks for the heads up on that anyway.

Mark

Have to disagree with you on the Dodge truck issue respectively. I work for Cummins and we have a 91 250 with a Cummins in it. Runs like a top with no problem what so ever. Hauls possibly double its rated pay load every now and then when we put QSK19's in the back and take it to the warehouse. And that's a 20 year old truck...

Yep. I also got one. filed for later reference. My Dodge has not had ant such problem.

I was fortunate to talk with one of the engineers at Grob, who cast the engine blocks for Cummins. The defect was due to a faulty casting mold, one of several they used. Most of the blocks they made were not defective.

Grob paid a very large sum to Cummins to support the warranty claims, which put the company near bankruptcy. They have since recovered and doing well now in Bluffton, Ohio.

Gene