Paciucci v. FCA Canada: Fiat 500 Door Handle Settlement

The notice defines the class by where the vehicle was purchased or leased and the vehicle’s model year. It does not limit the class to a particular trim line.

• You must have purchased or leased a Fiat 500 in Quebec.
• The vehicle must be a 2012 through 2019 model year. All trim lines are included.

The free repair program is for an existing door-handle problem tied to the Door Handle Issue. A dealership inspection determines whether the vehicle qualifies for repair.

• The program addresses a door handle or door-locking-mechanism problem that makes a handle jam, break, or detach.
• It does not pay for preventative inspections or repairs when there is not a current covered issue.

A claim form is not described for a current repair through an FCA dealership. The important step is to arrange the inspection before coverage ends.

• Make an appointment with an FCA dealership before the coverage period ends if a door handle is not working properly.
• The dealership will inspect the vehicle. If it finds an eligible problem, it will repair it at no cost.
• There is no stated limit on the number of repair-program claims during the coverage period.

The repair-program end date depends on the vehicle’s in-service date. The notice says the inspection must take place before the applicable coverage period ends.

• Coverage normally lasts 10 years from the vehicle’s in-service date.
• If the vehicle was already more than 10 years old when the notices were sent, coverage instead remains available until June 11, 2027.

Do not assume an outside repair will be covered simply because a dealership is far away. The notice requires prior administrator approval for this option.

• You may be able to use another repair shop if the nearest FCA dealership is more than 150 km from where you live.
• The other shop must be within 150 km of your home.
• Get approval from the Claims Administrator before having that repair done. The administrator will explain the reimbursement process.

The two benefits can be combined, as long as you meet the separate requirements for each one.

• Yes. You can use the repair program for a current eligible problem and also request reimbursement for eligible repair or replacement costs you already paid.
• Using one benefit does not take away the right to seek the other.

Reimbursement is for costs already incurred, not a flat payment. The repair must relate to the Door Handle Issue.

• You can seek parts, labour, and tax costs previously paid to repair or replace door handles because of the Door Handle Issue.
• Repairs can have been completed at any repair facility.
• The notice states no maximum amount for one repair and no limit on the number of repairs or replacement parts claimed.

A reimbursement claim needs more than a statement that a repair happened. The notice calls the repair and payment records “Supporting Documentation.”

• Submit the reimbursement claim online or by mail by June 11, 2027. The notice gives the online deadline as 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
• Include the VIN and model year, contact information, when the problem first occurred, repair and payment records, a sworn statement that FCA has not already reimbursed the costs, and payment details.
• You can choose Interac e-Transfer or request a cheque.

If the administrator considers a claim incomplete or incorrect, it will contact you. You then have 30 days to correct the problem before a final decision is made.

• You may ask for the claim to be held for up to 30 days while you look for a missing VIN or supporting records.
• You may give additional repair details if supporting records are missing.
• You may ask the Claims Administrator to check FCA or FCA-dealership records for repairs performed at an FCA dealership.
• The notice does not say when a claim without supporting documentation will ultimately be approved.

The notice does not provide a specific payment date or say what percentage may be withheld.

• Approved reimbursement claims will be paid after the one-year claim period ends.
• Payment will be sent by Interac e-Transfer unless you requested a cheque.
• For claims brought by Quebec residents, the Fonds d’aide aux actions collectives may withhold a percentage under its regulation.