Dodge has successfully defended itself in a lawsuit brought by owners of the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat who claimed their SUVs lost value after the model returned to production two years later. Owners argued they were misled into believing the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat would be a one-year, 3,000-unit run, a promise that justified paying steep premiums. Some plaintiffs reportedly spent as much as $114,225 – expecting their SUVs to become future collectibles. Instead, average resale values plummeted by $40,000 as production of the Durango SRT Hellcat continued.
Why Owners Took Dodge to Court
Dodge
When the Durango SRT Hellcat launched for the 2021 model year, Dodge positioned it as a final, limited run for the supercharged SUV. Production sold out quickly, fueled by hype and fears of missing out. While many buyers simply wanted a practical, three-row SUV that hid a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, others viewed it as an investment. Those expectations were challenged when Dodge revived the Hellcat-powered Durango for 2023. The total number produced remains unclear, but owners claimed the extra supply diluted exclusivity and hurt values, prompting a proposed class action lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler America, now part of Stellantis.
Did Values Actually Collapse?
Dodge
As a general rule of thumb, limited-edition cars hold their value stronger than mass-produced versions, like the V6-powered Durango. In fact, “number cars” tend to increase in value over the years, and many buyers snag up those cars, don’t drive them, and try to sell them at a profit after a few years. That’s why listings like this $139,500 Durango SRT Hellcat with just 385 miles exist.
In reality, the Durango SRT Hellcat depreciated much like any other car. The 2021 model carried a base MSRP of $80,995, and according to Classic.com, the average selling price today is $73,931. A depreciation hit like that isn’t out of the ordinary for a 5-year old car. Fortunately, it’s nowhere near as steep as some Teslas lose value.
Why The Judge Sided With Dodge
Dodge
According to Reuters, the case was heard in the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, where Judge Jennifer Hall ruled there was no evidence Dodge intended to break a promise when it described the 2021 model as limited. She also found that those statements did not amount to an express warranty and did not violate state consumer fraud laws. She described that the alleged misrepresentations involved future intentions that were “true when made.”
To make matters worse for those who bought a Durango SRT Hellcat purely for profit-making, the Durango just had its best sales year, despite its age. And its scarcity will continue to drop as the 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is now available in all 50 states. So what’s the lesson? Buying a vehicle primarily as an investment is always a gamble, no matter how confident you are.
