Chrysler made and used several asbestos components in its vehicles for many years. Chrysler went through several mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcy while facing asbestos lawsuits. Thanks to strategic partnerships and an infamous bailout from the federal government, the company recovered.[1]
Chrysler History and Asbestos
In 1925, Walter P. Chrysler founded the original Chrysler Corporation. The company’s first car was the Chrysler 6. It was an innovative new car that ran on a six-cylinder engine and had hydraulic brakes on all four wheels.
- Within a few years of the Chrysler 6 debut, the company purchased the Plymouth line, offering American buyers inexpensive automobile options with smaller engines.[1]
- Chrysler continued to bring innovation to automotive manufacturing by designing new models with updated components. In the 1930s, the company introduced replaceable oil filters and installed one-piece windshields in their cars.
- The company also expanded by acquiring other carmakers, including the Dodge Brothers, in the 1930s. During World War II, Chrysler joined the war effort by manufacturing military vehicles and also developed important wartime technology.[1]
- Chrysler hit trouble during the 1970s oil crisis. Known for larger cars, Chrysler suffered as Americans needed smaller cars with better gas mileage. Despite its smaller cars like the Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Dart, the company struggled to compete with Ford, General Motors, and Japanese automakers.[2]
- The company continued to struggle through the 1980s and 1990s. Chrysler received its first aid from the federal government in 1980 in the form of a $1.5 billion loan.
- In 1998, Chrysler partnered with Daimler-Benz to become Daimler-Chrysler. Daimler eventually bailed on the deal as poor sales continued.
- Chrysler again faced financial difficulties in the 2000s. Cerberus Capital Management bought a majority stake in Chrysler in 2007.[2] By 2009, however, Chrysler filed for bankruptcy, receiving another government handout of $6 billion.
- The 2009 bankruptcy included the creation of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. The trust was set up to include coverage for Chrysler employees with asbestos illnesses but not workers in other industries who were exposed to asbestos through Chrysler parts.
Chrysler continues to face its past financial woes in the form of ongoing asbestos lawsuits. Over the years, the company manufactured, bought, used, and sold car components that contained asbestos.
How Did Chrysler Use Asbestos?
The consequences of asbestos use have long plagued the automotive industry. Like many other industries, the automotive industry used asbestos because it effectively resists heat and fire.
Because of these traits, asbestos can be used in parts that must withstand friction. Asbestos used in these parts helped prevent overheating and fire.[3]
Most car companies and parts manufacturers used asbestos in parts like brakes, clutches, and some body components, like hoodliners.
What Chrysler Products Contained Asbestos?
While most modern car and car part manufacturers no longer use asbestos, they did for many decades. Parts that often contained asbestos included:
- Brakes
- Clutches
- Hoodliners
- Gaskets,
- Heat seals
- Engine components
- Some body parts made of fiberglass or plastic
The most consistent and heavy use of asbestos in cars was in clutches and brakes. Brakes need to withstand friction without overheating; therefore, asbestos was commonly used in disks, shoes, pads, and rotors. Clutches included asbestos for the same reason.[3]
Chrysler used asbestos in many of these components; however, it was mostly used in their clutches and brakes. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Chrysler used asbestos to make its own drum brake components in a facility in Trenton, Michigan.
The company also used asbestos-containing components made by other companies:
- Bendix Corporation
- Abex Corporation
- BorgWarner
- Johns Manville
- Raybestos-Manhattan
Who Was at Risk for Asbestos Exposure from Chrysler Products?
Because of extensive asbestos use in car components, many people were put at risk of asbestos exposure and potential resulting illnesses. People exposed to asbestos may have inhaled tiny fibers, which, over time, can cause illnesses like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Workers who manufactured car parts with asbestos were most likely exposed in the workplace. However, the risk did not end with them. Factory workers who assembled cars were also put at risk. Perhaps the riskiest job related to asbestos exposure is auto repair work.
The workers most affected by asbestos in car parts used in Chrysler vehicles are mechanics. They were exposed to the dust created inside clutches and brakes when they removed and repaired these components.
Do Old Chrysler Cars Contain Asbestos?
Many older vehicles have parts that still contain asbestos. Even today, mechanics who work on older vehicles may risk inhaling airborne asbestos fibers.[4] Also at risk are vintage car enthusiasts who collect older cars and make their own repairs.
Asbestos Lingers in Old Chrysler Factories
Abandoned factories and old buildings related to the automotive industry litter Detroit, in some cases, putting residents at risk of asbestos exposure. Two former Chrysler facilities have recently gotten attention and have finally been slated for demolition or cleanup.
These include what was once an AMC facility that also passed through Chrysler’s hands. Chrysler last had employees in the building in 2009, and a plan to clean up the area was only implemented in 2021.
The company that bought the facility from Chrysler contaminated residents in the area with asbestos and other toxins when it scrapped the building for valuable materials, like copper.[5]
Asbestos Lawsuits Against Chrysler
Because of asbestos use in many of its cars’ parts, Chrysler has faced numerous lawsuits. These were brought by people who could trace asbestos-related illnesses to exposure from components found in Chrysler vehicles.
- One lawsuit resulted in compensation for a man who stripped brakes and replaced old linings. After nearly twenty years, he developed mesothelioma. Several companies were included in the lawsuit, and the jury found Chrysler liable for 10% of the $25 million award. The jury found Chrysler failed to warn workers and others of the risks of asbestos in their brakes.[6]
- In 2009, another lawsuit was filed against Chrysler. The plaintiff worked as a mechanic in the 1950s and 1960s, eventually developing fatal mesothelioma. He died before the trial began. Chrysler was heavily criticized for postponing the man’s burial and insisting on an autopsy. A judge denied Chrysler that autopsy, ruling in favor of the family; however, Chrysler postponed burial for several weeks.[7]
What to Do if You Were Exposed to Chrysler Asbestos Products?
Chrysler has not always acted ethically with respect to asbestos in its products or the resulting lawsuits. If you believe your asbestos exposure and resulting illness was, at least in part, caused by Chrysler cars or components, you may want to file a lawsuit.
A mesothelioma lawyer will review your case and determine if Chrysler or other companies can be held liable for your asbestos illness. They can try to get you a settlement or take your case to court. If you were a Chrysler employee, they can help you get benefits through the UAW trust.
