If you need to sue the company behind Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram vehicles in California, you are about to encounter one of the most confusing entity structures in automotive litigation. People search for “how to serve Chrysler” or “how to serve Stellantis,” but the entity you actually need to name in most California lawsuits is neither of those. It is FCA US LLC — and getting this wrong is one of the most common mistakes in California lemon law practice.
The Correct Legal Entity
The correct entity for most California lawsuits involving Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles is FCA US LLC. This is the U.S. operating company that manufactures and distributes vehicles under these brands.
Here is why the entity confusion is so pervasive:
• Stellantis N.V. is the Dutch parent holding company formed in January 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group (Peugeot). Stellantis N.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands and headquartered in Amsterdam. It is not the correct defendant in most U.S. consumer or employment cases.
• FCA US LLC is the U.S. subsidiary that actually manufactures, sells, and warranties Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles in America. This is the entity that issued your warranty, the entity that operates the dealership network, and the entity you need to serve.
• Chrysler has not existed as an independent legal entity for years. There is no “Chrysler Corporation” or “Chrysler LLC” to serve. The brand name is owned by FCA US LLC.
• DaimlerChrysler dissolved years ago. If your case involves a vehicle from the DaimlerChrysler era (1998–2007), the successor entity is still FCA US LLC.
A three-year study of California lemon law cases found that entities in the Stellantis/FCA family were named in approximately 5,798 lemon law cases — the second-highest volume among all automakers. Nearly all of those cases should name FCA US LLC as the defendant. Cases that name “Stellantis” or “Chrysler” as the entity face motions to dismiss or amended pleading requirements that delay the litigation.
Search bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm the current registered agent for FCA US LLC before serving. Entity changes in this corporate family happen more frequently than most.
Where to Serve
Registered agent: CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service
Address: 2710 Gateway Oaks Dr, Suite 150N, Sacramento, CA 95833
CSC serves as the California registered agent for FCA US LLC. The Sacramento office is in the South Natomas corridor with free surface parking and ground-floor access.
CSC accepts service Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The early cutoff is the scheduling constraint — arrive well before 2:00 PM.
What Documents Are Commonly Served
FCA US LLC is a high-volume litigation target in California:
• Lemon law complaints — With 5,798 cases in a three-year study period, FCA brands are among the most-sued in California under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Jeep transmission failures, Ram truck electrical issues, Chrysler Pacifica powertrain defects, and Dodge Charger/Challenger quality problems generate a steady stream of filings.
• Product liability claims — Design and manufacturing defect cases involving safety systems, structural integrity, and fire hazards.
• PAGA and employment actions — Claims from dealership and facility workers in California.
• Warranty subpoenas — Discovery requests seeking warranty claim data, dealer repair orders, technical service bulletins, and recall documentation for specific vehicles or defect patterns.
• Class actions — Multi-plaintiff cases targeting known defect patterns across model years and brands.
How We Handle It
We serve CSC at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive routinely. For FCA US LLC service specifically, the critical detail is ensuring the documents name the correct entity. We see cases come through naming “Stellantis,” “Chrysler,” or “Dodge” as the defendant — none of which is the correct legal entity. While we serve whatever documents we are given, we flag potential entity mismatches when we notice them so the attorney can correct the pleadings before service rather than face a motion to quash afterward.
For more on serving at CSC, see our CSC service page.
Service Level | Timeframe | Price
Standard | 10 business days | \$99
Expedited | 3 business days | \$150
Rush | 24 hours | \$175
Court Filing Add-on | — | +\$30
