Check Your Eligibility in These Settlements from Apple, Nissan

People shop in an Apple store.
Customers enter the Apple store in New York. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Automobile manufacturers, cosmetics makers, a gun manufacturer and an herbicide producer are among the businesses that have agreed to class-action settlements highlighted this month. See if you qualify for a bit of stuff in your stocking from these settlement offers. 

Nissan Altima CVT 

If you owned or leased a Nissan Altima, model year 2013 through 2016, you could be eligible for a $1,000 voucher.

If your Nissan Altima is equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), both current and former owners and lessees could be eligible for compensation due to an alleged defect that caused transmissions to prematurely fail. Symptoms included shuddering, unexplained power surges, vehicle hesitation, stalling and other noises.

Affected owners may qualify to receive:

  • Extension of the terms of the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty for either 24 months or up to 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
  • Reimbursement for transmission assembly repairs related to the alleged defect.
  • Anyone whose car required two or more repairs or replacements can receive a $1,000 voucher toward the purchase of a Nissan or Infiniti.
  • Owners of vehicles that are more than 84 months old or with more than 84,000 miles are not eligible for the extended warranty but they can claim reimbursement for expenses related to transmission repairs.

For complete details, click here and submit your claim by the Jan. 30, 2020 deadline. 

Nissan Sentra, Versa and Versa Note Transmissions

A 2016 Nissan Sentra is debuted.
The 2016 Nissan Sentra is debuted during the Los Angeles Auto Show, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/John Locher

Nissan has also agreed to extend warranties and reimburse customers for repair expenses related to Sentras, Versas and Versa Notes with defective transmissions.

If you bought or leased a 2013 to 2017 Nissan Sentra, 2014 to 2017 Nissan Versa Note or a 2012 to 2017 Nissan Versa, you may be eligible for up to $4,750 in repair reimbursement or a $1,000 voucher. 

Plaintiffs alleged the transmissions included a defect that caused the cars to suddenly jerk and shake while being driven. The defect appeared outside of the five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, leaving consumers on the hook for the repairs. 

Potential awards are:

  • An extension of the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty from 60 months or 60,000 miles to 84 months or 84,000 miles.
  • Consumers can also be reimbursed for 100% of transmission repairs they paid for, if the repairs were made by an authorized Nissan dealer and other requirements are met.
  • Reimbursement of up to $4,750 is available if eligible repairs were made by a non-Nissan repair facility.
  • Former owners who repaired transmissions two or more times may receive a $1,000 voucher toward the purchase or lease of a new Nissan or Infiniti car.

The claim deadline is Jan. 30, 2020 or 30 days after a qualifying transmission repair is made, whichever date is later. For complete details, click here.

Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

Cosmetics maker Younique agreed to pay $3.25 million to resolve allegations the company deceptively advertised its Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara as consisting of “100% Natural Green Tea Fibers.”

If you bought Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara between October 2012 and July 2015 while residing in the states of California, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas or Washington, you could be eligible to receive a portion of this settlement.

The Younique lawsuit alleged the mascara’s fibers consisted of shredded nylon, and not of green tea at all. The company settled for $3.25 million. 

Each consumer will receive an undetermined settlement amount after fees and expenses are deducted. No proof of purchase is necessary. 

The deadline is Jan. 21, 2020, so click here for more information or to submit your claim. 

Spectracide Concentrate Herbicide

If you bought Spectracide herbicide in a concentrated form between Sept. 21, 2013 and Nov. 1, 2019, you could be eligible for a portion of a $2.5 million settlement. 

United Industries settled allegations its Spectracide herbicide concentrate was not as effective when it was diluted per the instructions. The 2017 lawsuit alleged the diluted product was only effective on “newly emerged weeds.”

The company admits no wrongdoing, but agreed to make changes to its product labels.

Consumers can receive $6.25 per eligible Spectracide product. Up to four claims are allowed per household, or a maximum of $25 in compensation. 

Receipts or the dates and locations of the purchases must be provided. Click here for settlement details and file your claim by Jan. 20, 2020.

California iPhone 4, 4S and 5 Power Buttons

This photo shows a white and black iPhone 5.
The Apple iPhone 5 is on display in San Francisco. AP Photo/Eric Risberg

If you’re a California resident who bought an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 smartphone that included a defective power button, you could benefit from a $20 million class action lawsuit. 

If you bought an iPhone 4 between June 24, 2010 and Oct. 10, 2011, or an iPhone 4S between Oct. 11, 2011 and Sept. 20, 2012 and the power button stopped working or worked intermittently within a year of purchase, you are likely eligible. Also included are California residents who bought an iPhone 5 prior to April 1, 2013, and the power button caused problems within three years of purchasing. 

If you had your iPhone repaired or replaced by Apple for free because of a defective power button, you won’t be eligible for this settlement. 

Each California claimant may receive up to $24 per qualifying iPhone. For details, click here and submit a valid claim form by the March 23, 2020 deadline.

Range Rover Suspension Defect 

If you owned or leased a 2003 to 2006 Land Rover Range Rover, you could be eligible for part of a $6.7 million settlement over the vehicles’ defective suspensions.

The lawsuit alleged the SUVs’ front air springs could crack or leak. The resulting loss of air pressure allegedly kept the Range Rovers from being able to travel in a straight line, potentially leaving drivers at risk of losing control.

Final approval for the settlement is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020; current and former owners and lessees would have until May 3, 2020 to file a claim.

Owners could collect partial or full reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for replacing an original front air spring due to an air leak. The amount of reimbursement will depend on the years in service and mileage.

Proof of payment of expenses and other documentation is required. For full details and a claim form, click here.

Tarte High-Performance Naturals Cosmetics

Tarte Inc. will pay $1.7 million over allegations its high-performance naturals cosmetics and skincare products actually contained synthetic ingredients.

If the proposed settlement deal receives final approval, customers who bought a Tarte high-performance naturals product between Nov. 13, 2013 and the deadline of Jan. 21, 2020 will be eligible to receive $5 per product for up to 10 items. A receipt is not required, but other information will be required in order for the claim to be fulfilled.

Consumers who include a proof of purchase will receive a full refund. 

Among the products included are the Tarte Skincare Frxxxtion Stick, the Tarte Skincare Brazilliance Self-tanning Face Towelettes and the Tarte Skincare Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches, all of which allegedly contain synthetic ingredients such as butylene glycol, glycerin and phenoxyethanol. 

To submit a claim by the Jan. 21, 2020 deadline, click here. 

Rossi Revolver

Forjas Taurus has agreed to a $38 million settlement regarding allegations its Rossi revolvers can fire if dropped.

If you bought a Rossi brand .38 Special or .357 Revolver manufactured between Jan. 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2017, you may be eligible for free repair of the weapon and cash. 

The affected Rossi brand revolvers are models R35102, R35202, R85104, R97206, R97104, R46202, R46102, which were manufactured by Forjas Taurus and include a serial number stamped on the frame of the revolvers beginning with the letters Y, Z, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, or K.

According to the allegations, the Rossi revolvers can discharge when dropped because of a defect. The gun maker is accused of failing to warn of the defect or issue a recall. 

Those with the affected guns may have their revolvers inspected, repaired and cleaned at no charge, and receive an enhanced warranty and a $50 inconvenience fee. 

For complete details and to submit a valid claim by the Oct. 22, 2020 deadline, click here.