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Two auto parts manufacturers agreed to pay $1.4 million as part of a price-fixing settlement to resolve claims they worked to raise the price of spark plugs and oxygen sensors.

The settlement benefits consumers and businesses who purchased spark plugs or oxygen sensors directly from NGK Spark Plugs or DENSO Automotive between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 4, 2019. Indirect purchasers are not covered by this settlement.

The defendants sold spark plugs under a number of names: NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Holding Inc.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc.; NTK Technologies Inc.; DENSO Corp.; DENSO International America Inc.; DENSO Korea Corp.; DENSO International Korea Corp.; DENSO Korea Automotive Corp.; DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH; DENSO Products & Services Americas Inc.; ASMO Co. Ltd.; ASMO North America LLC; ASMO Greenville of North Carolina Inc.; and ASMO Manufacturing Inc.

Spark plugs are a small but vital component in vehicles that allows engines to ignite fuel and operate through combustion, according to Firestone. Oxygen sensors are installed before and after an exhaust’s catalytic converter to determine the amount of oxygen in a car’s exhaust. These components allow the vehicle’s computer to make changes to the amount of fuel injected into the engine.

According to an antitrust multidistrict litigation, two auto parts manufacturers may have worked together to overcharge purchasers for these essential components. 

Plaintiffs in the spark plugs price-fixing case say NGK and DENSO worked together to suppress and eliminate competitor products. These actions allegedly allowed the companies to control the spark plug and oxygen sensor markets — empowering them to fix the price of automotive components. 

As a result of this alleged scheme, direct purchasers were allegedly forced to pay a higher price for spark plugs and oxygen sensors than they otherwise would have in a healthy market.

NGK and DENSO haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay a combined $1.4 million to resolve these allegations. NGK will pay $1.2 million, while DENSO will contribute $200,000 to the settlement fund. Half of the settlement fund will be used for spark plug claims, and the other half will be used for oxygen sensor claims.

Under the terms of the settlements, class members can collect a cash payment based on their direct purchases of spark plugs or oxygen sensors. Class members who paid more for these products will be eligible for a larger share of the settlement fund. Exact payment estimates are not available.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Aug. 8, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the spark plugs and oxygen sensors price-fixing settlement is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2022. 

In order to receive a payment from the price-fixing settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by Sept. 30, 2022.

The settlement benefits consumers and businesses who purchased spark plugs or oxygen sensors directly from NGK Spark Plugs or DENSO Automotive between Jan. 1, 2000 and Feb. 4, 2019. Indirect purchasers are not covered by this settlement.

May, at a later time, be required to provide copies of some or all of the underlying documentation supporting your claim (e.g., invoices, purchase journals, accounts payable journals, etc.).

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Master File No. 12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division

Spark Plugs Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litigation P.O. Box 4655 Portland, OR 97208- 4655 info@AutoPartsAntitrustLitigation-SP.com 877-890-8078

Oxygen Sensors Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litigation P.O. Box 4234 Portland, OR 97208-4234 877-890-8128

Steven A. Kanner FREED KANNER LONDON & MILLEN LLC

Gregory P. Hansel PRETI FLAHERTY BELIVEAU & PACHIOS LLP

Joseph C. Kohn KOHN SWIFT & GRAF PC

Eugene A. Spector SPECTOR ROSEMAN & KODROFF PC

Steven F. Cherry WILMER CTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP

Steven M. Zarowny GENERAL COUNSEL DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA INC

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They make very difficult to file claim

Spark plugs and o2 sensors.

spark plugs and o2 sensors

So let me get this straight….the manufacturers jacked up the prices, then the repair shops & auto parts stores paid more for them…..passed that additional higher price onto us the consumers, and yet, we CANNOT claim this but the shops and parts stores can. Why? They already received the higher prices when selling them!!! Absolutely Ridiculous!!!

Add me I purchased spark plugs and oxygen sensor for my impala.

I bought these plugs from my local auto supply house, why can’t I claim this?

You are an INdirect purchaser.

Please add me for spark plugs and oxygen sensors

Add me I bougth oxygen sensors for two different Acadias

why are retail purchases excluded in this sham of a class action. We paid inflated prices when we bought these same products indirectly.

Agreed. Inflated prices are ultimately paid for by the vehicle owners, not the repair shops. End user consumer always gets the shortest end of the stick.

Who has receipts from years ago? This is why the lawyers pocket the money. Con game and they know it!

Lawyers pocket money because they’re smart enough to represent everyone… let’s see you represent thousands of claims on your own

You must be a lawyer

I want my indirect purchaser settlement because the costs were passed on to the consumers.

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.

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