Lex Machina 2026 Product Liability Litigation Report: Non-MDL Federal Filings Reach a Ten-Year High as Vehicle Warranty Cases Drive Activity

Product liability litigation in federal courts reached a ten-year high in 2025, driven primarily by vehicle warranty cases which surged 269% since 2016. Non-MDL filings totaled 5,692 cases in 2025, a 31% increase from 2024, with courts awarding nearly $3 billion in damages. California's federal courts, particularly the Central District, accounted for over one-third of national product liability filings, with Los Angeles Superior Court seeing dramatic increases in auto warranty cases under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.