Email address for a ****** off note to Dodge

[shendren]

anyone got the email address for dodge so i can send a "I'm ****** and you ought to know about it" note. the note follows. it is in regards to my steering system. it ain't no honda. i mean the rubber window seals on the door are freakin' rustin' for pete's sake. and the list just goes on... ... if a cummins wasn't under the hood, i wouldn't own it. this is my first/last dodge. i hope the engine lasts.



Today (12/17/01), I had a repair performed on my 96 dodge 4x4 cummins diesel. I had the intermediate steering shaft replaced because the front end was making a clunking sound at slow turns. This work was repaired following the procedure in TSB #19-18-17. The clunking sound is now gone. I was charged $363. 09 on this repair # 043295. After the work was done, the service manager (phone 812-346-6800) told me that the steering wheel had some movement in it and was loose. The nut under the airbag was checked and this did not appear to be the problem. The dealer told me the upper steering column needed to be replaced to the tune of approximately $600. I asked how often the upper steering column goes bad. They told me it ususally doesn’t. I asked then why should I be required to pay for this (upper steering column) and the previous repair (intermediate steering shaft) when it appears to be an inadequate design in both instances. I would like some reimbursement for this. This was a $38,000 truck in 1996. I am looking forward to a favorable response from Daimler Chrysler. Thank You. Scott Hendren

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Good Luck!

Scott, I hate to say it but those a-holes at DC could give a rat's u-know-what about you and your truck. I had a very unpleasant experience with one of their "So Called" 5 Star Dealerships (I won't mention any names... DON WEIRS RENO DODGE), and I wrote and called DC a few times. Not only did I never see or hear any responses to my complaints, but I'm almost certain neither did the dealership. I hate to say it but they could give 2 sh**s about the customer once they buy their product. But if you are dead set on doing it, which I support 100%, you might end up starting w/the dealership and trying to get a phone # or e-mail address. I can't recall how or where I got my contact #, because it was so long ago; however, in doing some surfing for you, it seems as though DC has omitted that information from their web site. Or at least hidden it well enough so I couldn't find it. Good luck, and I will look tomorrow when I'm at work for some contact information.

 

[shendren]

thanks so much. if you come up with something, let me know. thanks. scott.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Try this link, I used this one time to complain to Goodyear and I got a very fast response. Planet feedback gets you to the top of a company and "stuff" rolls downhill as they say...



http://www.planetfeedback.com/homepage/0,2585,,00.html

 

[Pit Bull]

Let me try to understand this, you feel the MANUFACTURE should pay to fix a "SIX" year old truck that has a steering problem with "how many miles on it"??? GOOD LUCK!!! Also you mentioned rust on a six year old truck, I noticed you live very close to the coast of Florida, I wonder how that happened? I'm not trying to bust your chops, but you need to set back and think about what you are asking for. Is this reasonable? How is the manufacture suppose to know what you did with this truck for the last six years? I don't know of any manufacture that would cover a problem like this. Once you are out of warranty you are on your own, unless it is a safty recall from the NTSB. If you feel you have a safety complaint, you need to take it to the NTSB or other government organization. You are waiting your time contacting Dodge. It will be better for you personally (emotionally) if you write your letter to the NTSB and then move on.

 

[shendren]

Big Toy,



A. this isn't a safety concern.

A. 1. my truck has 66k mi on it.



B. there are MANY other truck owners with their window seals rusting in MANY other parts of the country



C. Both of my 15 yr old florida hondas don't have the window seals rusting?? wonder why? cause they're not made the same.

 

[Pit Bull]

Scott

Since your truck is low mileage and you obviously care about it or you would not be the type of person that would join TDR, this sound like it is a bum deal for you. I am not saying it should of happened but Dodge will never pay to fix it for you. Even though in you instance it is not a sign of abuse and is poor design. I have a 95 Toyota Landcruiser and it has 110K miles on it and it looks and drives like new. But as we both know the japanese don't make big truck yet with the Cummins in them. I wish you luck but I have found that for my own piece of mind somethings are better to just move on from.

 

[shendren]

Dear Scott:



Your recent e-mail to DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation was received

and reviewed by the Customer Assistance Center.



Your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience

involved in this issue, are understandable. However, your request for

consideration in this matter must be declined, because the vehicle in

question has exceeded the time or mileage limitations of the

manufacturer's warranty at the time the expense was incurred.



Although a more favorable reply could not be provided, sharing your

concerns with us is appreciated.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

DC Letter

Scott,



I take it that is a copy of the e-mail response you received from the schmucks at DC. Trust me, if your truck had been new and under warranty, their response would most likely have been pretty much the same.



As previously stated, they don't give a rat's A**!

 

[NVR FNSH]

Tell me you paid with a credit card. Dispute the charges and get the CC company involved to help broker an acceptable middle ground. At least you will get the satisfaction of tying up some DC employee's time... .



Good luck,

Brian

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by NVR FNSH

Tell me you paid with a credit card. Dispute the charges and get the CC company involved to help broker an acceptable middle ground. At least you will get the satisfaction of tying up some DC employee's time... .



Good luck,

Brian

????

 

[NVR FNSH]

Basically, you can be enough of a PITA to DC by disputing the charge thru your CC that they may be willing to work out a compromise on the charges. On my '96 2500 gasser the dealer replaced the trackbar trying to solve the shimmy problem. Parts & Labor was ~$500 but it wasn't covered under the extended warranty so I paid for it. The new track bar didn't solve the problem (the old one wasn't bad - the dealer shotgunned it) so I told them I didn't think I should have to pay for the 'fix' that didn't fix the problem. They disagreed - go figure. I disputed the charge on thru my CC company - required a letter from me and the CC asked the dealer to respond. In the end, the dealer removed the new track bar and re-installed my old one (shouldn't have asked for the parts back ) - the dealer/DC covered ALL the labor & the cost of the new track bar.



The moral of my story? Make enough noise/PITA and DC will deal.



Brian

 

[JConley]

Sorry, but I dont see how the manufacturer has any responsibility to replace or upgrade items on a 6 year old truck. That is why they have warranty periods. Auto manufacturers build vehicles to last through the warranty period and that is it. Like it or not, that's the reality.



Look at this example. Should Cummins replace the 12V engine with a 24V engine because of the KDP issue? The pins dont usually go out, but when they do, you are looking at a BIG repair bill. Will Cummins pay for this... . NO



Life is too short to get worked up over something like this. Fix it and drive on

 

[diesel DOG]

Every thing has a weak link unfortunately. I did notice the window seals on trucks 4 years old rusting. The way they finished it left the exposed ends of steel to the weather when the cut it at the factory. My new truck that I get X-mas eve is the same deal unfortunately. I will try to get silicone or something. Toyota doesn't always get it right ether my friends truck body rotted of in about 4-5 years. I'm talking big rot. The won't do anything as others have stated and they have said. I heard last night Ford had to pay 10 million to a couple who spent 17,000 on transmission repairs when Ford new they were defective.

 

[apkole]

One of my snowplowing subcontractors has a '93 CTD D350 and just had the upper steering column assy replaced last winter. He got nicked for around $1000 for the work from the dealer. Mileage was about 66k, so this is not unheard of .



Our '91 CTD D250 has been used for plowing since '94 and no sign of any problems yet, outside of the recall for the broken steering wheel (which broke BEFORE I got the recall - - of course!!) Boy, does that get exciting in the middle of the night!!



I continue to be amazed at what DC will cover, given the use (abuse) that we dish out to these trucks (snowplowing included).



Andy

 

[rrl989]

Shendren,



That's the exact same E-mail format response I got back from DC with my problem. Wouldn't it be Funny if their customer service rep's are computers ! DC / 5 Star - Whatever, your wasting your time. Regional / Area Reps won't even talk to you. I presently own my first / last DC product - Thats the way I'll get even. I have already cost them at least two trucks sales from my co-workers. I'm going to keep at it - Revenge is sweet !!!



Ron

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by JConley

Sorry, but I dont see how the manufacturer has any responsibility to replace or upgrade items on a 6 year old truck. That is why they have warranty periods. Auto manufacturers build vehicles to last through the warranty period and that is it. Like it or not, that's the reality.

I agree with you for the most part but this a 6 yr old truck w/~66k miles on it. When was the last time you heard of the bearings in the column taking a crap? My '79 CJ-7 w/tilt wheel has the original column it it and it sits outside w/o a top half the time. There are certain things on these trucks that we all know are crap - track bar, ball joints & intermediate shaft come to mind - that on most other vehicles last 100k w/o major problems. DC under-engineered some of this stuff and should be covering the failed parts even if they are out of the 3/36 warranty. Look at it this way, DC will be more than happy to sell you an extended warranty out to 100k miles. Do you really think that DC doesn't design the parts to go 100k? I think they do based on the fact that you can get that 100k warranty on the entire vehicle for a relatively small percentage of the original purchase price.



Brian

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by diesel DOG

Every thing has a weak link unfortunately. I did notice the window seals on trucks 4 years old rusting. The way they finished it left the exposed ends of steel to the weather when the cut it at the factory. My new truck that I get X-mas eve is the same deal unfortunately. I will try to get silicone or something.

Could you give more detail on this problem, where to look so I can correct it before I have this rust problem

Thanks

 

[shendren]

IT'S THE BLACK RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR. THE SEAL THE COUNTRY BUMKINS LAY THEIR ARM ON WHEN THEY HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN. OR 5" ABOVE THE DOOR HANDLE