Get what you deserve

[WStoops]

Hello Steve: as of today my truck is still at the dealer they have tried all the tricks previusly listed to no avail the vibration is still there, my service manager told me today that he thinks I just need to live with this becouse there is nothing more he can do, he did promise to have the DC rep call me and talk of a possible solution, if this gets no results then I thing I will have the local news investigate reporter get involved, I wonder how many ther are otthere that are unaware of the problem, I hope to get some help through DC I will let you know what I find out today. Mark

Hi Mark, there are a growing number of people who are really getting tired of this. I filed my lemon law paperwork a few weeks ago and my hearing is scheduled for February 24th. I have been hard at work searching the internet and have over a hundred pages of posts from others complaining of the problem. Chrysler has a SERIOUS problem here. The state records here in CT are a matter of public record. Consequently, I have discovered that DC has had more lemon law hearings (in 2003, the most recent year for which records are available) than Ford and GM combined. The numbers are as follows: DC 27, 3 were decided in their favor. GM 7, 1 was decided in their favor. Ford 14, 1 decided in their favor. The CBS website reports that in a court case in the Carolinas, Chrysler was forced to reveal that they had repurchased or replaced, between 1993 and 2000, over 50,000 vehicles totaling 1. 3 BILLION dollars. It may very well be that they have improved their quality control in the years since but if our experience is typical, I have my doubts.

 

[WStoops]

I'm beginning to think we should all get together, lawyer up and file a class action suit against DC.

 

[Crunch]

Consequently, I have discovered that DC has had more lemon law hearings (in 2003, the most recent year for which records are available) than Ford and GM combined. The numbers are as follows: DC 27, 3 were decided in their favor. GM 7, 1 was decided in their favor. Ford 14, 1 decided in their favor.

That might be a misleading set of statistics. If DC sold twice as many vehicles as Ford in your state those numbers would make DC look better than Ford--DC gets one decision in nine to go their way. Ford only gets one in fourteen. On the other hand, if DC sold fewer vehicles than Ford it would make them look even worse...

 

[sag2]

That 50,000 vehicles (assuming that is an accurate number) might sound like a lot, but in those 8 years, DC sold about 17. 6 million vehicles (approx 2. 2 million/year). That works out to . 28% rate. If I had thousands of parts, and was beat up daily by the public, and only failed 1/4 of a percent of the time, to the point I could not be repaired, I'd say that is not too bad.



If only I messed up that little!

 

[WStoops]

That might be a misleading set of statistics. If DC sold twice as many vehicles as Ford in your state those numbers would make DC look better than Ford--DC gets one decision in nine to go their way. Ford only gets one in fourteen. On the other hand, if DC sold fewer vehicles than Ford it would make them look even worse...

I agree that those numbers might be somewhat misleading. I think it is safe to assume that DC did not outsell Ford and GM combined. None of these numbers mean anything if the manufacturers stand behind their product. It is when they don't that the Lemon Laws become useful. Check out how many of the cases were settled by private agreement in advance of the hearings. It appears from these numbers that F&G are easier to deal with. Perhaps not. Make no mistake, I still think Dodge is #1 in quality despite this problem. I just wish they had done SOMETHING to avoid this paperwork to force them to live up to their responsibility to their customers. Still a Dodge in my future though. :{

 

[WStoops]

I agree that DC should show they are working on a fix. I've posted before the problem is with SPICER 'Lifetime' drivelines. Who is Spicers competitor? Everone is stuck with Spicer and Spicer knows they have the market cornered! We are experiencing the same driveline issues in Class 6 thru Class 8 Big Rigs, the problem does not totally rest on DC. You will always attract more bees with honey than vinegar, not to say that I'd kiss the dealers backside but I won't take someone who didn't build it's head off. My vibe left with new u-joints installed, from 0 to 105 smooth. Good luck with your new ride! Number 1 dealer? not in a big city! little old country dealer, Nolf Chrysler Dodge in New Bethlehem, PA (vist them at nolfchryslerdodge.com)

I just can't believe that DC would let this vibration issue on my truck get this far without at least first checking the u-joints. Such a potentially simple fix to avoid all this lemon law litigation and aggravation. Besides my original dealer, I have now been in contact with 5 other dealers, none of whom will work on the vibration problem until DC comes up with a TSB. They obviously want to get paid for their time. If I lose in the Lemon Law hearings on the 24th, I'm going to have the u-joints checked or replaced. Not fair that we should have to deal with this problem ourselves. Sounds like you have a great dealer there in PA.

 

[abdiver]

Is this vibration issue only limited to 4x4s ?



Thanks Bill

 

[WStoops]

Is this vibration issue only limited to 4x4s ?



Thanks Bill

The short answer is yes. The 2 wheel drive owners have reported that the center bearing on the rear driveshaft on the long beds has occasionally been problematic. The vibes starting in the 60's and getting worse as you accelerate are limited to the 4x4's, long and short beds, with more 48re than 6sp's reporting problems. I have driven a couple of 2wd trucks belonging to friends and they have both been without vibrations. I have driven 2 05's, 1 had it really bad, the other did not have it at all. Go figure. Both trucks were identically equipped, one a 2500 the other a 3500, which was fine.