Lemon Law buyback.

[WStoops]

I would stay away from any new dodge products sold. The hemi is not really a true hemi as we saw back in the 60's, just a name to make people think its cool

The durango looks terrible IMO but people have different tastes. However, try getting into the driver seat, unless your a shrimp, you head will hit the roof as you get into the SUV. All the new dodge stuff has many different parts on it that are all made cheaply out of plastic. If you plan on keeping it for more than 5 years, it will look like hell after that, I guarantee you that!



I'd stick with a Ford Expedition with the 5. 4L gas engine over a durango anyday.



Sorry about your Ram, glad you won!

I drove just about everything I could think of that might fill my needs including the offerings from Ford and GM. They were OK I guess but the Expedition was, IMHO, looking like some dinosaur from the early 90's. The styling has not changed much in all that time. After pricing an Expedition with everything the Durango has on it(admittedly I found an 04 leftover and the Expedition was an 05), Dodge had the Ford beat by over $10,000. The Ford did not tow as much, handled kind of like a mushy boat. Finish was nice, seats were very nice but to match features you have to buy an Eddie Bauer, very $$$. Of all the SUV's I drove, the Durango was, far and away, the quietest and best handling. I agree with much of what you say about Dodge, but many of those criticisms could apply to any of the SUV's out there. I was really looking hard for an alternative to the Durango since, as you know, I am really down on Dodge right now. It is just killing me to buy anything from them. The Chev Trail Blazer and the Explorer only tow 5,000 or so Lbs, the Blazer less than that. Durango, 8650 lbs.

An interesting thing happened today that is worth mentioning and goes directly to some of the comments I have read here in recent months. I went to the gas station to buy some diesel for my tractor (big snows coming here tonight) and met a guy with an 04 2500 QC, Cummins, 48RE, 3. 73, anti-spin who was filling his truck up. We started talking about the trucks and I told him about the vibration. He said his is fine. I took him for a ride in mine. He felt it, said it wasn't that bad, kind of like his. Then I drove his. It is just as bad as mine if not worse. He said it doesn't bother him, it's a work truck and he doesn't take it on trips. As Steve said earlier, I think there are many more with the problem than we think but they just don't care or don't find it bothersome. One 2,000 mile trip in mine might change his view.

 

[whiteknight]

Well, if it's any consolation I have an F250 2WD (that is my work truck provided by my employer) that has had a vibration in it from the day I picked it up from the dealer. And Ford hasn't been able to fix it either.

 

[EBottema]

Yes, getting an 04 would give you a much better deal. I'm shocked how all these new cars are trucks are soo expensive. Seems like in the last 3 years prices have gone through the roof on some models. The engine in the trailblazer is very nice. The trailblazer handles well and seems nice. However, if the durango fits you better, go for it, just don't plan on keeping it forever. I refuse to buy a new car for the rest of my life because after about 03, i have not found anything worth owning IMO. Good luck on it, I hate to see you giving DC the money back and buying their product but you gotta do what you gotta do!



Erik

 

[AMink]

I might look for an earlier one to bomb myself

Heck, after getting your Durango, I'd look around for a 12valve in good shape. Fix it up, use it for hauling stuff that you don't want inside an enclosed vehicle, and enjoy it! We went through the same SUV dance, finally got an '02 Expedition. Figuring that none of them have great mileage, we opted for the biggest one that would fit in the garage. It came down to the Expedition and Tahoe. Fords totally folding 3rd row seats sold it. Is that pathetic or what? Would have bought a Dodge in a heartbeat if they had a full size. Good luck on your Durango. ('04's look better than '05's, IMO)

 

[MFenza]

I am sorry to hear about your truck but you are not alone my neigbor has an early 04 Ram 2500 4X4 with the 305 ho motor the dealer has replaced the drive shaft 3 times and he is know suing for the lemon law here in New York State it is a real shame people break thier *** for a livinig and make payments on these trucks and also spend and additional $5,000 to $10,000 in assesories on them on top of the price of the truck no one should have these problems DC should clean house on the people in research and development what stumps me they spend millions and millions of dollars on recalls but if they built the damm thing right the first time there would be no second time it would be nice to have a vehicle make 10,000 miles without getting a TSB or a recall notice in the mail for some other thing DC screwed up on and inconvience the customer God Forbid were the ones paying for it not DC

 

[WStoops]

I am sorry to hear about your truck but you are not alone my neigbor has an early 04 Ram 2500 4X4 with the 305 ho motor the dealer has replaced the drive shaft 3 times and he is know suing for the lemon law here in New York State it is a real shame people break thier *** for a livinig and make payments on these trucks and also spend and additional $5,000 to $10,000 in assesories on them on top of the price of the truck no one should have these problems DC should clean house on the people in research and development what stumps me they spend millions and millions of dollars on recalls but if they built the damm thing right the first time there would be no second time it would be nice to have a vehicle make 10,000 miles without getting a TSB or a recall notice in the mail for some other thing DC screwed up on and inconvience the customer God Forbid were the ones paying for it not DC

You are exactly correct. I'd bet that if 5,000 people filed lemon law suits on the same day, that would get their attention. Maybe 10,000. I'm convinced there are probably more than that many with the problem. At the hearing I said that I had seen the CEO and Chairman of the Chrysler Group on Speed Week. He said that DC introduced 9 new models in 04 and is going to introduce 5 new models in 05. I said that even a tiny bit of that engineering effort could have fixed our problems. DC is counting on those of you who have the problem to just live with it. They're bean counters and when the numbers become too high to ignore, then and only then, will they get off their butts and do something about it. I'm now thinking of sueing them in Superior Court for the mileage assessment. Then I would feel vindicated. The last chapter may not be written yet. Oo.

 

[EBottema]

Yes, I feel you got stiffed on the mileage.

Normally, from zero miles to the first time the truck was in the shop is the only miles you pay for. at what mileage was it brought in for the first problem having to do with the vibration?



erik

 

[WStoops]

Yes, I feel you got stiffed on the mileage.

Normally, from zero miles to the first time the truck was in the shop is the only miles you pay for. at what mileage was it brought in for the first problem having to do with the vibration?



erik

Erik, you are correct. My first complaint was the first time I took it on the highway, 880 miles. They said an expert was coming down from DC to fix it and they would call me for an appointment. That was at 2400 miles. The rest of the time was spent begging them to do SOMETHING!!! In the end, left woth no way out and no other options, I filed the LL. I did get stiffed but have no alternative other than to sue them in Superior Court, an option I am considering. Why not, I'm on a roll now? And they shafted me by ignoring my problem for 9 months. :{

 

[EBottema]

lemon law use mileage is calculated like this. by first time you brought it in (880 miles) divided by the Life span of auto (120,000 miles) = . 0073 percent. Round up to one percent so they should take off only 1 percent for useage of what the price of the truck was. So take the price you paid for the truck and multiply it by . 01. Then you will have the correct deduction. Did you sign anything yet? You might not be able to sue if you already settled/



erik

 

[exfuzz01]

I have NO vibration in mine... recent drive to CA and back. . (2200 miles) smooth as a baby's butt !!!

 

[WStoops]

lemon law use mileage is calculated like this. by first time you brought it in (880 miles) divided by the Life span of auto (120,000 miles) = . 0073 percent. Round up to one percent so they should take off only 1 percent for useage of what the price of the truck was. So take the price you paid for the truck and multiply it by . 01. Then you will have the correct deduction. Did you sign anything yet? You might not be able to sue if you already settled/



erik

Hi Erik,

Unfortunately for me, this is how it works in CT. They don't care how many miles you had on it when you first complained. As a prelude to the Lemon Law arbitration process, when you fill out the paperwork, you agree that it is BINDING on both parties. You sign and agree to that PRIOR to the hearing. There is nothing to sign afterwards. There is no appeal except to the Supreme Court of the State of Connecticut. I could file another suit in Superior Court against DC to try to recover the mileage assessment. They say that despite the mileage at the time of the original complaint, you still got to use the vehicle, flawed or not, until the hearing. They take the original contract price, after any rebates, in my case $46,733 times the mileage on the date of the hearing, 19,355 and divide the result by 120,000. Nothing I can do about it, it is state law. I did make an appeal for an exemption in my closing statement. The 3 person panel, a Lawyer and 2 ASE Masters, all state employees, voted, and I lost 2-1 on that point. Interestingly, the lawyer was the guy who voted in my favor, stating that there was a statutory provision in the Lemon Law to deny DC recovery of the mileage assessment. He made an extensive argument on my behalf but the two ASE Masters, blue collar working guys, said I used it for those miles and as reprehensible as DC's behavior and treatment of me was, I still used the truck that much and should have to pay for the miles. I also argued that I did not have full use of the truck as I could not use it on the highway and actually bought another car just for highway driving. They were unmoved. In the interest of full disclosure, one of the Masters stated for the record that he was driving a Dodge Pickup. I saw it, a ratty old Dakota. Here, in CT, it is a done deal the moment you walk in the door. Guess I should have been in CA but with my luck I would probably have gotten caught in a mud slide or an earthquake on the way to the hearing. I'm satisfied with getting back 86. 3% of my original purchase price, all interest paid on my note, all sales tax, all destination and dealer prep fees, full price on my cap and paid for my di prichol egt, full rfund of my registration and title fees. Calculating that in,

I'm ok with the outcome.

 

[EBottema]

Ya I would leave it at that. Atleast they bought it back from you and you only had to pay 15 percent for usage. CT law is final you can't do much about it, suing prob would be a waste of time. Id rather not be in California, too many pinheads LOL. I would get a 2nd gen if I were you. Less stuff to break and you can get a used one for not too much. I don't really like the 2rd gens, they are okay but i hate the new 600 engine. I get a lot of crap on the message board for my views but hey its only my opinion.

Good luck!