Mexico vs St. Louis?

[DonFitzwater]

I have owned several late model, new Dodge trucks since 2000. Every truck that I have owned that was made in St. Louis, Missouri has had poor quality paint(orange peel in the door jams), bad body fitment(gaps uneven, loud wind noise etc) and overall, more mechanical issues requiring repair. With that said, none of the half dozen trucks that my family has owned that were made in Saltillo, Mexico have had any problems other than factory recalls. My current example is my latest 06 2500. I just rolled over 8000 miles and decided to rotate my tires. My co-worker has a nearly identical truck with similar mileage and decided to rotate his tires at the same time. His truck is made in Mexico, mine in St. Louis. Once we got the wheels off, I discovered my rear axle seals leaking, trans cooler lines leaking and the hydroboost lines leaking? Not a darn thing even damp on his truck! What the hell gives here? Are union employees making too much to compete with some south of the border "hired help"? It gets worse from here. I decided to look closely at the quality of paint and body fit between the two trucks#@$%! Total crap! Has anyone else noticed these anomilies? I am not speaking out of line hear as my wife and myself have owned over a dozen diesel Dodges since 2000 and I've had my share of vehicles to compare. I should have made sure this last truck(that I plan to keep) was made in Mexico but I didn't. I love this Cummins engine but these "Americanized" car plants need to wake up and realize that competition and quaility will kill all their jobs if they don't improve. I did not write this post to offend anyone but if it does, you probably built my truck!

 

[WStrmiska]

My truck was built in Mexico. Excellent quality.

 

[RJOL]

Both my 2001 and my present 2005 were built in Mexico. One was white the other blue. The paint and finish on both are very good. I sold the 2001 to a friend, so I still see it regularly, and it still looks great...

 

[skipro3]

Don't blame the worker or the Union. They both know that without a good business they will both be out of work. Blame management. They have cut the corners to the point that the average American worker has become demoralized. Micro management, salary positions with no overtime, benefit cuts in healthcare, lost pensions while non-performing CEO's cash out for millions of dollars are just a few of the reasons corporate America is ruining the workforce.

I made sure my truck was made in Mexico by ordering it up from my dealer. I've never been more pleased with a truck than this one. My co-worker has the exact same truck, right down to the color of the paint. His was made in the USA. He's been in the shop at least once a month since we both got them last spring. I have found nothing wrong with mine at all.

 

[Grizzly]

My 95 and my 05 were made in Mexico and both have been great. The 95 was never in the shop, except for wheel alignment. The 05 has not been in the shop yet. When I ordered my 05, I told the dealer that if this truck didn't come out of Mexico, I wouldn't take it. They were very agreeable and assured me that it would come from Mexico and that they have had by far better luck with Mexican built trucks.

 

[schv]

I read somewhere that one advantage for the Mexican assembled trucks, in terms of paint, is the lack of EPA regulation in Mexico. Not sure if it's true though.

 

[DPKetchum]

This may have no bearing and I have no clue about the city in Mexico or quality of life where these trucks are built but St. Louis has alays been one if not the highest citys in crime rate and homicide. Its been known for decades for being a rough city. Makes me wonder to the quality of employee. I may get flamed for bringing up such but when I read this post thats was the first thing that jumped into my mind. I had a fair amout of dealings with G. M. Doravile Ga. plant workers(almost NONE from Doraville or nearby but from further out rural countys) and my experiences with them was not good for the most part. Arrogant,uneducated,pompus, clannish,living high on the hog is terms that come to mind. PLUS these same types get/got lavish big buck benifits and still do in retirement and disabiltys pay etc. They bleed the auto maufactures dry with the help of good ole boy unions. Just maybe the Mexicans might just appreciate the job they have a touch more at this time anyway.

 

[opjohnny]

I can't recall any members admit they work at the STL plant that builds trucks. We do have at least one that works at the STL plant that builds the minivans. I don't know if the two plants are close together on not. Maybe he will see this. He was the one that said they put in diesel for the new minivan at his plant.

 

[CDonaldson]

My truck was made in Mexico. I have only been into the dealer for recalls and a TSB. When I picked it up I went over it very closely. I was in awe of the workmanship. No bolts or screws missing. No stripped bolt heads. Even the clamps on all the hoses were turned the same way and all were the right sizes. Fenders, doors, etc all had even gaps well-aligned. Things were straight with each other. The paint is flawless. Not an assembly mark or flaw. The interior is the same, everything is neat and tidy. I'd give the Saltillo Plant an A+ based on my truck. My neighbor has a 2500 out of St Louis and has lived in the dealership with all kinds of nit-picking stuff and also a couple big things too. I also know a fellow in the same boat, bumped into him at the dealer when I was in for the tank vent recall, he was one really upset fellow. Based on what I have read here and on other sites there does seem to be quality control/manufacturing issues. Could be similar issues at Freightliner, as they are building/moving manufacturing to Saltillo too. I realize that the new maunfacturing plants are more high tech and state of the art than the old plants here in the US, that may have something to do with it all in the overall. Still, there is a final quality inspection and one would think that would catch a lot of the problems? Maybe not so from what we all see/hear on these boards.



The Mexicans don't have a union to protect them, they are fired on the spot for production errors. I have a client who comes from there and this is what he tells me. The employment lines are long for those jobs and the people waiting for them appreciate having a good job and bust their butts to keep it by working hard and doing things as expected - right the first time.



CD

 

[RustyJC]

Both my 1996 and my 2002 3500 duallies were manufactured in Mexico and exhibited exceptional assembly quality.



Rusty

 

[TJJEEPER]

Many many reasons. But look at the american plants that build Toyota and Honda. They build a quality product. Management? Probably...

I also think a new modern plant built from the ground up helps too.

 

[GOlsen]

My 98 was built in St. Louis, I haven't really had any major problems. The paint seems like it was done well, no orange peel. I haven't had any other CTDs to compare with, but I do have a few small leaks (140k). Seems pretty normal to me.

 

[DPKetchum]

Nissan in the BEGINING when the plant in Tenn. was NEW had super quailty. It matched or exceded the Japs. BUT within 5 years the Jap stuff passed the Tenn. plant. Personally I think the "if" big personal issues with drugs,quality of work and a pink slip with a long line of applicants plays a big role. I had a gal customer that had just recently retired from a Ohio G. M. plant(back in 99 or so)with a new Olds(pass. side had fender/door fit issues & drivers side was perfect) tell me HORROR storys about cronic drug users/drinkers,sex change operations(YEP) issues that required kid gloves to handle on shifts and put up with in the daily work operation. (pay for also)

 

[DonFitzwater]

I'm not surprised in the least at the responses this thread has generated. I'm going to send some emails to DC and see if I can get anyone to follow through with anything. I'm very disappointed in the least with the overall quality of this new truck. I'm the dummy that didn't check it out thoroughly though and I now I will pay the price for not inspecting it well.

 

[GregSmith]

I'm on my fourth Ram/Cummins, 2 from St. Louis, 2 from Mexico. All four have been relatively trouble-free. The two assembled in St. Louis only saw the dealer for recalls. I've experienced no difference in quality between the products from the two plants.



Being in the auto parts business, I've owned dozens of cars and trucks over the last 10 years; some foreign, some domestic, including some premium brands like Infiniti. I've actually experienced fewer quality issues with the domestics.



In today's market, I don't think anyone assembles a bad vehicle. They can't afford to.

 

[CDonaldson]

I agree with your statement Greg - "In today's market . . . they can't afford to". Notice that I left out the middle part. I did that for a purpose. When in fact a manufacturer IS having a manufacturing problem they go to great lenghts to solve it, the bad rep they get, especially today with the internet, is something they CANNOT AFFORD. So, the real question to be asked has to do with WHAT LENGTH THEY WILL GO TO to solve the problem. It surely appears that DC has decided to increase the production of our trucks in their Mexico facilities as they are currently expanding thier production facilities for our trucks. It also appears that DC has decided to split manufacture some of their other trucks - Freightliner - in Mexico. That looks to me like an experiment, one that has already been taking place with our trucks. Do you suppose over time the will move to expand the Freightliner production? Bet so. I would further bet that when the 2500/3500 expansion is complete, we will see layoffs in the US plants. There could be other eplinations besides the quality of manufacturing, but it will not make much difference as to the outcome, soon all the 2500/3500 trucks will be manufactured exclusively in Mexico, and not too long in the immediate future the Freightliners will follow suit.



I have also owned several imports (Audi) and several domestics (Ford) through the years. I have had virtually no problems with any of them, I guess I coul call myself 'lucky'. Besides the mighty Cummins engine I did have other reasons for buying the truck I did. I wish I could say that I have a preference that was driven by my American Spirit to buy only American made products, but I did make sure the vehicle I was purchasing came from the Mexican plant because of quality control issues I perceived at the time.



CD

 

[Grizzly]

I read somewhere that one advantage for the Mexican assembled trucks, in terms of paint, is the lack of EPA regulation in Mexico. Not sure if it's true though.

This is not true at all. If anything, Mexico has even stricter EPA. This information is quoted from an Albuquerque Engineer who worked in Mexico and is familiar with Mexico's EPA. He is a TDR member. I'm hoping he will respond to this and give us more insight of his exceptional knowledge and expertise.

 

[elandon1201]

I read somewhere that one advantage for the Mexican assembled trucks, in terms of paint, is the lack of EPA regulation in Mexico. Not sure if it's true though.

My truck is a Mexican and the paint is peeling off the front Sport bumper.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I'm impressed, a Mexican built truck with a problem!

 

[DPKetchum]

Paint adhesion on plastics kinda been a issue on everyting. To me thats a minor issue. I've seen some new G. M. autos in the past that had a world of issues from the get go. I had a older fellow bring in a new last of the rwd Olds in with less then 5k on it. He had a long list of issues,big and small. He had just retired from a plant after several decades of employment. He said "you know I followed this car down the assembly line every second it was being built and everyone building it knew it was my retirement present!" Then he said Darn this thing is a piece of crap! I said just what do you thing the general l public been saying for all these years and "you" had a inside track. His antenna had even fallen out of the fender. I did not have much symphony for him.