Daimler Chrysler dilemma

[LEFSElover]

I need to vent. It's way overdue. I am going to send this post and others I'll do also, to Daimler Chrysler so they can see that this is just rediculous and my hope is to get as many potential buyers of their products to reconsider.

I have a Dodge Durango. It is beautiful, perfect in everyway EXCEPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for the window motors, electric mirror motors and electric door locks. I have 4 windows that go up and down. Just and only, 4. I am about to replace window motor number 5. I have replaced the motor that operates my electric mirrors and also the electric door locks, which guess what???????????????????????????? ARE OUT AGAIN. I replaced them this past March. But guess what? THEY ARE ALL ON DIFFERENT ACTUATORS SO THEREFORE, I GET TO PAY 300 HUNDRED DOLLARS ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT DOOR. These all cost around $300

Daimler Chrysler doesn't care. They are willing to do nothing. My policy expired last June. I have been to 4 (5* star dealerships that all say the same thing.) <<"Sorry, but Daimler Chrysler won't pay us to fix your broken problems. And their attitude is basically, "oh well."

PLEASE, BEFORE YOU BUY A DAIMLER CHRYSLER PRODUCT......................................THINK AGAIN.


Thanks for letting me vent. Now, onto another web site to do this exact same thing.................
I appreciate responsess as the more I get here and wherever else I post this dilemma, the more they'll get hit in their pocketbooks!

If this is in the wrong category, go ahead and remove or place it where it is supposed to be, thanks..

 

[Andy M.]

I had a Chrysler product in the 80s. Constant problems and no one ever fixed it! That was enough to turn me off forever.

 

[cara]

no problems with our old daimlers, even after 40years you are stzill able tzo get a majority of spare parts...

I think the problems with modern cars, they have to many electric parts in it... hmm... well... even in our '65 fintail there are electric window lifter....

 

[ronjohn55]

I can really feel for you on this one! Sounds like a bad deal all around!

In another career, I was a factory rep for one of the Big 3 (not DC, so that leaves the other two...).

We never had firm "rules" about what we would cover, only "guidelines and rules of thumb" which were nearly never put into writing (legal reasons). The biggest rule was to take each issue on a case-by-case basis.

Worst part is, if it's anything like my experience, once a "No" is in the system it tends to follow you around.

I don't have all the facts in this case, but from what you poseted, it sure sound like something I would have at least listened to about offering assistance. The whole point of service reps from the factory is to spend money to keep customers satisfied and buying your vehicles.

Sorry to hear about this one. Car trouble is always a royal pain!
John

 

[shpj4]

I had a Silver Chrysler Sebring 2 door for about 8 years. One of the things that I was so unhappy about was after I had the car for a year the transmission seals broke and I had oil pouring from under my car. It had to be towed to the Chrysler Dealership in Van Nuys. I was under warranty so there was no charge and they paid for my rental car.

Six months later I got into my car and the gears were having a hard time shifting so I drove directly to the dealership and when I came in my car was steaming something awful from the motor. They opened the hood and were ready with fire extingishers but nothing was on fire. This time they had my car for 2 weeks and I got a loaner car. Chysler had to eat the money for the loaner car.

In the 8 years that I had my Sebring my total mileage was 26,000 miles

 

[Half Baked]

I had to have the engine replaced in my Chrysler Sebring after 4 years. Fortunately I had purchased the extended warranty and it only cost me $300 for a new one. Well I had to pay for items to install the engine which set me off but compared to $5K, it was ok.

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

I had a 69 Dodge Van A100 series that I put over 350,000 miles on. I never had problems with service on that vehicle. But then again, I did all the servicing myself.

I've had similar problems with electronic parts goind haywire with a Dodge mini-van where the rear washer motor control went bad and remained on permanently. I removed it and found that the electronics parts were all epoxied into a little box, with no way to get at them. Being an Electrical Engineering Technologist, I know that the multi-purpose control is made up of 1 micro-circuit, 1 capacitor, and one resistor, along with a power amplifier to run the motors. Total cost of this very low-tech control is between ten to fifteen bucks. The dealer wanted $95. What a mark up! I disconnected the wires from the controller to the motor, and replaced it with a simple 2 dollar togles switch that I connected to the 12-volt source. That took care of that problem.

I wish I could as easily fix the haywire electrical problems with my Ford Explorer. That beast is givng me fits.

Though I detest Ford for their lack of quality (assumption based on several Ford vehicles over a twenty year period) I must admit that most new cars today suffer from over-engineering. The more things there are, the more things there are to break. And in spite of general electronic robust nature, electronics gadgets are just not meant to be placed in an environment where themperatures range from -40 F to better than 100 F. Plus all of the corrosive elements of the road, not to mention moisture, shock, and vibration, all tend to mess things up.

I used to fix Navy jet-aircraft electronics. They underwent similar harsh conditions, (significantly more so, actually), and failed regularly, but were fabricated to much higher standards than anything any car manufaturer is willing to do.

Maybe the old mechanical gas pump in the oil pan wasn't as modern as the electronic gas pump in today's car; but it lasted the life of the car, as did the mechanical window handle used to raise and lower the windows.

Electronics is a great thing in a perfect environment. But I ask you, is your car always kept on a smooth surface, in 70% humidity, at a temperature range between 68 and 85 degrees F.? Mine sure isn't.

Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North

 

[bullseye]

I need to vent. It's way overdue. I am going to send this post and others I'll do also, to Daimler Chrysler so they can see that this is just rediculous and my hope is to get as many potential buyers of their products to reconsider.

I have a Dodge Durango. It is beautiful, perfect in everyway EXCEPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for the window motors, electric mirror motors and electric door locks. I have 4 windows that go up and down. Just and only, 4. I am about to replace window motor number 5. I have replaced the motor that operates my electric mirrors and also the electric door locks, which guess what???????????????????????????? ARE OUT AGAIN. I replaced them this past March. But guess what? THEY ARE ALL ON DIFFERENT ACTUATORS SO THEREFORE, I GET TO PAY 300 HUNDRED DOLLARS ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT DOOR. These all cost around $300

Daimler Chrysler doesn't care. They are willing to do nothing. My policy expired last June. I have been to 4 (5* star dealerships that all say the same thing.) <<"Sorry, but Daimler Chrysler won't pay us to fix your broken problems. And their attitude is basically, "oh well."

PLEASE, BEFORE YOU BUY A DAIMLER CHRYSLER PRODUCT......................................THINK AGAIN.


Thanks for letting me vent. Now, onto another web site to do this exact same thing.................
I appreciate responsess as the more I get here and wherever else I post this dilemma, the more they'll get hit in their pocketbooks!

If this is in the wrong category, go ahead and remove or place it where it is supposed to be, thanks..

There is a technical service bulletin about this situation; it may be caused by a short in wet weather affecting the rear gate lock mechanism that tells the control module to keep trying to lock or unlock the doors, causing premature failure of the lock actuators. It could be you keep repairing the symptom and your service people miss the cause. TSB 08-023-03 affects 2000 through 2003 Durangos and other similar Chrysler products.

 

[LEFSElover]

thanks for the responses. I needed them to feel like I had some sort of claim against these nimbrods.

I'll look in to the problem as stated with the problem with the rear window thing. thanks for that.

S

 

[Nicholas Mosher]

Cars just plain stink period!
It's really a matter of picking between poisons.

 

[phinz]

That's why I *never* buy American cars, and rarely American trucks. My '96 Mazda Miata has had no problems that weren't my own doing. We're now a 3-Mazda, 1-Scion family.

 

[ronjohn55]

There is a technical service bulletin about this situation; it may be caused by a short in wet weather affecting the rear gate lock mechanism that tells the control module to keep trying to lock or unlock the doors, causing premature failure of the lock actuators. It could be you keep repairing the symptom and your service people miss the cause. TSB 08-023-03 affects 2000 through 2003 Durangos and other similar Chrysler products.

Not to be a killjoy on this, but the presence of a TSB is not considered any reason to warranty a part, or an admission of a "defect" by the manufacturer. (I'm not saying I agree with what I just typed, it's just what it is).

A manufacturer uses a TSB to communicate repair procedures or alerts to the dealers (which are indivually owned and not run by the manufacturer). Many (most) deal with issues like the one described above, and are meant as suppliments to the service and repair manuals. Others are meant strictly as a means to communicate information. (Ford had a rather amusing one a few years back when they included personal message recorders on their SUVs - seems some of the people at the plant were leaving messages on them at the factory, and not using really nice language).

Finding one that describes your issue often won't geta dealership to re-evaluate your claim (same with the factory rep).

Sorry to be a downer on this.
John

 

[ronjohn55]

That's why I *never* buy American cars, and rarely American trucks. My '96 Mazda Miata has had no problems that weren't my own doing. We're now a 3-Mazda, 1-Scion family.

Heh Heh... Ford owns and runs Mazda...

In a move sure to amuse/annoy/infuriate trivia buffs and Mustang purists, the new "Retro" look Mustang is built at the Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock Michigan. (Yes, they kicked the mustang out of Dearborn Assembly for this model, after 40+ years, Mustangs are no longer made in Dearborn). They also make a Mazda model there now, but I can't remember which one.

The Auto Alliance plant is a former Ford assembly plant, that was sold to Mazda. Then Ford bought a stake in Mazda, and in 1989 auto alliance began producing along side the Mazda 6 series a vehicle that was due to replace the Mustang (but didn't due to public outcry) - the Ford Probe.

John

 

[LEFSElover]

part of the reason that {we are or I am} annoyed by this besides the obvious lack of Daimler Chrysler customer service is because my DH loves Mopars. We own 3 and they occupy our garage. 70 Superbee, 67 RT, 69 Roadrunner. He hates that now, he won't feel comfortable buying Chrysler/Dodge products any longer and is furious about the lack of concern, I mean total lack of concern by these individuals we've tried to get to hear our complaints. He thinks it's criminal. I do too.

We'll be dumping this car of mine. I need something else that is less gas hoggish, less large and powerful and more customer friendly if something does go wrong. Now, what to buy is my dilemma. One thing I do know, and by the way my DH agrees that it's brand vs. brand (none is better than any other) as far as Customer Service goes, he says all companies make products with planned obsolescence. Meaning they are all meant to break and then you must replace with another piece of faulty plastic. Uff da! I'm going back to Roy and Dales manner of transportation, Trigger and Buttercup!

 

[BigDog]

Hee hee hee, this has been entertaining to read, since it is something I actually know about!

Cars are as previously said, pick your poison. It doesn't matter who makes them, they are machines that malfunction, and can do so in a seemingly infinite number of ways.

Assuming you bought new, and your policy expired in June, Id figure your truck to be a '02, or maybe a late '01. I'm not 100% certain the Daimler/Chrysler merger was complete and in full effect. It hasn't been but recently that you see Daimler influence in Chrysler products, and to be honest, Dodge and Chrysler are putting out some of the hottest vehicles on the road.

Back to foreign v. domestic, all of the American Auto Makers are in to varying degrees with foreign cars. All of the Geos were essentially Toyotas. Now, since Geo is dead, the Chevy Trackers are Suzuki. Ford is most definitely in with Mazda, and Chrysler with Mistubishi!

I looked up what each lists as family brands, and was quite surprised.

Ford Family of Fine Cars: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin.

General Motors brands: Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, Cadillac.

Daimler Chrysler: Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Freightliner, Fuso (Mitsubishi), Sterling, Western Star.

Under this list, there aren't a lot of options to not buy "American" . . . . . Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai are about it.

 

[phinz]

Heh Heh... Ford owns and runs Mazda...

Actually, Ford owns controlling interest, but Mazda's design is still Mazda based. They borrow from the Ford parts bin, but so does Aston Martin, Jaguar and others.

The cars I own also are not built in the United States. The only Japanese car I've owned that was built in the States was the one we had problems with. Take that as you will.

 

[phinz]

Under this list, there aren't a lot of options to not buy "American" . . . . . Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai are about it.

The Chevy Cavalier is the Toyota Cavalier in Japan. The Geo Prizm was the Toyota Corolla rebadged.

 

[ronjohn55]

Or, compare the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe! (Built on the same line)

And a question to ponder - which is more foreign? A Nissan SUV designed and built in the US, or a Ford Escort (Old, but just for an example) that was bulit in Mexico using a Mazda engine?

(There is no right answer, as far as I know...)

John

 

[bullseye]

Not to be a killjoy on this, but the presence of a TSB is not considered any reason to warranty a part, or an admission of a "defect" by the manufacturer. (I'm not saying I agree with what I just typed, it's just what it is).
John

While that is true, John, knowing what might be the root of the problem could, at least, save them having to pay for the same repairs over and over.

 

[Robo410]

I've had/have 2 PTs...love(d) em and may buy a 3rd in time. However, that may change tomorrow. Gee aren't I fickle!! no, as this post shows it's the attitude of the company toward it's customers that keeps or creeps them.