Chrysler Rant

SP01715 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-12-2010, 03:02 PM

I know this is a little of topic, but it is car related.

A few months ago I bought a Jeep Rubicon from a Jeep dealer with 9200 miles on it. The vehicle was certified with 2 more years of warranty left. I took the vehicle out to the desert last week and the transfer case would not shift properly.

I took the vehicle to my local dealer (the dealer I bought it from is 100 miles away). They checked out the vehicle and said the body lift that is on the vehicle is causing the problem, and is also causing the fan to hit the radiator shroud.

I bought the vehicle with both a suspension and body lift installed. The vehicle was certified with these parts on them. The dealer took pictures and sent them to Chrysler. Three days later Chrysler responds and says too bad, they won't pay to fix the problems. On top of that they also said the remaining two years of warranty are void.

The dealer was shocked by the response and told me to open up a complaint. I followed their advice, but Chrysler still won't change their position. Their position is the vehicle should not have been certified. I paid a premium price for the vehicle because it was certified, and now I am getting screwed by a company that used tax payer money to survive.

I took the vehicle to an off road shop and dropped more than 5K to have the suspension taken off and replaced with a lift that will work. I am going to contact an attorney, but also wanted to warn anyone looking at buying a Chrysler product. I own two jeeps and a Dodge truck, but no more Chrysler products for me. I was looking at buying a new Dodge truck for a tow vehicle, but looks like it will probably be another Chevy. What good is a warranty if the company won't honor it.

joyridin' · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 07:46 AM

You can be mad, but this doesn't sound like an issue with Chrysler. Sounds like an issue with whatever dealer certified the vehicle.

My brother was a Chrysler tech for many years. There are strict guidelines to go by when certifying a vehicle. Unfortunately, the dealer hires some kid out of high school to check the vehicle and the rest is history.

I would be suing the dealer on this one. None of those modifications should have been allowed on a certified vehicle. Hell, if it had aftermarket wheels, my brother failed them as certified.

SP01715 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 08:58 AM

In my opinion Chrysler should be the one going after the dealer. It is a 200 mile round trip drive in heavy traffic (Los Angeles). When I owned a Franchise customers could file complaints with the parent company, and the people would be compensated by the parent company with the cost recovered from the individual franchise. It's not like I bought it from a fly by night used car dealer. They are flying the Chrysler logo and should be held accountable by Chrysler. Chrysler does not want to do anything to try and help a customer that bought one of their products. We will see what the lawyer says.

tcrist · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 10:20 AM

What did your closer dealer and the off road shop say caused the issue? The body or the suspension lift.

SP01715 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrist

What did your closer dealer and the off road shop say caused the issue? The body or the suspension lift.

The body lift is causing the above problems. We are installing a 1" motor mount lift, and the correct drive shaft so the driveline can be lifted back up into the correct position. This will take car of the fan problem and transfer case shifting problem.

While we were inspecting everything we also noticed some things about the suspension lift that were not installed right. I am removing everything and going with a Rubicon Express long arm kit. I am running a similar set-up on my other jeep at it works very well.

I don't think the selling dealer even looked at anything. They saw 9200 miles on the odometer, and just checked off the certification list.

tcrist · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 08:23 PM

Have you taken the Jeep to more than one off road shop the get a second opinion on what is wrong and what the fix would be?

SP01715 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-14-2010, 11:04 AM

I took it to two shops and both said the same thing. The guy doing the work has done some builds for JP Magazine, so I trust his opinion.

RAZOR · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2010, 12:39 PM

I feel very confident the lawyer will tell you it is the dealers responsibility. Dealer should have known better, your beef is 100% with them. My experience at the dealerships I have worked at, is we would deduct custom modification from trade in value, and many times change it back to factory stock, for the mere reason that these type of problems would occur and are more headache then any value. Remote start was a very popular add that we would always remove after trade in, because of the problems that could manifest at a later date.

SP01715 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2010, 02:05 PM

Yeah, I was screwed by the dealer for sure. I would think that Chrysler would back me up though when my local dealer tells them the selling dealer screwed up. I will see what the lawyer says.

Fullchat289 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SP01715

...... I was looking at buying a new Dodge truck for a tow vehicle, but looks like it will probably be another Chevy. What good is a warranty if the company won't honor it.

Why not buy from a company that responsibly adjusted it's balance sheet??

This just in....

http://www.drivef150ecoboost.com/

- Allen.

Quik289 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-15-2010, 08:59 PM

As a former new car dealer (not Chrysler) I can tell you it is the dealer who has the liability, and your lawyer will no doubt go after that dealer. You won't be the first customer that made the mistake of thinking the dealer binds the manufacturer. The dealer did not verify the car met the Chrysler standards for certification and the dealer misrepresented the car to both Chrysler and you. Chrysler is, in effect, telling you to go after the dealer. We would have bought the car back from you if we had made that mistake. In your case, it sounds like you have $5k in damages the dealer should be glad to pay. If the fact you removed the lift kit causes the dealer to assert the car now IS certified, be sure to check that Chrysler has not made an entry in the vehicle's warranty history that the warranty is void. Manufacturers frequently do that after flood damage, installation of warranty voiding items, etc. Good luck

tcrist · #12 (**permalink**) 11-15-2010, 09:58 PM

Quick289,

Would the dealer have to pay the whole 5K for a whole new aftermarket setup and whatever else he fixed or just what it would have cost them to put it back to stock using off the shelf parts?

If it was taken back to the dealer they might have been able to put it back to stock for less then 5K. No?

Not trying to be a smart a$$. Just wondering.

SP01715 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullchat289

Why not buy from a company that responsibly adjusted it's balance sheet??

This just in....

http://www.drivef150ecoboost.com/

- Allen.

I need a 1 ton dually. I have a 3/4 ton duramax right now, but I am looking at buying a new 40' fifth wheel pushing about 14,000 pounds. I really have been happy with my Duramax, but I have a couple friends with the Dodge / Cummins package, and the motor seems bullet proof. I will look around though and see what my options are.

SP01715 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quik289

As a former new car dealer (not Chrysler) I can tell you it is the dealer who has the liability, and your lawyer will no doubt go after that dealer. You won't be the first customer that made the mistake of thinking the dealer binds the manufacturer. The dealer did not verify the car met the Chrysler standards for certification and the dealer misrepresented the car to both Chrysler and you. Chrysler is, in effect, telling you to go after the dealer. We would have bought the car back from you if we had made that mistake. In your case, it sounds like you have $5k in damages the dealer should be glad to pay. If the fact you removed the lift kit causes the dealer to assert the car now IS certified, be sure to check that Chrysler has not made an entry in the vehicle's warranty history that the warranty is void. Manufacturers frequently do that after flood damage, installation of warranty voiding items, etc. Good luck

Thanks for the info. I was told by my local dealer that Chrysler has already removed the warranty from the vehicle due to the after market parts.

SP01715 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrist

Quick289,

Would the dealer have to pay the whole 5K for a whole new aftermarket setup and whatever else he fixed or just what it would have cost them to put it back to stock using off the shelf parts?

If it was taken back to the dealer they might have been able to put it back to stock for less then 5K. No?

Not trying to be a smart a$$. Just wondering.

The problem is the tires / wheels are not factory. Factory Rubicon Moab wheels are $240.00 a piece (that includes a spare so you are looking at 5). The factory tires are about $250.00 a piece (again you need 5). The factory bushings where the body mounts to the fram are missing. The factory sway bar is missing. The factory coils are missing. the factory shocks are missing. Four of the factory control arms are missing. Once you replace all these parts, and add labor you are going to over 5k to put it back to stock. You can buy the after market stuff which are better components for less money.

tcrist · #16 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 04:52 PM

Now you are adding tires and wheels? Did this come up before and I did not see it?

Sounds like it would be better for you to return it and get your money back if that was possible. I guess that is why you are getting a lawyer. Good luck in what ever you do in getting this resolved. Hope it comes out favorable on your end.

joyridin' · #17 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrist

Now you are adding tires and wheels? Did this come up before and I did not see it?

Sounds like it would be better for you to return it and get your money back if that was possible. I guess that is why you are getting a lawyer. Good luck in what ever you do in getting this resolved. Hope it comes out favorable on your end.

I was thinking the same thing. I would have thought the wheels would have been a dead giveaway tot he vehicle not being stock. That alone would have thrown a red flag as to whether it was certified or not.

tcrist · #18 (**permalink**) 11-16-2010, 07:29 PM

The thing is when the dealer tells you it is certified, how would you know any different? It is really is crappy of Chrysler not to push the dealer to fix this issue. They should tell them to man up or pull their ticket the sell their product. No auto manufacturer needs bad publicity in this day and age.

As a note, I am not for Chrysler. I would not have one of their products if it were given to me. Well, I might take it and sell it but I would not keep it. A Chrysler design flaw killed my step brother many years ago. My dad was always a Chrysler product nut up until the day he passed. Even after the death of my step brother.

SP01715 · #19 (**permalink**) 11-17-2010, 12:41 PM

The tires and wheels are not stock, and will not work without a lift. They are too big and will not clear with stock suspension. As far as certification, it was sold a "certified". They entered in in the Chrysler system when I bought it so I could go to any dealer and get warranty work done.

SP01715 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-08-2010, 03:32 PM

Well, just got off the phone with the supervisor at Chrysler (it took this long for it to climb the chain). Said Dealership will have formal complaint lodged against them (whatever the heck that means). Said vehicle never should have been certified and my issue is with the dealership. I told the guy people could file a complaint at one of my gas stations and Conoco would give them 50 bucks worth of gas for trivial stuff. I bought a vehicle from them and I get nothing. He offered me 4 oil changes at 20 bucks a shot. What a joke. Never will I buy a Chrysler product again!!!

Moving forward with the attorney now...

BTW, I dropped 9k in new suspension, motor mount lift, rims and tires and it works perfect now.