“Drivers who own [defective, shoddy and/or downright dangerous] Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles will retain their Lemon Law rights to compensation for defects under a deal between U.S. states and Chrysler LLC’s new owners, [Florida] Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday.” And so the AP reassures ChryCo’s remaining half dozen or so prospective retail customers that they can once again buy with confidence from the bankrupt, federally-sponsored zombie automaker. More specifically, Fiat Group SpA has agreed to stand behind ChryCo crap. Not that all Chrysler’s products are crap, obviously. Well, perhaps not that obviously . . .
The AP article reveals that “the latest Florida Lemon Law report for 2007 showed Chrysler led all automakers with 295 cases approved for arbitration—35 percent of the total. Chrysler accounted for 45 percent of all full settlements. The company also tied Ford for most liability awards by the state’s arbitration panel—39, or 23 percent of a total of 171.”
As Lee Iaccoca might say, if you can find a better car, let me know.
… Because he’d like to buy one?
Didn’t Chrylser have something like 10% of the market back in 2005-2007? They are way overrepresented in these stats. Many questions occur to me:
1. Is it SOP at Chrysler to just tell the customer F___ you until finally dragged into arbitration at several times the expected rate?
1A. Does Chrysler think that’s a winning strategy for customer retention?
1B. Is the rate increasing with the introduction of the new “lifetime” warranty?
2. Are their cars so crappy that they are forced into arbitration at several times the expected rate?
3. Why would anybody buy a car from Chrysler, then or now? I mean, it’s not like no one has reason to suspect the Chrysler ownership experience is anything better than awful… this is just further confirmation.
JUNK ON WHEELS !
An easy way to determine if your vehicle qualifies as a “lemon” or not:
It says “Chrysler” or “Dodge” somewhere on it.
Or if it says “Jeep” on it too, Jason.
Even b4 Chrysler, even b4 AMC – Jeeps were very well known for trouble. Let’s face it, the F-head Korean war era four banger (banger being the operative word) was still produced until the early 1970’s and certainly wasn’t suitable for modern traffic.
Then Jeep bought the rough-fire (rough being the operative word) 225-V6 (90 degree vee, 150 degree, then 90 degree, repeat – firing order) from Buick and produced it from the late 60’s to the early 70’s.
Put it this way, the brother of a pal of mine had a 10-12 year old Jeep product in the early 1970’s and he thereby earned the nickname “OTIS”.
As in “Otis **** Jeep!” because it constantly broke down.
Otherwise, did you suppose that International Harvester developed the Jeep and Ford the Bronco, for nothing?
Even the POS Bronco with cheap-ass Falcon engine was a better 4×4 than were Jeeps in the 1960’s.
That’s a telling tale!
The only new vehicle we ever purchased which we got a refund for thanks to lemon laws … was a Chrysler Town & Country. The &)(*&(* could never get the dashboard lights to work reliably. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn’t. Repeated dealer attempts to fix it, even after we sent the required “fix it or we will pursue a lemon law claim” letter didn’t get the job done.
I still shake my head in amazement that it was easier to get Chrysler to cut a check for a 100% refund, plus attorney costs, than it was to get them to fix the thing.
One experience does not a data set make, but that was our last time doing business with ’em.
I have a Fiat convertible 2013 500c. They replaced the convertible top 3 times. It still malfunctions. I filed lemon law. They will buy it back put putting me through hell. This has carried on since July. Customer service comes last, employees rat out management. It is a micky mouse cluster mess. SO much for the bailout? Did nothing.
I drive a fiat 500c with a convertible top about to tear off? Do they care? NO.
Wow.. Chrysler agrees to do what they are legally obligated to do. How is that “good” news?
KixStart :
June 4th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
… Because he’d like to buy one?
Well, considering that he just lost his Chrysler supplemental retirement benefits, which included lifetime use of a company car, he might be in the market for a new car….
~10% of the mkt and 45% of the “full settlements”?!?
I bet the reason that they are a bankrupt public/private “partnership” is due to the extraordinary economic circumstances. I also believe that professional wrestling is real and that I have a chance of winning the lottery.
I don’t know and I’m sure it was a painful process but it sounds to me like Chrysler lived up to their end of the bargain, Mr, Horner.
They couldn’t provide you with a minimum quality vehicle so they refunded your money so you could go next door. Sounds like a pretty fair deal to me.
But again, I’m sure it was a painful process. (Wow, I just stuck up for a dealer! A Chrysler dealer at that!)
For all the Chrysler/Jeep bashing here, I’ve got to say I really like my 04 Grand Cherokee.
Sure, it has an old-as-dirt AMC derived 4.0L inline six, but it has decent torque.
The car as a whole is OK. Not the most refined thing on four wheels, but it is reliable, and the minor issues I have had with it have been cheap/easy to fix.
Too bad all Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products weren’t like that.
-ted
I wonder if my and my husbands vehicles qualify for the lemon law!!!
I own the 2006 Dodge Charger and only have 24,000 miles. In August of 2009 the car literally started to fall apart, my air conditioner vents fell off, my control panel for my driver side locks fell down in the door panel, I had a diagnostic test completed in which revealed I needed a new FCM, and WCM, now on November 2, 2009 my car has become stuck in park. I have taken my car to another dealership and now they tell me it’s not my FCM it is the radiator fans are both out. Remind you only have 24,000 miles and guess what it is no longer under warranty. It is sad the only option your company could give me is to purchase and extended warranty for $1,400.00 in which you will only cover 50% due to the problems occurring out of warranty. Real nice way to take care of your customer! The icing on the cake my husband who has purchased 4 of your trucks in the past 8 years now has the 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel 4X4, and has had his air conditioner stop working 5 times in two years. They have changed 2 compressors, the vent door was replaced and which now has to be replaced again, the dryer has been replaced, and of course we need another new compressor. Oh by the way his warranty has just expired also. I will never purchase another Dodge or Chrysler product ever again and I will be sure to pass this along to every single person who considers to purchase your product.
Very dissatisfied Customers!!!