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Comments
The van is US made and I sincerely tought the product was at the top of its class in quality and performance. I also had problems with the third row seats, it suddenly didn't work and the seats were stuck. The van was brand new so the dealer took care of that one. Now I'm facing with the problem that one of the sliding doors does not open. Don't even manually. The 2 year warranty that Chrysler gives in Mexico is over so I have to put money on it again. And Mexico is not US. There is no way Chrysler Corp. will pay me anything. We don't have any kind of lemon laws protecting customers against car defects down here. I will eliminate the original rotors and put bigger diameter ones instead. Also with better material pads.
I think vehicle front weight is the factor.
Chrysler drug their feet, leaving me in a rental car from Friday to Tuesday night this past week. They agreed to do a good will repair with a $50 deductible from me. I can live with this but rest assured that the dealership will be inspecting these brakes every oil change, tire rotation, etc.
Regarding some of the other issues that I had, they repaired the sliding door (again) per a recent TSB. There was also a TSB on the rear seat. The frame is bent so they have ordered me a new frame. They somehow got the seat to its upright position while they wait for the frame to be delivered. When it goes back in, they will be looking at my radio because the problems are back now that I have paired my new cell phone with the UConnect system. NO SOUND from any radio component.
Jenn
By the way, the Chrysler dealer told me that they have 4 Minivans with the same problem.
If you're as tired as we are about the repeated brake issues, I really suggest you consult a lemon-law attorney. Most operate on contingency with no out-of-pocket costs to you. I'm also curious to know what it would take it get class-action status. This is obviously a very wide-spread issue so I suspect it would be quite easy to get class-action status. If Chrysler won't listen, then perhaps they need to be forced to listen.
To start with, a ferocious amount of our miles are almost 70% highway, at least 70%, probably a lot more.
Second, I have a 99 expedition with close to 80,000 miles that we have put on it and have never done anything with the brakes. We have done plenty of other things to it, but never the brakes.
My car is 16 MONTHS OLD! S-I-X-T-E-E-N M-O-N-T-H-S!!!!!! And I have already had to dump almost $500 into a problem that should be covered in the BUMPER TO BUMPER 36,000 miles/3 Year "You buy this car brand new and we will fix anything" warranty!!!
So, take your professional attitude...
Oh an BTW, why did my mechanic have to reassure me they put great rotors and pads on my vehicle instead of the Nippon Seiki pieces of crap Chrysler threw on mine and 100s of 1,000s of other vehicles? Why not just install good ones from the beginning? I'll tell you why, it's to screw the customer out of safety and make an extra dollar.
AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I actually feel a bit better.
Just this week I had my first opportunity to talk someone out of a T and C purchase.
God, that felt GREAT!
Hope to do it again and again and again.....
First brake issues - 6000 miles - turn rotors
Second - 10,000 miles - Replace pads and rotors
Third - 18,000 miles - Replace rotors, replace pads with "updated" parts per TSB
Fourth - 28,000 miles - Needs rotors again
Typical driving was around town with some long distance trips, not in hilly areas or hard braking.
Chrysler has had a number of chances to fix this and has failed to do so. Replacing brakes the first time at 22,000 isn't horrible but it is sooner than what I consider normal.
The short of it is there are a large number of people experiencing brake problems with these vans at abnormal rates. This is unacceptable and Chrysler needs to make it right. When Nissan had the same issues with the Titan/Armada back in MY2004/MY2005 they issued a recall, bought back vehicles, and basically did whatever they could to make the problem right. Chrysler? They're leaving their customers feeling dumbfounded with no resolution.
I contacted the parts department at the dealer to purchase a new back left caliper and they informed me that I would have to buy both the right and left as a pair. I was told that both had to be replaced because of a defect in the original calipers.
When I address my concerns with the dealer’s service manager, he offered to install new back calipers and 4 rotors for $70. I had the work done and paid the $70 even though they didn't reimburse me for the pads I purchased.
I WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR QUALITY AND DECEITFULNESS.
You are correct, and because I agree with you I intend to speak with my attorney on Monday to see if he would be interested in a class action lawsuit. I have already worked with him on a seperate CA in the past so I can vouch for his tenacity. But, I expect him to direct us over to someone else who is better at nationwide lawsuits such as this.
Instead of blindly defending Chrysler, maybe you should do your own research and look at the number of complains here, on the NHTSA website, etc and understand that there *is* a design flaw with these brakes. They're too small and overheat too easily as a result. Even our local Dodge dealer has admitted that they see a number of brake problems with these vans every week and admit the rotors are too small resulting in overheating.
Is EVERYONE experiencing a problem? I don't know, I don't speak for everyone. But there are enough people with a problem and enough people with experience with multiple vehicles previously that can attest to these vans having poorly-designed brakes that are simply crap.
I guess you know better than everyone, though. Sorry for doubting your supreme knowledge. *smirk*
The number of complains here and all over the internet speak volumes, if this were a problem only for a few people then you wouldn't see hundreds of registered complaints with the NHTSA.
BTW, you're aware of the TSB for the brakes, right? Right. So tell me, if there were no problems with the brakes then why would Chrysler issue a TSB with revised parts to try and solve the problem? That's what I thought...
Have a nice day.
Do you know where the bumpers are on these cars? Could you please explain to me (us) where exactly a bumper begins and ends?
BTW, I don't care if the TC, VW, GT are 1 and all the same. Means jack and squat to me. Bottom line is, I bought a brand new vehicle and less than 17 months had a major flaw.
It is not an LED dome light burn out.
Bought a 2008 T&C new. Here's the rundown (mileage approx):
4,000 miles - A/C fails due to bad line (recall item - mine failed before I got the notice)
12,000 miles - front pads and rotors shot
18,000 miles - rear pads and rotors shot
25,000 miles - front pads and rotor shot again
30,000 miles (98% highway) - tires shot
34,000 miles - both front wheel bearings shot on a vacation trip
42,000 miles - 3.8L engine starts consuming over 1 qt per 1000 miles
However, I bought this vehicle AFTER my 98 Grand Prix with a 3.8L engine caught fire and burned my house down. So, my expectations may a bit lower.
quote However, I bought this vehicle AFTER my 98 Grand Prix with a 3.8L engine caught fire and burned my house down. So, my expectations may a bit lower. quote
PS// my son has a 2000 Limited and goes through brakes every 20-30K
at 16,000 miles the same happened to the rear, the dealer assured us this was normal on this size of minivan, oh and btw you can get our unlimited brake pad warranty!!! just pay labor every 6k miles apparently for us to replace the pads, wtf? they really expect me to do that? i got a better idea, sell the $#@#! chrysler.
the problem got slightly less worse when i decided to stop using chrysler for my pads and went aftermarket.. they last longer but still nowhere even approaching what i've gotten out of my toyota Sienna or Tundra.
then at 45k miles the AC went out thanks to some bad hose.
the automatic doors have been a never ending source of frustration, we don't even use them as automatic anymore because 1 in 3 times they'll refuse to close or open.. the dealer of course can't seem to replicate the problem...
now at 60k miles the HDD jukebox has died.. can't wait to see how much this'll run. good thing i got that extended warranty that costs $100 every time i want them to fix another piece of the puzzle.
bottom line, the brake life has been unacceptable for me as a consumer, chrysler's answer's all seemed to revolve around pay us more money to do nothing about it, the doors suck and the rest of the issues are fit and finish more or less... if it had been only fit and finish i'd be accepting of it all.
i wont be returning to the chrysler brand with my next vehicle, why should i?
I want chrysler to pay back Allstate for repairs and need the back brakes done yet. I hate the brakes and the dealer says they are working fine....
:sick:
The only issue I have had was with the air conditioning line.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the ESP. Doesn't that use the brakes?
This is just another cases of poor decisions by Chrysler (Daimler or Cerberus doesn't matter since the same management team below the chairman were running the place into the ground) when they cut the costs out ( we called it MCM as "Make Customers Mad" instead of Material Cost Management that they told the press).
And the VW isn't EXACTLY like the T&C. Same platform but various part changes. That includes several brake components. I don't know if they are having the same problems, but you don't hear about them as much. Could be how they handle the issues instead of leaving poor component choice for the consumer to live with. Sad part is Chrysler isn't winning anyone over by ignoring this same issue for several years. TSB's should be the first indication something needs to be fixed. But all those people who worked on the RT are probably; contractors who were eliminated, knowledge workers early-retired, or informed workers being shoved out the door just prior to their bankruptcy filing. Oh by they way, I've been driving minivans since he AS body. Never this issue on brakes before.
Soooo....
How about some ideas or comments from people having the OEM parts switched to aftermarket parts to help extend brake life?
I'm investing in a set of EBC Ultimax rotors and pads. No the dealer won't be installing them since they won't. So a local shop will get my "out of warranty" work on this component. I will post an update in 6 months since that's how quickly the factory parts fell apart.
Has anyone else tried other brands of replacement parts? What are your experiences with these other parts?
And have a nice day dasboot!
I also asked the guy at the dealership if he ever had a car that needed brakes that soon. He looked down and said, " No".
All but the first set of pads have been covered by chrysler, but only after spending hours on the phone constantly pushing my case that this is unacceptable performance for brakes.
Call their customer service group at 1-800-992-1997 and open a vehicle or dealer complaint case. have your repair records ready and don't take no for an answer. odds are you will get paid back, it'll just take some effort on your part.
and I'm never buying another chrysler again.
thegreener@yahoo.com
I was pleased, downright happy, to see the recall announced yesterday regarding these vehicles. I truly love my van, but as a single mom, I spent a lot of money to buy this and thought I was buying dependability. Wrong! I am leaving in 2 weeks to drive to Nebraska and I am hoping, no praying, that I don't have any issues.
Thanks to this site for the information to push this and file complaints! Hopefully a class action suit will materialize.
The service advisor told me they made the hose too short!! What a bunch of f ups, hope to get my money back! :lemon:
I loved all my Dodge minivans.. this is my 3rd one. I will not be buying a 4th.
The kicker is, I got a recall notice yesterday and was jumping up and down that finally they listened to us all.
It was a recall on a darn radiator cap... I want to know how many people have been injured or killed by their radiator caps over the last 2 year.
I am now going to write a long letter to air my frustration, and I'm going to CC everyone I can think of..
Attorney General, NHTSA, DMV, and anyone else who will listen to us all.
Bump the radiator cap people, we want better brakes!!
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6535I220100607 :lemon: