Hi Ed,
Sorry to hear about all your bad luck with the Dak. Don't give up on them
though. My first Dak was a '93. In the first 7 months, I had it in for 13
service calls. Here are some of the problems off the top of my head:
defective horn - replaced, broken driver seat belt - replaced, recall on
rack & pinion assembly - replaced, alignment that they wanted to charge me
for after the rack & pinion replacement - hahaha, faulty tail gate -
wouldn't latch closed - repaired, scratches & paint chips upon delivery,
incorrect mileage on odometer upon delivery - it went for a joy ride, to
only name a few.
As this was my very first "new vehicle" purchase, I was more than upset.
The dealership was of no assistance whatsoever, in fact they were rude. I
decided to go "slightly" above their heads and composed a 2 page typed
letter with attached photocopies of all the work orders. I also mentioned
how upset I was and I would never consider buying a Chrysler product again.
How they completed took away my "first new vehicle" excitement, all my gas
and time invested, etc., etc., etc.
This letter I sent to the CEO of Chrysler Canada. The hell with going above
their heads... I wanted to go to the very top. I was REALLY PISSED!!! A
few weeks later, I get a letter from one of the vice-presidents requesting
my truck to be delivered back to the dealership for complete inspection by a
Chrysler representative (not the dealership). There were a few more
problems with the truck either fixed or replaced, and I received free
service for a year for my trouble.
It pays to complain to the very top, even if it gets passed down a few
levels. It still gets action. No phone call or e-mail can replace the
typed, written word sent my snail mail. This is not the first time that
I've had things work out my way after writing a letter of complaint. It
turned out that the dealership in question had a few legal problems and
ended up closing due to being caught "rolling back the odometer" on used
cars.
In closing... I'll never give up on Dodge or Dakota. I'm on my fourth and
loving each and every one. Soon... we hope to trade in my '98 for a new
Quad Cab.
TTYL,
Norah
current: '98 Dakota Sport black 4x4 CC V8/5.2L/Auto
current: '95 Dakota Sport white 4x4 Reg Cab V6/3.9L/5spd
RIP: '95 Dakota Sport black 4x2 CC V6/3.9L/Auto
previous: '93 Dakota blue 4x2 CC V6/3.9L/Auto
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net]On Behalf Of Ed and Kristi
> Townsend
> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 8:11 AM
> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> Subject: DML: My Daimler Chrysler Nightmare (I wish I could wake up!) -
> LONG
>
>
> Man!
>
> I think that my truck thinks that it is yellow instead of driftwood!
> Last year I decided that I would get rid of my poor tired little
> '86 Toyota
> 4x4 turbo. It was at 140,000 miles and I thought that I should
> get rid of it
> before it started draining my bank account. It was still on the original
> turbo, and a new replacement (just parts) would have run $1497. Toyota
> decided to manufacture their own turbo-chargers instead of using
> any of the
> aftermarket units widely available (Rotomaster, Schwittzer, Rajay, KKK and
> others that all other car makers use). That explains the high parts price.
> Toyota seems to believe that all of their parts are made from precious
> metals and exotic materials.
>
> Getting rid of it was my first mistake.
>
> Buying my '99 DAK SLT CC 5.2 was my second!
>
> First off this story is condensed, didn't feel that I needed to list
> every rude response and lie that was given to me by the dealer.
>
> The first 11,000 miles we rather enjoyable. But from the day I bought
> it, the rear end howled between 40 and 50 MPH. There was also a strange
> ticking noise from the area of the driveline. I suspect a needle
> bearing in
> the rear u-joint.
>
> At 11,500 miles I took the truck in to get the yearly detail
> job (which
> sucked) and have these what I thought at the time 'minor' issues
> taken care
> of. Well, as far as the rear end, the dealer replaced the ring
> and pinion.
> That did not solve it. So they ordered a complete carrier and r/p
> setup. On
> the same warranty visit, I was told that the ticking was
> addressed in a TSB
> and that it wouldn't be a problem. The dealership attributed it
> to a problem
> to the rear leaf springs. In any event, parts for both problems were
> ordered.
>
> 2 weeks later (after not getting any phone calls, due to a
> wrong phone #
> that I HAD informed them about) I took the truck in for the
> repairs. When
> I got it back the whine appeared to be gone, but the ticking
> noise seemed to
> be worse. I looked up the TSB on the AllData system where my stepfather
> works. Funny thing, the TSB addressed SQUEAKING leaf springs, not ticking.
> And now that they did the TSB fix on my perfectly fine leaf springs, THEY
> SQUEAK!!!
>
> I informed the dealer of the problems, and told them that I
> would try to
> diagnose the problem myself (with the help of the repair shop my stepdad
> works for).
>
> It was about 2 weeks before I took the truck back in with my
> diagnosis,
> and within that time the rear-end started howling again! In
> addition, I had
> a pop in the front end, leaky thermostat housing, faulty passenger power
> window, AND THAT DAMN ANNOYING SQUEAK from the leaf springs.
>
> I have come to the conclusion that the techs at this dealership got
> their certificates from a box of Froot Loops!
>
> Anyway, I took the truck back in (#3 time) and they had it from Sunday
> the 2nd until this evening. Not a phone call during all that time
> to let me
> know what was going on! I went to pick up the truck, and come to
> find out,
> all they did during the period of a week (short 1 day due to the holiday)
> was pull the door panel and lube the window track, and lube the front end
> which had recently lubed during normal service. The dealer said
> it fixed the
> problem (yeah right). Star, the DC tech service that they have to
> report to
> for repair authorization, suggested that the drive line should be
> replaced.
> This is after the dealer told me that it wasn't a u-joint
> problem. Now what
> else can go wrong with a driveline other than cracks (which do
> not exist in
> my truck according to the dealer) and u-joints? As far as the rear end, DC
> says that there is nothing else that can be done until they come up for a
> replacement gearset, or other fix. And no timeframe was given for this. So
> now I am supposed to drive a noisy truck that might pop a rear
> end, and just
> deal with it! And I know deep in my heart that the drive-line will not fix
> the ticking noise! I suggested that they might try the 3.92 rear end, but
> they wouldn't even think about it.
>
> Well, I found the arbitration papers in the back of my
> manual, and they
> are filled out ready to drop in the mail soon. DC will not even consider
> replacing the truck or refunding the money spent on it (Calif Lemon Law
> states that either option is available, buyers discretion) without going
> thru arbitration. I am fed up! This is my first new vehicle,
> first American
> vehicle, and my first V8. I have to say that my faith in US auto
> makers has
> been shaken.
>
> I know that I am gonna get flamed BIGTIME for this, but I think it is
> time to go back to Toyota. My old truck was the epitome of
> reliability. No,
> it didn't have the power of the Dodge, or the comfort, but I
> wasn't worried
> about what might happen next with it, since nothing happened in the first
> place!!! Fast is nice, but not at the price of reliablility!
>
> A word of advice when dealing with the service department.
> KEEP RECORDS!
> Document all conversations, with whom you spoke , what was said, and
> date/time. Keep all receipts, and play their little game. In a situation
> like this, all you can do is cooperate until there is no more
> repair options
> (or 4 consecutive repairs for the same problem within the first 18months,
> 18,000 miles according to California Lemon Law) From what I
> gather from the
> DML, it is an ongoing problem with the 3.55 rear end, and DC
> knows about it.
> They are doing their best to keep it under wraps. If you have any of these
> problems, get them looked at now. And be prepared to be treated like dirt
> and kept in the dark!
>
> I really was impressed with this truck when I got it! Power, handling
> and good looks: what more could you ask for? I have to say the Toyota is
> UGLY compared to the very stylish Dakota. And space is limited. But the
> reputation of Toyota pickups can't be beat. I am gonna miss being
> on the DML
> (great bunch of ppl here!). I just can't justify getting back
> into another
> Dodge and risking the same problems.
>
> I thank the individuals that responded to my private e-mail request.
> Your input has helped me make my decision.
>
> And thanks to everyone else for the hospitality (and flame wars!). It
> has been a great experience. I have to say that this bunch (DML) is unique
> and fun-loving! I am gonna continue to monitor the list and give
> updates on
> my 'Howler' (makes you wonder if that was the origination of the 'Prowler'
> nameplate) until I no longer own the truck.
>
> Thanks again, and I am already ducking the impending flames!!!
>
> Ed Townsend
> townsend@ainet.com
> zr750@mac.com
> Modesto, CA
>
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