Well , after being depressed about the whole R/T towing issue again last
night ,I sent my e-mail to the DC Execs a total of ten times in a row last
night (hehe) and I finally shook someone a little .
Just enough to get a response , even though it doesn't say much .
>Delivered-To: charter-HEMI@charter.net
>From: ca17@daimlerchrysler.com
>X-Lotus-FromDomain: CHRYSLER
>To: "W. Jack Hilton III" <HEMI@charter.net>
>Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 09:05:34 -0400
>Subject: Re: DERATING OF TOWING CAPACITY OF THE DAKOTA R/T
>
>Mr. Hilton:
>
>I understand your concerns and I can appreciate your message once -- even
>twice... but to send it dozens of times really accomplishes nothing. I have
>forwarded it to the appropriate people, and I think you will find you WILL
get a
>response is a reasonable amount of time!
>
>Good Luck!
>
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>"W. Jack Hilton III" <HEMI@charter.net> on 05/10/99 10:13:42 PM
>
>
>
> To: dms19@daimlerchrysler.com, an8@daimlerchrysler.com,
> rmm8@daimlerchrysler.com, nm7@daimlerchrysler.com,
> ca17@daimlerchrysler.com, mg42@daimlerchrysler.com,
> bcm1@daimlerchrysler.com,
> jlc17@daimlerchrysler.com,
> mar24@daimlerchrysler.com, dte@daimlerchrysler.com,
> rsd2@daimlerchrysler.com, mw68@daimlerchrysler.com,
> mkc2@daimlerchrysler.com, mfa@daimlerchrysler.com,
> djc29an8@daimlerchrysler.com
>
> cc:
>
>
>
> Subject: DERATING OF TOWING CAPACITY OF THE DAKOTA R/T
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>This email concerns the derating of the towing capacity of the 1998
>Dakota R/T's.
> I'm sending it to the above multiple recipients due to this problem
>affecting the departments of: Advertising (FALSE AND MISLEADING
>ADVERTISING), Media and Public Relations (again FALSE ADVERTISING AND BAD
>PUBLIC RELATIONS), and Legal (This appears to have "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT"
>written all over it). I will also keep remailing this to all above parties
>until I receive a satisfactory response, which I believe is due me as a
>customer. I also may have to email this to the German headquarters to see
>if they know what type of company they merged with. I realize that you
>could filter out my continual emails, but I would hope that someone could
>respond in a satisfactory manner before it gets to this point.
>
>Problem Statement:
>
>The 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T is now rated for towing at a maximum of 2000lbs,
>the 1998 Dakota R/T (like mine) was rated when sold rated
>for 6700 lbs. I have heard that a letter will be sent out to owners of
>Dakota R/Ts derating their towing capacity to 2000 lbs, and also that
>owners with the towing package option will be refunded the $300 price of
>this option since it is useless for this downrated capacity.
>
>I called customer service number and they confirmed that Dodge Dakota R/T
>owners will be mailed a letter explaining the derating of the towing . They
>also said that a mistake was made in the advertising and the literature. I
>would call this a BIG MISTAKE. The Dakota advertisement on TV shows a
>Dakota R/T going around a merry-go-round
>while saying "put away the toys". If the Dakota R/T cannot tow more than
>2000lbs, IT IS A TOY and should not be used in this advertisement. I
>bought an R/T with the understanding that it would be able to be used as a
>"truck" , as well as a show piece and a rocket . Now after being subjected
>to FALSE AND MISLEADING
>advertisements, literature, and statements, I find out that the R/T is not
>what was
>advertisedand that it is NOT what was sold to me . If I knew that the R/T
>was just a toy, I would not have bought it !!!!!!!!
>
>I was told that this only affected Dakota R/T owners who had purchased the
>factory installed Towing Group and that there may be a refund of the cost
>of the Towing Group package for those owners only ! if you think you can
>"buy off" owners with the trailer package for $300, you're WRONG! You had
>better increase that amount MANY times, like about 10 times, and make it
>> > available to ALL owners !Why would this only be available to owners who
>have a fcatory installed Towing Group ? The towing group consists of a
>frame mounted hitch ,a snap-in wiring harness for trailer lights , and a
>heavy duty flasher . All of these components are available from the
>aftermarket , or I could even order them from Mopar and have the dealer
>install them ! I don't *have* to have the factory installed Towing Group to
>be able to take advantage of the maximum tow rating !
>Considering the small number of Dakota R/T owners that this will affect , a
>settlement would be cheaper than going to court, and think
>of all the negative publicity generated if all of America finds out that
>the new DaimlerChrysler makes false claims and has misleading ads; and even
>more that they don't care about the customer after the sale , so long as
>they get their money .
>
>1) This problem will decrease our resale value; what are you going to
>do about that??????????
>2)I have a 16 foot ski-boat that I wish to tow , as well as the fact that I
>was planning on towing a car trailer to Florida in the next few weeks .
>If I want to tow a trailer greater than 2000 lbs, what do you
>recommend?????? Trade in my R/T and take a big loss and buy a new
>truck???????????? Or is there another solution available????????
>3) I want to know what the technical reasons were for making this change.
>Why was the towing capacity derated, but the load carrying capacity stayed
>the same???? Customer service checked with their sources and couldn't
>answer this question to my sataisfaction, can anybody answer this?????? Or
>do the customers not deserve a satisfactory answer??????
>4) I ended up leasing my vehicle JUST so I could get into it , there was no
>other way at the time . How in the hell do I get out of my lease even if
>you decide to buy this non-truck back ?
>
>Sorry if I sound upset, BUT I AM . I could go on for hours about the fact
>that I have *ONLY* owned Mopars since I was able to drive at the age of 15
>and that I have *NEVER* wanted to own anything else , nor have I owned
>anything else . I could also go on forever about how I have been seriously
>disappointed by the service department at the dealer where I purchased the
>truck as well as the management that takes a "...tough luck , we have our
>money , now go away!" attitude , but I will not subject you to that now.
>By the way, I am only 26 years old , and I have a great earning potential
>over the course of my life in the field I am in , and I have plans to
>purchase many vehicles for myself , my future wife , and any children or
>grandchildren I may have , not to mention the fact that I paid a *PREMIUM*
>for the 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T since they were so rare!! What type of
>influence do you think this problem and its resolution will have on my
>decison on what to buy myself in the future i nthe way of automobiles ?
>The very least I expect is for DaimlerChrysler to stand behind its
>products, admit their mistake, and adequately compensate the affected
>parties; is this too much to ask????
>
>
>I THINK NOT !
>
>Please do something to save my faith in ALL Mopars , past , present , *AND*
>future !
>
>Do this to some schmuck who has owned SAABs all his life , BUT NOT ME !!
>
>I have always been Mopar's BIGGEST fan !!
>
>EVEN BACK IN THE DARK DAYS WHEN MY PARENTS BOUGHT A 1981 DODGE ARIES K !!!
>
>
>
>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
>
>W . Jack Hilton III
>
>HEMI@charter.net
>
>ICQ#: 32611901
>
>AOL Instant Messanger: DwnSth69
>
>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
>
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>
----------------------------------------------
Jack Hilton III
Black 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T Club Cab
Charter Pipeline......the Next Wave.....
http://webpages.charter.net/hemi/jbd1.html
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