Update on my water leak situation.

"oldirtybootz" (oldirtybootz)
11/12/2013 at 15:30 • Filed to: dodge dart, water leak, chrysler problems

So the factory wants us to try sealing thw windshield from the inside and outside first and see if that works. If it doesn't, then I'll get a new windshield. I'm beyond pissed right now. I have stains in my headliner, mold in the a-pillar trim, and I'm out a car until this sistuation is resolved. This is their screw up from the factory, I work for a dealership and am well aware of their practically non-existent quality control but took a chance on one of their products anyway, and now this is what I have to deal with? I have to hope that their halfassed fix does the job? I spent $20k on their product, they let it out of the factory with a pretty major defect, and they can't even properly fix the issue? I suppose this is karma for trading my Focus and not going with another Ford. Brian is angry >:(

DISCUSSION (31)

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:31

Sorry, what car is it?

oldirtybootz > KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb
11/12/2013 at 15:32

2013 Dart 1.4T.

Meatcoma > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:34

Was wondering if Durango or Cherokee on lift.

offroadkarter > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:35

Wow, that is really really shitty. Hopefully you get this sorted out soon

Squid > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:35

If it is warranty work, the headliner and trim should all be replaced along with what ever was the root cause of the leak. If the techs in the service dept. can't figure out what the cause is there should be a regional water leak and noise specialist they can send out to determine the cause. Basically everything that has been damaged by the water leak should be replaced as part of the repair. Don't accept anything less especially if it is warranty work.

djmanila > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:36

do they not have loaner cars since this should be under warranty?

oldirtybootz > Meatcoma
11/12/2013 at 15:36

Grand Cherokee.

PelicanHazard > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:36

Sucks. It would be easier to say avoid if it was generally bad quality, but it does the annoying thing of being hit or miss. My Dart had faulty radio units and then a stress-fractured windshield, but both of those got sorted in early summer and it's been a joy since.

oldirtybootz > offroadkarter
11/12/2013 at 15:37

I hope so too. The car has 800 miles on it. I've only had it for a week.

PatBateman > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:37

Kinja'd!!!

You're welcome.

oldirtybootz > PelicanHazard
11/12/2013 at 15:39

With any car you run the risk of having stupid problems like this. I love the car otherwise but this has left a bad taste in my mouth and it's definitely the last timw I buy a Chrysler product. I mean, who buys a car thinking the windshield wasn't properly sealed from the factory?

oldirtybootz > Squid
11/12/2013 at 15:40

Well I'm going to call their customer service tonight. This is ridiculous and I'd like it repaired to my satisfaction. I'll deal with the stains and whatnot, but I want the windshield replaced, not rigged.

Takuro Spirit > djmanila
11/12/2013 at 15:41

Mazda (for example) will only pay for a rental (loaners are a thing of the past) if the repair takes longer that 4 hours BOOK TIME. Meaning, what Mazda pays for the repair labor-wise. Unless the car has a safety defect.

Most manufacturers are the same, they've been cutting costs in warranty as much as possible.

oldirtybootz > djmanila
11/12/2013 at 15:42

Evidently I don't have loaner coverage. I guess it's part of a seperate service contract. Fortunately I work for the dealership so they're letting me use a car anyway. But imagine I didn't?

CAR_IS_MI > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:43

Ahh the wonderful products of Chrysler...

oldirtybootz > CAR_IS_MI
11/12/2013 at 15:44

Never again...

oldirtybootz > PatBateman
11/12/2013 at 15:44

That's not far off what they want to do.

Squid > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:44

What year make and model is the car? It could be that a seam is sticking up in the windshield header and is preventing a seal, or there could be a flaw in a body seam around the windshield or roof that is causing the leak. regardless it is an unacceptable flaw and should be fixed with all damaged parts replaced and not something rigged. That is doubly true if it was purchased new.

Meatcoma > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:45

bought a 96 ram 1500 once, needed a full valve job by 50k, a new trans by 72k and steering box at 80k. Before 100k it basically had an entirely new powertrain.

CAR_IS_MI > CAR_IS_MI
11/12/2013 at 15:46

Only 2 vehicles I would own from Chrysler (and I do own one of two); Jeep Wrangler because meant to take crap like this, and SRT Viper because if you can afford this you can afford a garage to keep it in on rainy days.

offroadkarter > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:47

Wow, I hope you shove a moldy A pillar up the factories ass

dinobot666 > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:48

Eye-tal-yin engineering and Mexican build quality. Thanks Sergio.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 15:56

wow that's some serious rust in there already, i'd want that handled, the headliner handled, the windshield obviously.

Wow incredibly disappointing.

EL_ULY > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 16:01

try not to think about is as a brand failure. I've worked at Lexus, Volvo, Aston, Mercedes, and Lotus. I've seem one of every model of all brands come in with random issues like this. It all down to production and quality control check points. If its common, a TSB will be issues with a fix. Trust me dude, i've seen some crazy shit on some semi expensive to extremely expensive cars come in my shop. Its normal. Don't be one of "those customers" calling customer service crying. A lot worse defects have been found on elite vehicles.

oldirtybootz > EL_ULY
11/12/2013 at 16:26

I will be onw of those customers because that's not right. I bought a car unaware that it had a water leak that cause mold inside the car. That becomes a health issue. I just want a new windshield, not a "maybe it'll work, maybe iy won't" RTV fix.

Klaus Schmoll > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 16:35

Wow, there seems something big that is wrong with the New-Dart. I've been on this forum for a while now, and we have been discussing quality issues with the Fiat-ChryCo cars when the merger started. Most Americans were like "well it can't be much worse than current Chrysler cars", and I was like "well, we'll see". Turns out they hit an all-time low with the Dart. You should ask around, I remember another Jalop who wanted to get his Dart Lemon-lawed. IIRC his car was eating stereos like crazy (a fault I expected with Fiat cars, not the leaking issue you experienced).

Being from Europe, I've driven quite a variety of Fiat products over time. And they all showed that their engineers love their work, They were beautiful, or at least quirky and somewhat different, and they showed some nice attention to detail (i.e. nice little details that you found out about over time. But they also shared one thing, they didn't age well. Good cars when new, but there were little sqeaks after a while, and the occasional electronic glitch, just the little stuff that convinces owners to get a new one but not change the brand. They might also have taken rust proofing a little less serious than Northern European brands that originate from countries with more severe winters.

What you are experiencing though (and it seems that you are not alone) is a completely different animal. I'd rather place the blame at ChryCo, as the Dart body was designed by them (?). And this is rather unusual for a NEW Fiat product, more like something that would develop after 10+ years.

Godspeed to you Sir, let's hope that they fix it!

EL_ULY > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 16:43

lol calm down son. I'm not sure if you know this but EVERY car in the world breaks. A quality car has never existed. I just had a 2013 S63 that the radio didn't work unless the hood was open. A couple weeks ago, a 2013 Rapide got a CEL, after disassembling the entire engine (body off drivetrain), the engine speed sensor fitting milled on the left bank of the aluminum block was not deep enough. Yes, a new short block is needed. Imagine if you were the customer of any of these cars, especially the $300k+ Aston customer seeing his car torn apart in the shop with less than 1,000 miles. Take a breather and trust your service department. You will not have mold in your car. You don't have a catastrophic rust issue that a little sandpaper wont brush off. Have fun in the loaner car and be patient. It happens to everyone with every car ever made.

Wacko > oldirtybootz
11/12/2013 at 16:48

You've been Kinja'd by Dodge

oldirtybootz > Klaus Schmoll
11/12/2013 at 18:20

Well they rushed the car to market so it had alot of issues, but this is a later production car and they had the majority of the kinks mostly worked out. This is just stupid though. If Bill and Joe from A1 Auto Glass can install a windshield properly, how dows this happen from an automaker? It's just a very irritating inconvenience that I'd like resolved as soon as possible. I love the car otherwise.

oldirtybootz > Wacko
11/12/2013 at 18:22

404 ERROR

djmanila > oldirtybootz
11/13/2013 at 11:21

that is odd. I used to be a detailer in HS for Chevrolet and they even had loaners.