Why People Hate Chrysler

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
10/27/2016 at 13:56 • Filed to: fca, chrysler, dodge, jeep, ram, fiat, alfa romeo, Automatic Transmission, Transmissions, car repair, stealerships

And Why I’m Glad To Work For Them

See this? Its a 8-speed ZF automatic. Similar to what’s in, lets say, a Chrysler 300.

Now if said transmission is to break under warranty, how long would you think it’d take to get a replacement?

Well, here’s how long it took me, with some interesting dates.

August 22nd. Transmission was ordered

September 27th. The packaging date on the transmission box.

OCTOBER 26th (yesterday). The date the transmission arrived.

That’s right, it took them over a MONTH to procure a transmission for a customer that’s been without their car, and ANOTHER MONTH to ship it here, knowing full well they had an upset customer who couldn’t drive their vehicle, and I ordered the thing with premium transportation, had a expediting case going with FCA, and had our district rep involved as well.

And to top things off, somehow with so many hands in the cookie jar, my order got duplicated and I got ANOTHER transmission today.

I might as well keep it, just in case. You never know when another one is gonna break. We currently have 5 different FCA vehicles in for warranty transmission repairs/replacement in just this week, and we’re a pretty small dealer.

DISCUSSION (31)

HammerheadFistpunch > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 13:57

ZF is having a hard time lately...but you really don’t hear about this problem on other manufactures cars with ZF transmissions.

For Sweden > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 13:59

Free transmission! :D

What did the customer use for a loaner car?

Takuro Spirit > For Sweden
10/27/2016 at 14:00

One of ours, I have no idea. Probably another 300. Or 200.

Takuro Spirit > HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2016 at 14:01

I’m sure FCA told them to use a bit cheaper parts for the ones they were buying, or its the ATF +4 that’s killing them slowly. Stuff’s been around since the 1800's.

EL_ULY > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:02

PartsLyfe

We just got a sold unit out that was here for 5 month waiting on a windshield (cracked on delivery)

Yes, the car was sold 5 month ago and was delivered this week

MonkeePuzzle > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:02

8-speed!? that’s just too many!

I think there is a world market for maybe five gears.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:04

At first I thought that was a picture of the turbo encabulator.

For Sweden > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:04

I think a 200 loaner is a breach of contract

Cé hé sin > HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2016 at 14:08

I’ve never heard of problems with the 8 speed though, or indeed any of the many others they make apart from the nine speed, and that seems more down to the software than anything else

TysMagic > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:10

I had a longer wait for the top on my Abarth. FCA wouldn’t expedite according to my dealership.
It finally arrived around the 1st of this month, my car has been in the shop since then - only last week did they finish installing the top. They’re also doing a few other things I requested that are all but done. I’ve enjoyed not putting the miles on my car I guess - i miss my car

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MonkeePuzzle
10/27/2016 at 14:14

4auto 6manual

Steve in Manhattan > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:16

My sister and brother-in-law are very good friends with a Chrysler employee - they’ve gotten a couple Town & Country minivans and a few Dodge trucks that all were driven by corporate big shots, then put up for sale. They’ve had very few problems with all of those vehicles over 25 years.

Now I’m trying to talk sis into getting an Alfa Giulia ... and of course I wouldn’t be around all the time pestering her for the keys!

FCA = Fiat Chrysler America?

for Michigan > Steve in Manhattan
10/27/2016 at 14:18

First Chrysler Automobiles. Headquartered in London oddly enough.

Steve in Manhattan > for Michigan
10/27/2016 at 14:20

Well if I had my choice, I’d be headquartered in London as well - or Tokyo, or (SigOther was almost transferred there) Florence. I said baby, if you get that job, I’ll mop the floors to live in Italy. Sadly, did not happen.

Takuro Spirit > For Sweden
10/27/2016 at 14:23

Could have been a Compatriot :/

for Michigan > Steve in Manhattan
10/27/2016 at 14:29

Same here. London is probably my favorite out of all the cities I’ve visited.

BLCKSTRM > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 14:31

Either that or there’s something FCA did with the programming that is killing them.

What am I talking about - surely it’s at least both.

Takuro Spirit > BLCKSTRM
10/27/2016 at 14:37

That too. I heard a rumor that MAYBE the first update for the shifter recall was bad and took out the valve body which in turn killed the trans but I don’t know the specifics.

DipodomysDeserti > for Michigan
10/27/2016 at 14:52

I’d be headquartered in Barcelona.

mr2gud2u > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 15:02

what’s the retail price on that trans?

comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 15:19

Little known fact: ZF stands for Zero F*cks, which this transmission gives. Want to get somewhere? it DGAF. Apparently, the Mopar folks also give the same amount of f*cks.

Takuro Spirit > mr2gud2u
10/27/2016 at 15:23

$3075.00

Plus $2000.00 for the core.

mr2gud2u > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 15:54

Wow I expected they would cost much more than my NAG1. Are the ZFs lasting 100k at least?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 15:58

So the story I heard from a Chrysler tech recently was that FCA didn’t want to point up the cash to buy ZF’s software and decided to write their own, which ended up being shit and killing up a bunch of transmissions. And now recently they’ve thrown in the towel and bought the software from ZF.

No idea how true this is. Not sure on this guy’s trustworthiness either. But it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Takuro Spirit > mr2gud2u
10/27/2016 at 15:59

Not sure if we have any that well used. Most of the ones around here are barely driven, low mileage cars. I saw THE CLEANEST 2003 Durango today with only 70k on it.

Takuro Spirit > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/27/2016 at 16:08

Sounds like something Chrysler would do. They should know better though, after their history with electronics...

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 16:22

Ouch....

The Compromiser > Takuro Spirit
10/27/2016 at 17:52

I love the 8 speed in our Derange-O. I love how it holds 2nd and 3rd when I’m on it, but is in 22nd gear if I am putting along.

The Compromiser > mr2gud2u
10/27/2016 at 17:53

More than you can afford pal. Chrysler. er wait.....

pip bip - choose Corrour > Takuro Spirit
10/29/2016 at 22:15

we have the same issue with Cruze autos

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Takuro Spirit
01/05/2017 at 10:48

NOPE-ar.