I lease a 2007 Jeep Wrangler 2 door 4x4. This vehicle is unsafe. The power fails during driving and it stalls. This has happened on highways and main roads. It is only a matter of time before this problem causes an accident and people are hurt or killed. The car has been in the shop for a total of 32 days due to this problem and I have missed more than a week's worth of work.
February 12, 2008: Driving to work from Hoboken, NJ to Montclair, NJ on an 11 degree day. Drove 40 minutes, some on highway. While on highway, the radio went off lights flashed on and off. Approximately one mile from work, all lights flashed on, car began shaking, the power steering and brakes stopped working and then the car stalled. Would not turn back on. Called AAA. Waited in cold for 1.5 hours. When tow truck arrived, car started again. Drove to dealership in Verona, NJ. Received a ride back to work from a colleague. Arrived to work 3 hours late. Verona dealership hooked car up to computer and stated nothing was wrong with the car. Returned to me with no repairs made.
February 13, 2008: Brought car to Manhattan Service Center at 4, 256 miles for the problem. Had to get a ride to work from a colleague. The service center (Rick C./David E.) found nothing wrong with the car, but performed a recall #G40. Told me it should solve the problem that caused the power failure and stall. See attached service invoice.
January 15, 2009: Driving to work on a cold snowy day from Huntington, NY to St. James, NY. After 30 minutes of driving the lights flashed on, car seemed to have less pick up, radio went off. Minutes later, the car began to shake and gas gave it no power. Lost power in steering and brakes as well. Drifted into a snowbank on the side of Edgewood Ave. in Smithtown, NY next to a busy school driveway. Would not restart. Jeep roadside would not tow. Called AAA. Had to renew membership. Waited in freezing cold and snow for 1 hour. When tow truck arrived still would not start. Had to call boss to pick up from Smithaven dealership. Smithhaven dealership told me they would not look at car for over four days. Called dealership in Huntington, NY. Dawn Kinsella agreed to look at the car immediately if towed there. Had car towed to Huntington dealership at 28, 096 miles. Was three hours late to work.
January 16, 2009: Got ride to work from a colleague. Called Dawn K. at service center for an update before weekend. She stated they would have a better idea on Monday.
January 20, 2009: Spoke to Dawn again. She stated that they didn't know what was wrong with the car, but based on the information available, they would replace the wireless control module. Part was on backorder. She also stated that the brake pads were thin and should be replaced. Not covered by warranty, so they would have to charge me for that maintenance. I requested a loaner car, since the wireless control model could be over a week. Service center refused. Got ride home from work from a colleague.
January 21, 2009: Got ride to work from colleague. Called for another update. Dawn stated part could take 2+ weeks to arrive. Restated my request for a loaner car. Called Chrysler Customer Assistance. After explaining that I had no means of transportation to work and that my car would be in the shop for more than a week, I was granted a loaner car. Got a ride to Huntington service center from a friend to pick up loaner car. January 31, 2009: Picked up car. Was charged $271.52 for brake pad replacement. Was assured the Wireless Control Module replacement would solve the problem with the car.
February 19, 2009: Car stalled while driving through NYC at about 20 mph. Restarted immediately. Car would not start when turned off at gas station just outside Holland Tunnel in NJ. Another patron at the gas station was kind enough to help by jumping the car. Car ran after jump. March 3, 2009: Driving to work in St. James, NY after a weekend in NJ in snowy and cold conditions with new puppy. At 7:00am, about one hour into the drive, while on Long Island Expressway, radio went off, lights flashed on and off, car began to shake and lose power. I pulled off the nearest exit and it stalled as I coasted into a gas station. After about 15 minutes, the car started again, and I tried to drive it to the Huntington Service Center about 8 miles away. The car would not drive over 25 mph, and after about two miles began to shake uncontrollably. I pulled into a parking lot, put the car in neutral and tried revving the engine. Nothing changed and the car stalled.
I waited in the cold and snow for AAA to tow me to the Huntington Service Center at 29, 295 miles. I waited at the service center with the puppy, because I had no means of transportation to work. Service advisor Brian H. communicated to me that the car had nothing wrong with it based on the computer check. That a technician would take it for a test drive with me. The problem didn't happen on the test drive. Upon return to the service center, I insisted that they continue to search for the problem on the grounds that my car had to be towed in after losing control on the highway. Service manager refused. I asked him to explain Chrysler's responsibility in the matter and he said in an unkind tone that I could go to arbitration but the problem would have to occur in front of the arbitrator, so it probably wouldn't work in my favor.
I became visibly upset and told him that I felt unsafe driving the car because of the recurring power problem. He told me that he would do nothing further to help me. I asked him if he had a daughter with the intention of drawing a comparison to how my father must feel about me driving an unsafe vehicle. He simply answered, "No," and walked away. Missed a full day of work. See attached service invoice. I am afraid to drive this car, it is unsafe. I have missed over a week of work. My car has been in the shop over 32 days, which has affected my livelihood and my leisure time.
March 3, 2009:
Spoke to Bobby Storck at the Huntington Sales Center about the possibility of trading my Jeep Wrangler in. He was sympathetic to the problem but when he calculated the costs and said it would not be worth it, but would contact me if any specials came up.
March 4, 2009:
Returned to service center at 29,308 miles because the dashboard lights were going on and off while I was driving. Insisted that they find out what was wrong with the car and fix it. Dawn Kinsella told me that they would call the Chrysler Tech Support Team to help with solving the problem. Called Chrysler Customer Assistance from the Service Center, spoke to Alan Morris to authorize another rental car. Was 30 minutes late for work. Contacted Bobby Storck again, who said he would check on the car in the afternoon.
March 5, 2009:
Called Service Center to check on progress. Dawn stated that the problems caused on March 3 and March 4 were because the battery was low and the ESP was activating prematurely. She stated the low battery was causing the power failure and the ESP was causing the shaking of the car. She stated that the service center would replace the battery and fix the module that controls the ESP.
March 6, 2009:
Picked up car. Was assured by service manager that the problem was now resolved once and for all.
April 17, 2009:
Driving from NY to NJ. While on Long Island Expressway, I hit a bump, steering wheel and car began to shake. I had to grip the steering wheel to keep from driving into another lane.
April 19, 2009:
Driving back to NY from NJ. While entering the Northern State Parkway, the steering wheel and car began to shake again. Again, I had to grip the steering wheel to keep the car from shaking into another lane. Called service technician, who said the shaking was not going to cause the car to break down, but that I should bring it to the service center.
April 22, 2009:
While driving upstate to a consulting job, I hit a bump on the Palisades Parkway. The car began to shake again and I had to grip the steering wheel.
April 23, 2009:
Brought car to Manhattan Service Center and test drove with technician, David Espinal. Problem did not recur. He sent me away with the car. While driving back to Long Island on the Long Island Expressway, the steering and car began to shake again.
July 15, 2009:
While driving to car hit a bump and began to shake a little. Dashboard lights dimmed, car continued to run.
July 15, 2009:
Called Manhattan Jeep Chrysler Dodge to request information about terminating my lease. Spoke to Star. She explained that if I turned in the car, the remainder of the payments and a turn-in fee would be due immediately unless I made a payment plan with Chrysler Financial. We calculated the total as $2863.25
July 15, 2009:
Spoke to David Monninger, General Sales Manager at Manhattan Jeep Chrysler Dodge. He was sympathetic to the problem and agreed that it was unsafe to drive my car. He was also appalled at how the Huntington Service Center treated me. He urged me to bring the car to the Manhattan Service Center so they could fix the problem.
July 17, 2009:
At 31,022 miles, took a day off work to go to Manhattan Jeep Chrysler Dodge. Went first to General Manager at the sales center. He restated his agreement that the car was unsafe and sent me to Service advisor at the Service Center to help me. After examining the service history in his computer records and the hard copy records I brought with me to the service center, Rick Carbia was very understanding of the problem, agreed that the car was unsafe and said he would have his technician look at it. He also stated that if the car could not be fixed, Chrysler would buy it back from me.
July 17, 2009:
Called Chrysler Customer Assistance to 1) complain about the continuing and dangerous nature of the problems with my car, 2) complain about the poor treatment at the Huntington Service Center and 3) to get a loaner car. I was granted a loaner car
July 24, 2009:
Rick Carbia called to tell me the car was ready after they replaced the Power Control Module, per the factory team in Detroit. They also changed one tire to solve the problem with shaking.
July 25, 2009:
Picked up car at 10am on Saturday. When asked what would happen if the problem occurred again, was told that the repair was guaranteed for 12 months.
July 27, 2009:
While driving to vacation in New Jersey, lights dimmed and came back on again.
August 1, 2009:
While on vacation in Geneva, New York, car shook and stalled while clutch was engaged. Restarted.
August 7, 2009:
Brought car back to Manhattan Service Center. Rick Carbia was on vacation. Spoke to Service Manager Bob Sampogne, who said he had a headache. He stated that the car was unsafe and they would have to fix it through Detroit. I asked what I could do about voiding the lease and he said nothing could be done. I told him Rick Carbia stated Chrysler would have to buy the car back and Bob said I could go to arbitration by looking at the procedure in the owners manual. He also stated that since my car had been in seven times for the same problem, they didnt have a leg to stand on. I told him my manual had been stolen. He said he might be able to find one by next week. I told him I would go to the Sales Center and request another. He also provided me a loaner car.
August 7, 2009:
Met with David Monninger,General Manager, who reiterated that my car is unsafe and unfit to drive. He called Bob Sampogne, Service Manager, and implored him to help me out. Bob replied that he had found an owners manual. I asked David Monninger if he had any resources to help me void my lease and he said no because it was corporates responsibility since they owned the car once I leased it.
August 7, 2009 3:56-4:15pm:
Called Chrysler Customer Service. Spoke to Destiny. Explained the recurring problem with my car and how unsafe it is and asked her to direct me to someone who could help me terminate my lease. She retyped a new case and transferred me to Chrysler Financial. There I spoke to Susan Richardson. She told me that she was unable to retrieve cases from Chrysler Corporation because they are actually completely separate business entities. I asked to speak to her supervisor. She transferred me to Sean, her account manager who told me that I would not be able to void my lease because I have signed a contract that requires me to keep the vehicle. When I explained that they were not upholding their end of the contract because I have a faulty vehicle, he told me that I needed to talk to Chrysler Customer Assistance. I explained that I already had, but he refused to help me further.
August 7, 2009 4:23-5:06pm:
Called Chrysler Customer Service a second time. Spoke to Roy and gave him the case number. He said that before anything could happen, Chrysler would have to send an expert team to look at the car. He called Bob Sampogne to see what sort of procedure they were following at the Manhattan Service Center and left him a message. He then called Chrysler Financial for me to see what would be the procedure for voiding my lease. I was connected to Diana, who made it all seem so easy. She said I should voluntarily surrender my car and transferred me to an account manager, Tanicia Davis. Tanicia Davis explained to me that voluntary surrender is if a leasee can not make payments and that she was in the collections department. When I explained to her the problem was with my car, and not the financial responsibilities, she gave me the Chrysler Customer Service number again as well as the Warranty Department. I asked for a legal department within Chrysler Financial, but she was unable to give me a number for that department.