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Mike of Spotsylvania, VA:
I puchased a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 in December 1999 and its odometer read 5 miles. Before the actual "purchase", I inspected the vehicle"s exterior and noted numerous (7) paint "defects". The defects appeared minor (relating to the clearcoat) and the dealer promised the problems could be repaired. At a later date, I brought the truck to the dealer for the "repair" and informed the service manager of an engine idle problem, a "rattle" in the passenger door speaker, and a "leaky" windshield. They informed me it the truck would be "ready" in 2 days.

On the third day I contacted the dealer and they informed me that the "body shop" needed to speak with me. The repairman at the bodyshop wanted me to inspect the vehicle to determine if the "defects" were repaired. Not only were they NOT repaired, the front bumper fascia was damaged from what appeared to be a low speed collision (the urethane was "gouged" beyond the paint layer) AND the truck"s whole exterior had been "polished" with what appeared to be sandpaper.

The truck"s paint is filled with deep scratches that are circular in pattern, areas of discoloration, chips and scratches. There are "black" decals that have been scratched to a different color (grey) -- and the dealership says that it is normal for a NEW vehicle to have this. Well, I looked at other new vehicles - and none of them looked like this. I feel this dealership/body shop destroyed my NEW truck"s finish - and they are not accepting liability.

I spent >$31,000 for this truck - and it"s less than two months old. Now, they want to "fix" it, probably by filling in the scratches with wax. it will look ok at first - but 1-2 months later it will look terrible. What can I do?

Mike is at least somewhat lucky. The problem occurred early enough for him to hire a good Lemon Lawyer and seek a replacement or refund.

Veronica of Ramona, CA, writes:
I was cheated on my factory paint job on my 1993 Dodge Ram pickup. It was only five years old when it began rusting all over the roof and now two years since then, the hood is rusting and oxidized, a few panels are peeling away and there's no clearcoat left, and the top is smothered with rust. It will cost $4,000 to fix it and it has been under my ownership since it was brand new and washed and waxed nearly every week.

I am so angry. My mom and I tried to get Chrysler to fix it by providing us with new paint and they refused the case even though the factory openly admitted the paint was faulty. I am a hard working employee at Kragen Auto Parts and a college student at CSUSM and I don't have the time or money for this. I've spent nights crying because my mom worked really really hard to pay for the truck and now its deteriorating before her eyes.

Ben of Cape Coral, FL:
The paint on my 94 Dodge Ram is peeling very, very badly. I just noticed that on the roof the primer is gone and it's starting to rust. I have a phone call in to the dealership where I purchased it. But from other Dodge owners I have been told that Chrysler won't do anything about this even though there are many people with this same problem. I don't intend to beat my head against the wall in pursuing a new paint job. If the dealership turns me down, I will either throw my hat in the ring with the others filing a class action suit or I will go to small claims court. I want to know what the head honchos say about this.

Well, we don't know about the head honchos but the lawyers we've talked with say that once a vehicle is out of warranty, it's very difficult (which means big-time expensive) to try to pin any responsibility on the manufacturer. As for Small Claims Court, it certainly can't hurt to try. If everyone with peeling paint sued Chrysler in Small Claims, it might get their attention.

Debbie of San Jacinto, CA:
I talked to our local dealer to see if there were any recalls on my 91 white Dodge Dakota club cabs peeling paint. It started flaking on the two-inch piece located just above the club window.Now it is coming off the roof in large wallpaper sizes! I fear buying another vehicle and paying so much to have it look like this.

Bob of Southport, NC:
I have a Dodge truck with ~9,000 (nine thousand) miles on it. I don't use it often because it guzzles gas, is hard to steer, the brakes require attention monthly (or don't work), the hubs are staying in four wheel drive, etc. About a year ago I noticed paint flaking off the roof of the cab of my 91 Dodge truck.

I took it to the dealer and they said they had to get in touch with Chrysler about it. After a month I called them back and they said I had to bring it to to a local shop that "they send all their work to," for an estimate.

I brought it back and some guy looked at it. A few weeks later they called me and said the cost is $300 and they would paint the cab providing I pay half. Seemed steep to me.

Lately, whole square feet of paint are peeling from the hood. Called Chrysler directly this time, and told them about it and they said to take it to the dealer and they would "get the district manager involved." I got a call back saying that they would pay $500 towards the paint job of my choice, providing I did it within the next 30 days (he stressed that, 30 day limit, twice during his spiel).

Better, but that probably won't pay for what it will cost to take it to the bare metal and prime and paint it. The repaint cost is on the order of $3,000+ to strip the truck to bare metal prime and paint it all.

What I would like is some unbiased knowledgeable third party to render an opinion on what my options are, what my legal standing is, and what service bulletins or recalls might be floating around that may be beneficial to my case. I still want Chrysler to accept responsibility for the paint. (I don't want the "paint job of my choice," I want Chrysler to fix their problem).

Bob is right. $500 doesn't go far. On the other hand, the truck is 10 years old so the chance of beating big bucks out of Chrysler in court are probably rather dim.

Kevin of Snowflake, AZ:
I am the owner of a 1996 Dodge Sport Ram 1500 pickup. Despite the fact that the truck has been well cared for, the paint on the hood and roof is fading very badly. I do not feel that this should be happening to a truck of this age. I have had the truck looked at and it will cost $760 for the paint to repaint it.

Kevin of Lake Havasu City, AZ:
It rained real hard one night and the next morning when I woke up there were "bubbles" under the paint on the left rear corner panel and on the left rear extended cab. I went to rub them off and big pieces of paint came right off!

Since then it has been happening more and more, now it is also on the driver's door, the passenger door, and when the wind blows the paint just peels right off. I paid $12,000 for a truck that you can stand and watch the paint peel off by itself. DODGE DAYTONA Robert of Auburn Hills, MI: The black paint on my 1992 Dodge Daytona wore off. The clear coat separated from the paint 7 months after I purchased the car. I could see it flake off while I drove. It wore off 3/4 of the hood, roof, and spoiler. I went to several Dodge dealers who were rude and extremely unhelpful. I wrote to then-CEO Robert Eaton. His representative said the decision to remedy the problem is up to the individual dealers. When I explained I had several dealers evaluate my car with no satisfaction the representative said there is nothing Chrysler can do.

The best offer I received was that Chrysler would pay 10% of the total cost to repaint my car. I was told that to remove the remaining paint, and repaint the car it would cost between $1500-$1800. I couldn't believe Chrysler expected me to pay to have a car that was less than a year old repainted.

I sold the car, and I now refuse to purchase another Chrysler product. I also tell everyone I know who is thinking of buying a car not to buy a Chrysler product. Everyone I told my experience to has chosen not to buy a Chrysler product. Since I refused to pay to fix Chrysler's mistake and sold the car my only satisfaction is that I am able to save some people the frustration I went through.

DODGE DAKOTA
Billie Jo of Mechanicsville, VA:
I contacted Mechanicsville Dodge concerning paint chipping on my 1997 Dodge Dakota. They are just now getting approval to get it painted. They just called me and told me when they were pulling off bedliner that the whole left side is peeling and now they are saying I have to paint the whole bed which will be $931.00.

I feel that I should not be responsible for this considering this is on a 97 and I feel Chrysler should be responsible for it and paint my whole truck.

Robert of Auburn Hills, MI:
The black paint on my 1992 Dodge Daytona wore off. The clear coat separated from the paint 7 months after I purchased the car. I could see it flake off while I drove. It wore off 3/4 of the hood, roof, and spoiler. I went to several Dodge dealers who were rude and extremely unhelpful. I wrote to then-CEO Robert Eaton. His representative said the decision to remedy the problem is up to the individual dealers. When I explained I had several dealers evaluate my car with no satisfaction the representative said there is nothing Chrysler can do.

The best offer I received was that Chrysler would pay 10% of the total cost to repaint my car. I was told that to remove the remaining paint, and repaint the car it would cost between $1500-$1800. I couldn't believe Chrysler expected me to pay to have a car that was less than a year old repainted.

I sold the car, and I now refuse to purchase another Chrysler product. I also tell everyone I know who is thinking of buying a car not to buy a Chrysler product. Everyone I told my experience to has chosen not to buy a Chrysler product. Since I refused to pay to fix Chrysler's mistake and sold the car my only satisfaction is that I am able to save some people the frustration I went through.

Dennis of Michigan writes:
I am the original owner of a 1989 Dodge Daytona. My paint is peeling off and the car is waxed 3 to 4 times a year and never driven in the winter.I have heard of other people getting there cars repainted by Chrysler and they were not even original owners.

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