Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests another reason not to buy dodge

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After earlier saying a problem with wheels falling off some of its most popular vehicles was not significant enough to warrant a recall, DaimlerChrysler on Friday reversed itself ���?� and said it is in fact recalling some of its most popular vehicles, the Durango SUV and the Dakota pickup.

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The recall order affects 600,000 vehicles. DaimlerChrysler tells NBC News it agreed to the government's recall request after reviewing dozens of cases where a front wheel fell off.

"We don't like our customers in any type of a panic mode," says Jason Vines of DaimlerChrysler. "And from what we were hearing at the dealer level, customers were upset."

But on Thursday, the company said the issue "doesn't rise to the level of a safety defect."

The problem has been under investigation for a year. The upper ball joint can come apart, causing the vehicle's suspension to collapse and the wheel to fall off.

It happened to Tina Czech of Massachusetts. With two small children in her 2000 Durango, she was trying to turn into a parking lot, just before getting onto an expressway.

"It wasn't making any unusual noises," says Czech. "I was driving along, and the wheel fell off."

Consumer advocates had been demanding a recall.

"There's an instance where a woman almost lost her baby and had her neck broken when this happened. I mean, this is not a small problem," says Joan Claybrook, spokesperson for Public Citizen.

Both the Dakota and the Durango are assembled at a plant in Kokomo, Ind. The parts are made in another plant.

The company says it will now recall all the models made in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, extend the warranties on 2004 models ball joints, and reimburse customers who've had to pay for repairs.

As recalls go, 600,000 is not particularly large. Past recalls have included up to 8 million vehicles. But for DaimlerChrysler, which has so far enjoyed a good year, the recall will be expensive.

"Even if you calculated at $100 per truck a recall, you're still looking at something like $60 million to fix all these trucks and get them back out in the hands of consumers," says Angus Mackenzie, the editor-in-chief of Motor Trend magazine.

There were other recalls Friday as well. Honda recalled its CRV after a series of fires linked to its oil filter seals. And Ford is recalling 474,000 Escape SUVs because of an accelerator problem.

While Daimler Chrysler insists it was not backtracking or caving in to public outrage, Tina Czech says the company has already waited too long.

"Them sweeping this under the rug could have cost one of my children an injury or worse," she says.

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Originally posted by HITMANinMI:

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Another recall for the Escape

This is why Fords cars never have any resale value, Contours, Focus have so many recalls it is crazy, looks like the Escape is going to be following the same suit.

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Originally posted by sigma:

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I'm not saying Toyota is perfect, but name any Japanese company (less Mitsubishi) with the level and frequency of recalls that American companies have... I can't think of any.
Number of recalls, TSBs, or any other mishap on my Infiniti G20t: 0.

Number of the same completed on my old Contour: 14

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Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Infiniti G35: 51

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Honda Accord (V6): 40

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Nissan Altima (V6): 40

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Mazda6s: 22
(Note this car is produced at a Ford facility in Michigan)

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Ford Taurus: 20

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Ford Focus: 10

I picked those purely at random. Surprising results?

Now, for comparisons sake here's a couple more:

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier: 75

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Dodge Neon: 21

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Dodge Stratus (V6): 26

So far, picking these out at random, only the Cavalier has the G35, the Altima, or the Accord "beat".

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Originally posted by johnwilliams474:

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well id rather push a ford than drive a chevy or dodge


unless it happens to be the equivilant of the f-250 chevy trucks and dodge trucks are ok

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Originally posted by JaTo:

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Originally posted by johnwilliams474:

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well id rather push a ford than drive a chevy or dodge


unless it happens to be the equivilant of the f-250 chevy trucks and dodge trucks are ok

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...and I'll drive anything that is well-built, properly engineered, reliable, good-looking and performs, no matter what the label placed on it.

I have my preferences of auto-manufacturers, but I refuse to let it blind me to a compelling product that their competitors put forth.

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Originally posted by SVT PETE:

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Originally posted by HITMANinMI:

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Another recall for the Escape

This is why Fords cars never have any resale value, Contours, Focus have so many recalls it is crazy, looks like the Escape is going to be following the same suit.

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Another brilliant statement from you I see. Read below.

Originally posted by sigma:

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I'm not saying Toyota is perfect, but name any Japanese company (less Mitsubishi) with the level and frequency of recalls that American companies have... I can't think of any.
Number of recalls, TSBs, or any other mishap on my Infiniti G20t: 0.

Number of the same completed on my old Contour: 14

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Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Infiniti G35: 51

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Honda Accord (V6): 40

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Nissan Altima (V6): 40

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Mazda6s: 22
(Note this car is produced at a Ford facility in Michigan)

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Ford Taurus: 20

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Ford Focus: 10

I picked those purely at random. Surprising results?

Now, for comparisons sake here's a couple more:

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier: 75

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Dodge Neon: 21

Number of Recalls, TSBs, etc on the 2003 Dodge Stratus (V6): 26

So far, picking these out at random, only the Cavalier has the G35, the Altima, or the Accord "beat".

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Not supporting Hitman's ridiculus statement, but those numbers are for Recalls, TSBs, etc. TSBs and etc are not recalls. A TSB (tech service bulletin) could be for something as simple as how to remove the air filter. Generally they are only instructional or informational. This is the same with the etc portion. Information only. Filter that search by recalls only and I'd like to see those numbers again. I'm not trying to say one car is better than another. Hell, the Monte Carlos I so adore were the highest recalled american car in history until the Pontiac Fiero came out.