Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Learning of Other Complaints: You can get summaries of auto complaints & service bulletins from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by the Internet or by mail. To access complaint summaries for particular makes, models & years, visit NHTSA’s Internet website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Or for $20-40, you can get a computer printout of complaints or service bulletins from NHTSA’s Technical Information Services, which can be contacted through NHTSA’s Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424-9393 or 888-327-4236. Specify make, model & year as the more specific the request, the less expensive the printout.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs): Chrysler publishes TSBs to help dealers diagnose & repair problems on vehicles. Some dealers will let you view TSBs. Some state Lemon or Secret Warranty Laws require manufacturers or dealers to make TSBs available on your vehicle. You can access TSB summaries via NHTSA’s Website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. NHTSA’s Technical Information Services, which can be contacted through NHTSA’s Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424-9393 or 888-327-4236, can also send a particular TSB once you identify it from NHTSA’s Website or its computer printout. ALLDATA provides free access to TSB summaries & sells copies of TSBs listed on its Website. You can also buy them from HELM, Inc. Call 800-782-4356 for ordering information. For your use, we have listed some of the more comprehensive TSBs on your vehicle. Check the above sources for other TSBs.

Recalls & Investigations: Call NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424-9393 or 888-327-4236 (in Washington DC 202-366-0123) or visit NHTSA’s website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov-recalls and www.nhtsa.dot.gov-investigations respectively.

Small Claims Court: Go to small claims for advice on using small claims court to recover repair & other expenses. The Lemon Book (Moyer-Bell 1990) by Ralph Nader has an entire chapter on small claims court strategy, a state-by-state index & a chapter on your legal rights to help you better argue your case in court. You can order the book for $17.50 from CAS Publications.

Lemon Lawsuits: If you have to sue Chrysler over a lemon, go to CAS-Lawyers for a list of attorneys specializing in lemon law.

Contact Chrysler: To make a complaint, call Chrysler Customer Relations at 800-992-1997 & write Dieter Zetsche, Chairman, DaimlerChrysler Corp., 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills MI 48326.

Chrysler Customer Arbitration: If your Chrysler vehicle is still under warranty,you may be able to obtain a “buyback,” reimbursement of repairs or a replacement through the Chrysler Customer Arbitration Board. You and Chrysler each present your side in writing. The program is not binding on the consumer so you may reject a bad decision and take Chrysler to court. If you accept it, Chrysler must abide. To start arbitration, write to Chrysler Customer Arbitration Board, Box 1919, Detroit MI 48288.

Secret Warranty Disclosure Laws: Four states (CA, CT, VA & WI) have laws requiring automakers to disclose any secret warranties on their cars. Contact your state attorney general for information or to support such laws. Little Secrets of the Auto Industry (Moyer-Bell 1994) by CAS is devoted to secret warranties, how to find them & use them. Little Secrets is available for $17.50 from CAS Publications.

Supporting Chrysler Recall Efforts: Help us force the government to protect consumers by writing your Senators and Representative in Congress, urging them to contact NHTSA & the Federal Trade Commission on your defects in your Chrysler vehicle. Your local library has names of your representatives; write them c/o US Senate (or House), Washington DC 20510 (or 20515). Find and/or e-mail them at www.house.gov/writerep/ and www.senate.gov.

Support CAS’ Efforts: File a complaint with CAS which will be used to pressure Chrysler to take responsibility for defects in its vehicles. Become a CAS member by making a tax-deductible contribution to help us in our fight on your behalf against Chrysler and the other auto giants.