Faults:
When I first purchased the car, I brought the car in because the LED for the security system didn't come on. They told me the car didn't have one. I told them it was part of the package. They told me "you can't always believe what's on the window sticker." I looked up the package in the dealer's showroom booklet. They said you can't believe that either. I then called Dodge and they confirmed I was supposed to have a security system.
After a long heated argument that included me threatening to put a lemon sign on the car and park it on the street in front of their dealership, they finally admitted the problem.
The wiring harness that connected the trunk to the security system was MISSING from the car. Yes, missing - as in left the factory without one. Thus it would never arm.
The car was pretty reliable for a while. When I went in for the first transmission fluid change, I had the dealer do it. When I got the car back, the transmission would SLAM into first when down shifting from second. Brought it back in and they performed a software update to the transmission. That took them ALL DAY, literally.
Then at 77000 miles the transmission started acting up and I just traded it back to the same dealer for a new Honda, which has been perfect. The dealer is still awful, and I try to never go there anymore.
18th Nov 2006, 05:17
Hello there
I have the same car as yours and I can say that for entire period of ownership, it ran like a dream. Of course I had the normal wear and tear problems (brake pads, timing belt replacement plus the accessories that come with it etc) and some small annoyances like both input and output sensors, one lower arm replaced, the AC Condenser. One over another, the total cost over five years of repairs was something like 1000CAD. I have to specify that I did myself the troubleshooting related to timing belt and AC condenser. What I can appreciate to this car, is relative simple to access a lot of areas and furthermore can be easy repaired in your own garage. I would say that after all this, I am still satisfied about the performance and reliability. But one advice: avoid the dealers whatever brand they wear. Small independent garages are more helpfully and the level of knowledge is higher. Yes, you were right about the alarm system: the 3.2 model (ES) is loaded with one and the simple stupidity of one dealer couldn't change this. Now I plan to sale the car (just because it reached 5 years with me) and I will go for a Chrysler too. It is pitty because a reasonable good product is not backed up by its manufacturer (talking of dealers)