Faults:
Bought new. First year, <8,000 miles the dealer replaced:
- Power antenna (motor would not work at all).
- Entire exhaust system (all kinds of rattles and noises).
- Right-front speaker.
- Numerous factory recall items.
- And the BIGGIE: The ENTIRE climate control system due to a cornucopia of problems, some so strange that the A/C technician exclaimed on numerous occasions, "That's not possible!".
Year 2 brought more problems, < 18,000 miles:
- More A/C - Climate control system problems.
- Some factory-recalled suspension components.
- Complete failure of the transmission, requiring replacement @ 16,000 miles.
- More exhaust system rattles (which are still there).
After the warranty expired:
- Power windows began failing @ 40,000 miles.
- Power seats began failing @ 40,000 miles. Can't afford over $800 in parts PER SEAT to repair (plus labor).
- Spark plug wiring needed replacing @ 50,000 miles.
- Water pump froze @ 60,000 miles. Fortunately, when the water pump went south and broke the timing belt, it occurred when starting the car, and that saved the valves and pistons from damage.
- The power steering fluid reservoir developed a leak @ 65,000 miles. You can't buy just that little plastic tank from Chrysler, nor most Auto Parts dealers... you need to buy the entire steering gear assembly! Fortunately, one of the local Auto Parts I contacted felt sorry for me, and sold me just the reservoir from a new steering gear assembly kit.
- Currently @ 97,000 miles, the car has an intermittent overheating problem. For the past few weeks, it's really been the mystery machine. One day it will overheat after driving 3 miles, then it will be OK for several days where we have driven as much as 100 miles in one day without any problems.
General Comments:
I took it to the repair shop that did some work on it in the past. They had nothing good to say about Eagles, Concordes, Intrepids, and Chrysler in general, and advised me to just get a new car! I can't afford a car payment at this time, so I'm stuck.
Today, it can't go more than 3 miles without spewing all that new coolant. I'll probably get cited by the EPA for dumping toxic waste! Tomorrow it is being towed to a very reputable repair shop. I don't expect the repair bill to be less than $2,000.
As I have said many times before, "You couldn't make me buy another Chrysler product even if you held a gun to my head!" Chrysler makes great-looking cars, but when you put a dress on a pig, it's still a pig!
Signed,
Extremely Frustrated in California.
