I received my response from DaimlerChrysler - I thought I'd share it with you all, but then again you've read it before. It's the same letter sent to others who have complained.
-----Original Message-----
From: customerassist [mailto:customerassist@daimlerchrysler.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 9:20 AM
To: Howard Hawbaker
Subject: Re: DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance (KMM3105275V95764L0KM)
Dear Howard,
Thank you for your recent email to DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation.
I regret your dissatisfaction in your DaimlerChrysler product, and
appreciate the time and effort you took to bring this matter to my
attention.
Your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience
involved in this issue, are understandable. However, your request for
consideration in this matter must be declined, because the vehicle in
question has exceeded the time or mileage limitations of the
manufacturer's warranty at the time the expense was incurred.
Although a more favorable reply could not be provided, sharing your
concern with us is appreciated.
Thank you again for your email.
NOTE: Please do not use the 'Reply' function of your email system. If
you have a need to respond to this message, please visit us at our reply
form (link provided below). Our system is NOT able to accept any emails
at this address.
For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the
following information:
REFERENCE NUMBER: 13891422
REPLY LINK:
http://www.chrysler.com/wccsapp/wccs...MM3105275C0KM&
Sincerely,
Dan
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
Original Message Follows:
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Form Selected:
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Category: US Customer Service
Brief Description:
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Dash cracking (among other issues)
Comments:
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I own a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup which I bought new from Cardenas Motors
in Brownsville, TX. I picked this truck as the first NEW vehicle that I've
ever owned. Unfortunately, it also turned out to be the biggest disappointment of my life. In the first week of ownership, the plastic cover on the drink holder in the back seat area broke off. Then, shortly after the warranty ended, I started having a myriad of other problems. Since new, I've gone through 12 sets of front brakes, an air conditioning condenser, a water pump, a transmission, a rear end and, most recently, the dash board has cracked to pieces (literally). Last night when I was driving home on city streets, the glove compartment fell off of its hinges. Upon closer examination, I see that the hinges just broke off, without the box even being open. My dash has cracked to the point that large sections of it have fallen into the firewall area and the bezel surrounding the instrument cluster has also cracked. I fear that if I were to be involved in an accident with airbag deployment, I might suffer more serious injuries
from plastic shapnel than from the accident itself.
I've started looking around at Dodge trunks similar to mine and have found that most of them in the 1998-2001 range have cracked dashboards. In reading other consumer forums, I see that I'm not alone in the problems. From what I understand, your company has changed vendors due to poor quality in the dash moldings. What can I expect from Daimler Chrysler in terms of repairing my vehicle? Since this is obviously not a problem unique to my vehicle, I think it is your company's responsibility to help fix the problem. Otherwise, I think just about any judge, upon reading a petition signed by several hundred owners of Dodge trucks with similar problems, would side with us. I would rather it didn't have to go that route (mostly because I am vehemently against lawsuits in most cases).
I'll be glad to send photos and any other documentation that you ask for. I look forward to hearing your response.
Thank You.
Sender Information:
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Title: Mr.
First Name: Howard
Middle Initial: L
Last Name: Hawbaker