Stormcom,

I'm so sorry to hear about the electrical problems you seem to be experiencing. Have you reviewed with Dodge's Customer Care Department? If you are looking for additional assistance you can PM myself or my U.S. counterpart, Chris, DodgeCares. You can also contact the Customer Care Office by telephone at the numbers I've listed below.

Canada: 1-800-465-2001
U.S.: 1-800-992-1997

I apologize for the inconvenience you have encountered and look forward to hearing from you.

 

This vehicle has been nothing but problems for the last year. We purchased in 2011 brand new. It currently has 22,000 miles on it. It all started in June 2013 when I started the vehicle with the key fob and placed my 2 young children in their car seats ages 3. All doors were shut when I was walking to the other side of vehicle when suddenly all the doors locked, and the vehicle shut off after 10 minutes with no air in the car. It was 122 degree's in AZ in the heat of the day. The key fob was placed on the passenger seat in the vehicle. There was no reason for the doors to all lock. Massive Malfunction. I had to call the 911 and have the fire department get my children out of the vehicle. They could have died in the car in this heat. Luckily they were rescued in 20 minutes! After complaining to the General Manager in Peoria, AZ and Corporate, the service department determined there was nothing wrong with the key fob or vehicle. Nothing was done! They couldn't find a cause for this incident to occur. When any key fob is inside of a vehicle the doors should not lock when the car is in park!
Incident unresolved!
Next, for the last month and 1/2 we are having issues getting the car to start with the push button, key fob and manual start. First, we thought it was the battery. We paid 200.00 to have it changed out and the problem kept continuing! We have taken it to the dealership to have it looked at and they determine there has been 1500 dodge vehicles with this issues and there is NO fix, that it is yet to be determined. They stated they will call when they determined why so many vehicles have this issue. They state it is something with the computer. So we have dealt with this over a month and a 1/2. After, having this vehicle back for the past month and 1/2 the push start and key fob start is worse. It takes 8-15 tries to get the vehicle started!!! This occurs every time when attempt to start the vehicle.Talk about a LEMON!
Problem unresolved!
Next this past week. Having the same issue with the starting problems. The cars has a "fan sound" after the vehicle is turned off. Whatever it is, it runs down the battery and the battery dies every day. Needing to jump the battery everyday! Now, its back into the dealership AGAIN! and guess what?! The car does not start for them to evan look at it!
End result! They think its an electrical issue, they think they might be able to fix the starting issue after the part comes in which is an unknown period of time, knowing 1500 other vehicles need this part! They now, offered us a rental car finally but they will only covering 35.00 per day and the rental they gave us does not evan fit our family of 5! Another problem that needs to be dealt with. They want us to pay the extra money over 35.00 per day to get a larger rental to fit our family. As far as we are concerned this is not our problem. They should pay for the entire cost daily. It's not our problem you don't know the problem to fix the car and it's not our problem you don't have the part that may not evan fix the car to begin with. In the meantime, we pay a monthly payment on a worthless car that is in the shop and we don't evan have!

We are completely frustrated! We will never buy another DODGE again! This vehicle is unreliable and unsafe! My husband and I call it a Lemon along with 1500 other ones that are doing the same. Push starts have been around for years. Why is there so many issues with these newer vehicles. Why should we make a large car payment on this vehicle every month that does not start and is a unsafe and risked the lives of our children once already.

Whatever you do, do not buy this vehicle or any that dodge makes with a push start ignition with these malfunction key fobs.

Who else has these issues? Next plan...Lawyer, Corporate phone calls, and Channel3 news if this doesn't get resolved in a reasonable manner of time.

 

I currently do not have any issues, I am sorry to see this. I never leave the car with the fob in it ever. I would have thrown a rock threw the back window to get my kids out.
I hope this never happens again.
STEVE

 

We are completely frustrated! We will never buy another DODGE again! This vehicle is unreliable and unsafe! My husband and I call it a Lemon along with 1500 other ones that are doing the same. Push starts have been around for years. Why is there so many issues with these newer vehicles. Why should we make a large car payment on this vehicle every month that does not start and is a unsafe and risked the lives of our children once already.

Whatever you do, do not buy this vehicle or any that dodge makes with a push start ignition with these malfunction key fobs.

Who else has these issues? Next plan...Lawyer, Corporate phone calls, and Channel3 news if this doesn't get resolved in a reasonable manner of time.[/QUOTE]


I personally feel your pain. The first Durango Citadel they gave me 5k in assistance and I bought another one. The second one had similar trouble (both have star cases) and I was so frustrated I went back to the dealer to buy something else. They wanted me to take a 4500.00 hickey because they did not want the car on their lot. I traded it in in another city and bought another brand along with a new Caravan.

Their is no question that this is an electronics problem. The real question is do they care? I worked with several people in Customer service to be told mine was basically a "unique" situation.

The interesting question was have they changed things so it was fixed in the 2013s. The fobs have been changed but no other answers.

I still drive Dodges and a couple of Jeep Liberties. I bought a nice Caravan for the shop and have been tickled pink except for the seats. It is approx. 6 mo. old and has 18k on it.

My suggestion to you is:
Ask for trade assistance. Your dealer can handle it with Dodge. I have heard from quite a few people that are having issues. Look at a Caravan, or a Jeep. They have blown it with the Durango but they still build some nice cars. I agree with you that Dodge does not have an across the board answer yet on the issue but would welcome someone from Dodge to write about it. If people know what to expect, they can deal with it. The hardest thing to handle is being told you are an isolated issue.

 

Are Jeep Cherokee owners experiencing the same issues?
If not Why? Same assembly line and very similar if not same controls and underpinnings.
STEVE

 

I have been having this same startup issue and on my 2nd STAR case with it. Mine is a 2013 bought 12/31/12 and they can't sem to fix. I had a 2012 Jeep GC before this and never had any issue at all with it. Only reason on trading in was to have a 3rd row. If mine does not get fixed when it goes in on the 24th I will be getting legal action. just tired of it when you pay so much for quality and safety and you get this stuff.

 

I have a 2012, Dodge Duragno Citadel, in 2012 the water pump went out there were a backorder on parts, the truck stayed in the shop for 6 weeks. August 15, 2013, the truck would not start, I had to pay 1900 to replace the gas pumps. August 16, 2013 the truck freshly home from the dealer would not start, issue the TIPM Module. Ally still want their monthly payment, which I really dont want to pay. Granted the truck has 62000 highway miles on it. I have had Nissan Maxima 140,000 miles, Toyota Camry 98,000 miles, Mazda 626 170,000 miles, each one did not give me a mechanical problem except the Camry which gave me no issues, was after I passed the 120,000 miles mark, for the maxima it was the xeonon headlamps 700 to replace, for the mazda the transmission 1900 to replace.

I have been told that there is a back order on the part, Chrysler has NO CLUE when the part will be in yet I am paying 825 a month for this truck. Nobody is giving me any relief, nobody is offering any help, Ally offers to put the payment on the back end of the loan but seriously what does that do for me. Ok I am grateful that Chrysler has said that they will replace the device for free, but the truck went out the week I was suppose to get the extended warranty my appointment to get the truck inspected was on a saturday the truck died that thursday or friday.

I feel suckered, our country was in a recession, I felt like I was doing my part by buying an american made product and look what I got in returned. Suggestions anyone???

 

Granted I know there are other issues with your vehicle, but how does the vehicle know if the key fob is in the vehicle or not? It is a radio transmission right? I know that you can lock and unlock the doors with the FOB in the car(I have done it, does this mean mine is defective?)

Chris

 

I am quickly learning that when it comes to fob's, they have a life of their own. I wish that Dodge would chime in and explain what is going on with these vehicles. The dealers do not know and techline just plays professional parts changers. They start with the fobs (which is the cheapest) and replace parts till they think it works.

It is obvious that this issue stretches multiple years and across the higher end of the spectrum. Does anyone with a simple base or sxt have these issues?

 

The same thing was going on for me, I have a little write up as well as a video of the issue below on my blog


http://modifydsolutions.net/wordpress/?p=129