A FCA RECALL letter arrived yesterday in the US mail for my 2012 DD R/T AWD. The "BRAKE BOOSTER WATER SHEILD" RECALL.

I have yet to do the 2nd RECALL for the wiring issue with the SUN VISOR.

SIGH.

I really hate having to take my vehicles into any dealership for any kind of repair work.

 

Another one bites the dust.

FCA seems like they are reimbursing people who are having these failures repaired out of pocket. Several people have been having good luck with reimbursements for alternators, batteries and a few cases of TIPMs or PCMs getting cooked as a result of the alternator failing. I know of at least one case involving a WK2 Grand Cherokee where they were carefully entertaining the idea of paying a guy's tow truck and rental car bill as well. Submit everything you have and fight them for every last cent. They have completely dropped the ball on this whole recall. I have contacted NHTSA regarding FCA's complete failure to address the failures as of yet. I was told they were looking into it, but it wouldn't hurt for more of us to start sending emails.

I have owned my Durango for two months and a week, and ever since I found out about this recall (or realized how nothing was being done) I've taken my argument to three different forums, "DodgeCares", "JeepCares" and my local dealer. No relief. Pretty much told I have to wait for it to fail, potentially exposing me and/or my family to risk of life and limb at worst and being stuck on the side of a cold highway at best. I directly questioned "DodgeCares" regarding this and asked if it would EVER become acceptable for us to just go in and get alternator replacements under the recall with whatever stock is available to get us by until FCA figures out how they are going to improve the design of the alternators. That was completely ignored, not even acknowledged as a remote possibility. I was told they can't diagnose problems over the internet and couldn't see into the future or some corporate BS like that.

WE ARE BEING TOLD TO MORE OR LESS EXPECT TO BE STRANDED OR BE PUT INTO POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS WHILE FCA ENGINEERS SUPPOSEDLY DEVELOP A BETTER ALTERNATOR DESIGN. NO IDEA WHEN THAT WILL COME TO FRUITION. FULL STOP.

LET ME BE CLEAR - YOUR OPTIONS ARE 1) PAY FOR AN ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT OUT OF POCKET NOW BEFORE IT FAILS AND AVOID BEING HURT OR STRANDED, OR 2) WAIT UNTIL IT FAILS AND POTENTIALLY BE HURT OR STRANDED, THEN STILL PAY FOR A REPAIR OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET AND THEN SUBMIT YOUR EXPENSES TO FCA FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. Keep in mind, reimbursement takes over a month to process. Hooray!

This issue with these alternators has been occurring with regularity on 2011+ WD Dodge Durangos and WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokees since 2014. The issue has been studied by NHTSA since June or July 2016. The recall has been active since July 2017. STILL NO RESOLUTION, STILL NOT ONE (1) VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL.

 

Hi coryb700,

We would be more than happy to review you file further to see if we can provide any clarification for you. Please send us a private message with your VIN so we can get started.

Julie
Dodge Social Care Specialist

 

Hello usmc1811,

We can check in on the part availability for these recalls for you and see if there is any opportunity for us to assist while you are working with your dealer. Feel free to send us a private message with your VIN if this is something you are interested in.

Julie
Dodge Social Care Specialist

 

Maybe you could check and see just what is going on, and if there is any sort of a timetable for beginning repairs for vehicles that are flat out dangerous to drive?

Folks are basically being told that "Yep, its going to fail, but, we won't fix it till it actually fails." How is that in any way acceptable?

 

I’ve been saying this for months. You’re wasting your breath. Although I do appreciate that people are starting to share my sentiment.

 

Considering this is a safety issue, I am thinkin' its about time to get lawyers involved. Folks are driving potential time bombs, and chrysler isn't doing anything.......

 

We understand your concerns. However the recall is in the interim stage which means parts are not currently available.You can visit https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehic...ls/search.html to sign up for email alerts, which will be the fastest form of communication for when parts are released. Unfortunately we do not have an ETA at this time. We will continue to update this thread as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we would recommend saving all receipts for any repairs completed so you have the ability to submit for reimbursement when the recall parts are released if needed.

Julie
Dodge Social Care Specialist

 

"This recall is expected to begin August 24, 2017"

And here we are, 3 months later, and chrysler STILL doesn't have any idea when it is actually going to start? How is that in any way considered acceptable? This is, after all, a SAFETY issue.

 

Something tells me threats to get a suit together isn't going to help. Either way, I'm done badgering FCA about this. If they had answers I would have gotten one by now.

I have reached out to NHTSA and they're dragging their feet. Maybe some of you guys can also reach out to NHTSA as well.