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We sell alot of pacifica's. I haven't had any come in, not to beat you up to bad but there is nothing worse than a customer who "picks" at their car, if you have legit noise that is one thing but if you are having them chase "every now and then only on right turns at night" your car will be far worse when their done than if you just lived with it. My Durango has several noises, I am a dealer tech and it is covered under warranty, I know what most of them are and what to do to fix them, however, it means taking apart alot of things that don't always go back together the way they were. My advise, if it isn't a constant noise that you can hear over the radio at a low level, get over it.

 

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Dodgemech, I don't mean to be an a$$, so please don't take it that way, but, that is the reason that American car companies are getting their collective a$$es kicked by the Japanese and Germans. The money that jgralka spent on his car is hard earned money, why should he live with an inferior product. I used to take my Aunt's MB ML320 in to the dealer for her and the MB dealer ALWAYS took care of the issue, no matter how trivial it was. And they ALWAYS treated me as if I was the only customer in the place. The American car companies should take a page out of their book. If things don't go back together correctly, then maybe the engineers should redesign it so it does go back together correctly. Too many of us (me included) are willing to live with rattles and noises and such. Maybe if we all started holding the companies accountable for quality, we wouldn't have to live with it. Like I said, I am not trying to be an a$$hole to you, so please don't take offense. Just stating my opinion.


Although, I heard a very interesting opinion recently on why German and Japanese cars are engineered better than ours. The theory was that Germany and Japan do not have militaries. So when promising young engineers come out of school, they are recruited by the car companies. When promising young American engineers come out of school, they are recruited by the military/industrial machine.

Sorry for being so long winded.

Danny

 

Let me get my two cents in here real quick before I go wash (dust off) the SRT-4...

Granted that some American cars aren't built to Jap/German standards, but the level of quality of most American cars has risen greatly in the past years. My opinion? No, the opinion of J.D. Power...

Not that you have to fear another Adolph Hitler/Tojo era, but Japan and Germany DO in fact, have militaries, armies, navies and air forces. Every fall in Europe they have an exercise (war game) called "Reforger"...The American Army teams up with the British Army and the (surprise) German army. Heck, we had German tanks and armored cars rattling down our street every day and night for 2 weeks...not an American soldier in sight...

The Jap army has troops fighting in Iraq ....[sm=smiley5.gif]

Time for Dusty to dust....[sm=smiley4.gif]

 

Dusty, I hear ya bro, but the Japanes do not have a military. It is forbidden in their constitution. They have an internal policing department, but no international army.

CHAPTER II: RENUNCIATION OF WAR
Article 9:
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. 2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

And the American car companies have come a long way with quality, but they still have a long way to go. Trust me, I am the first person to stand up and buy American but facts is facts. Dodgemech said it himself, sometimes when you take things apart, they don't go back together correctly. That is a serious problem. I'm sure you work just as hard as I do for your money, don't you think that our hard earned dollars should be able to buy something that goes back together correctly?

Danny

 

Okay, I'm wrong again. Japan does have a military. I just saw on Fox news that they have 550 troops in Iraq right now. Maybe I'll just keep my mouth shut from now on so as not to have to insert my foot again!!

Danny

 

there is a reason the Europeans treat you like you are a great customer--you just spent 60K on a car. The American couterpart to that car is 30K. If we charged 60K for the 300 or the Pacifica-first we wouldn't sell very many and second we could afford to replace your car if we had to. I have worked on many makes makes and models and granted the imports hold up a little better but the initial investment is much higher. Buy American and be happy with the extra several thousand you saved .

 

BUY AMERICAN AND SUPPORT AMERICA!!!

 

You mean buy American, like the Pacifica with its Mercedes E-class rear end suspension? Or a Ford Ranger with its Mazda engine? Or something like my Ram 2500 QC 4x4 diesel that was built in Mexico? The fact of the matter is, it's just about to the point where there isn't such a thing as American made anymore, at least not for cars and trucks. Ford and Mazda, hell Ford owns Jaguar. Daimler-Benz is now the new masters of Chrysler/Dodge, Chevy bought GEO and Mitsubishi is in the mix there somewhere too. American? Where?


Dodgetech, I'm on the bandwagon too (and nothing personal against you), but by god if I pay $35K for a car/truck it better not have to go into the shop every other week. I don't chase perceived noises, but I will demand that obvious noises and problems be fixed under warranty. I expect to get rattles and squeaks over time as suspension parts wear and such, but when it's new, no way. If it is a minor thing like plastic rubbing on plastic, I will fix it myself...it's a lot easier than the hassle of being without the car for 2 days. But things like grinding and clunking noises from the drivetrain that should not be there, the dealer is going to get a visit.

And speaking of that, I am having a problem with my wife's brand new Pacifica. Just got it last sunday and it has already spent 2 days at the dealership. There were horrible rattling noises form the front and in the rear (no wonder with all that cheap plastic they put in them). There is also a noise somewhere in the right front suspension area. All the interior rattles have been fixed, but the noise under the front is still there. It sounds very much like a plastic bag caught underneath and flapping when you get up to highway speed. It is not slight, it is definitely there. The three people that have ridden in the vehicle have commented on it, so it isn't just me being picky. I have read reports on the Pacifica of similar problems and apparently most of the chrysler techs can't seem to fix it.

I tried to get my wife to buy the Honda Pilot instead, but she wanted the Pacifica. I admit, the Pacifica is much more comfortable inside and drives and rides nicer. I hope this problem can get sorted soon and that we don't end up with a long road of visits to the dealership.

On the other hand, my new Ram 2500 has been absolutely great. Only some minor rattling in the front doors (even my 2002 Ram had it and is a known thing on the Ram trucks), but this is easily fixed by removing the door panel and putting some thin foam in a few places.