Did Chrysler beat GM to the punch?

[dodge man]

This is in regards to the recent recall. GM got a black eye on the recent ignition switch problem. It appears if something is hanging from your keys it would make the key turn the ignition off which can cause problems depending on traffic and road conditions. It looks like a simple fix was to put an insert in the key so other keys hanging by the ignition key had less leverage helping the problem. GM has known about the problem for several years and did nothing about it and some people have died as the result.

Enter Chrysler. I own a Dodge Challenger and there have been cases where the timing chain will break. Not a common problem but as people get more miles on them it's happening more often. When the chain breaks the engine dies along with engine failure, bent valves and push rods at the least. Often the engine is replaced but sometimes just new heads. It looks like the timing chain guides are plastic and is probably the cause of the failure although if you read the forums, lots of speculation. They are recalling Challengers, Chargers and 300C's from 2009, 2010, and some 2011. Only the auto transmissions are recalled. This recall started about a month ago.

The Chrysler problem is small compared to GM but I think Chrysler saw the upcoming storm for GM and tried the get in under the radar with their recall first. It's my understanding the GM fix was $1 per unit. I'm not sure of the Chrysler cost per unit but the front of the motor has to come off to replace the timing chain and guide. My car goes in in two weeks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you see this happen all the time. When Toyota had the big recall my Nissan got one a few days later of fuel gauge sending units. They gave me 3 free oil changes, 3 free tire rotations, and free car washes.

Every one has recalls. It's all about how it's handled.

Chris

 

[Ford850]

The news coming out about GM hiding this is getting pretty bad now. And the number of deaths are estimated in the hundreds by some. This is going to make the Ford Explorer and Toyota recalls look like small issues before all is said and done. Some things I'm seeing make it more clear why GM pushed so hard to separate the 'old GM' from the 'new GM' for future warranties and claims when they went through bankruptcy. This won't be good for anyone except the lawyers.

 

[HHR]

I think you see this happen all the time. When Toyota had the big recall my Nissan got one a few days later of fuel gauge sending units. They gave me 3 free oil changes, 3 free tire rotations, and free car washes. Every one has recalls. It's all about how it's handled. Chris

GM has been handling the ignition recall pretty poorly so far. Our local dealer knows nothing about the memo sent to dealers on March 4 that allows owners of affected vehicles to use a loaner car until the parts are available and get $500 cash back on a new car, towing etc. Called GM customer service and they also had no knowledge of the memo and said they couldn't comment (it's posted on NHTSA's website. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM451420/RCMN-14V047-7733.pdf ).

USA Today, CBS and just about every other news organization wrote a news story on the memo, yet the company who wrote it doesn't even acknowledge it.

 

[handirifle]

If they keep going like that they (GM) will soon be in charge of the IRS and the State Dept. They have a lot in common.

 

[PapaPerk]

I'll never buy another GM vehicle. Jacked up company.

By the way... Why isn't the government drilling GM like they did Toyota? Oh wait.. That Toyota lynch mob was from Michigan! Lol

 

[crazyal]

You do have to wonder. GM knew about the problem dating back to 2001. Now after only a couple of months have passed after the government sold the last of it's GM stock does this come out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'll never buy another GM vehicle. Jacked up company.

By the way... Why isn't the government drilling GM like they did Toyota? Oh wait.. That Toyota lynch mob was from Michigan! Lol

Because the Government owns GM!

Chris

 

[Ford850]

You do have to wonder. GM knew about the problem dating back to 2001. Now after only a couple of months have passed after the government sold the last of it's GM stock does this come out.

They're also looking into why the government knew about this for years, and they did nothing until now. Seems obvious like you said.

 

[Bob77064]

GM's offer of $500 to customers who wish to buy or lease a new car is a way for GM to sell more cars. In my opinion this is not a good deal for the customers that have these cars.

 

[ovrszd]

I take another position on this.

Have you saw the pile of SH** that some people have hanging on their key rings???? Get real. Best fix for this problem is all cars going to keyless.

The problem isn't the durability of the keylock. It's the position. It could have been rotated back a few degrees and solved the problem. I doubt the engineers factored in the 1/2lb pile of garbage that some people will hang on the lock mechanism.

I'd actually like to see the stats on that. For every injury/fatality, I'd like to see a picture of what was hanging on the keyring...

Okay,,,, I'm done. Just really excites me when people blame whomever they can for their own stupidity....

 

[HHR]

GM has been handling the ignition recall pretty poorly so far. Our local dealer knows nothing about the memo sent to dealers on March 4 that allows owners of affected vehicles to use a loaner car until the parts are available and get $500 cash back on a new car, towing etc. Called GM customer service and they also had no knowledge of the memo and said they couldn't comment (it's posted on NHTSA's website. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM451420/RCMN-14V047-7733.pdf ). USA Today, CBS and just about every other news organization wrote a news story on the memo, yet the company who wrote it doesn't even acknowledge it.

After emailing a link of "the memo" to our dealer's service manager, he went to bat with GM and lined us up with a loaner Malibu.

 

[wmonroe]

I take another position on this. Have you saw the pile of SH** that some people have hanging on their key rings???? Get real. Best fix for this problem is all cars going to keyless. The problem isn't the durability of the keylock. It's the position. It could have been rotated back a few degrees and solved the problem. I doubt the engineers factored in the 1/2lb pile of garbage that some people will hang on the lock mechanism. I'd actually like to see the stats on that. For every injury/fatality, I'd like to see a picture of what was hanging on the keyring... Okay,,,, I'm done. Just really excites me when people blame whomever they can for their own stupidity....

Exactly what I was thinking, 73 keys, 29 key chains, 50 store reward cards, etc. Come on, really?!?!

 

[94BULLITT]

GM has another recall, linked to 303 deaths.

U.S. safety watchdog says 303 deaths linked to recalled GM cars

 

[handirifle]

They're also looking into why the government knew about this for years, and they did nothing until now. Seems obvious like you said.

Who is THEY? Are you saying the government is looking into itself? I have ZERO faith in anything getting solved that way. The last couple years they have been "investigating" themselves for a number of reasons and NOTHING is getting done. Do not expect anything to come from "they're" investigation.

And for me, personally, the number of fatalities ACTUALLY related to the problems are most likely FAR LOWER than reported. I have less faith in the lawyers, who I am sure is making the numbers claims, than I do in the government.

Not defending GM or any auto maker when they hide known issues, they do it all the time. It's called risk management, and sometimes they lose.

 

[Monster5601]

This is in regards to the recent recall. GM got a black eye on the recent ignition switch problem.
Enter Chrysler. I own a Dodge Challenger and there have been cases where the timing chain will break.

The timing chain doesn't cause the steering wheel to lock and ignition off deactivating the safety systems.

Because the Government owns GM!Chris

I thought the government dumped their remaining share of GM a few months ago.

GM's offer of $500 to customers who wish to buy or lease a new car is a way for GM to sell more cars. In my opinion this is not a good deal for the customers that have these cars.

$500, what a joke, they need to pony up and offer employee pricing along with a 2 or 3K incentive and a fair market trade in value. GM, the definition of American Corporate Greed, will never do it.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Recalls with the car companies is all about legal exposure and money. They take the problem to their lawyers who determine whether a recall or a certain numbers of lawsuits will be more expensive, and make the final decision off the lowest numbers. The number of consumers who get maimed or killed is irrelevant

 

[Ford850]

Who is THEY? Are you saying the government is looking into itself? I have ZERO faith in anything getting solved that way. The last couple years they have been "investigating" themselves for a number of reasons and NOTHING is getting done. Do not expect anything to come from "they're" investigation.

And for me, personally, the number of fatalities ACTUALLY related to the problems are most likely FAR LOWER than reported. I have less faith in the lawyers, who I am sure is making the numbers claims, than I do in the government.

Not defending GM or any auto maker when they hide known issues, they do it all the time. It's called risk management, and sometimes they lose.

"The U.S. attorney in Manhattan has opened a criminal probe, and House and Senate committees have pledged to hold hearings about GM and NHTSA's behavior."
I'm on the same page as you are. This whole circus will cost us all in the end.

 

[PapaPerk]

I take another position on this. Have you saw the pile of SH** that some people have hanging on their key rings???? Get real. Best fix for this problem is all cars going to keyless. The problem isn't the durability of the keylock. It's the position. It could have been rotated back a few degrees and solved the problem. I doubt the engineers factored in the 1/2lb pile of garbage that some people will hang on the lock mechanism. I'd actually like to see the stats on that. For every injury/fatality, I'd like to see a picture of what was hanging on the keyring... Okay,,,, I'm done. Just really excites me when people blame whomever they can for their own stupidity....

The engineers must factor in all the stuff that hangs from key chains! They screwed up, got the design wrong and tried to cover it up. Period.

 

[94BULLITT]

The engineers must factor in all the stuff that hangs from key chains! They screwed up, got the design wrong and tried to cover it up. Period.

Right, nobody else has this problem.