Chrysler's New Warranty: Maybe not in your lifetime
As noted in Jeff Bartlett's previous warranty blog, Chrysler is offering lifetime powertrain coverage on most of their models. Like almost everything in life (including taxes but excluding death), there are exceptions. In this case, they are SRT high-performance models and fleet vehicles. One particular exception seems glaring--diesels (and the Dodge Sprinter van) are excluded. Although gasoline engines can last a very long time, diesels still have a reputation for further longevity. So why doesn't Chrysler include them in this plan?
It's a guess, but a recent road trip to upstate New York gives me a hint. On that trip into farm country, I was surprised to see the number of well-patinaed Dodge Ram trucks on the highway. (Several of them were the pre-baby-Kenworth-styled version, making them at least 16 years old.) The common thread: they had the Cummins turbodiesel engine.
Buyers who made the initial investment in a diesel Ram or Sprinter, especially business owners, might be just those folks who would drive their trucks until the wheels fell off. They're the ones who would really benefit from lifetime powertrain coverage--even beyond the 7 years/100k coverage you get on a Ram diesel. John Ibbotson, our chief mechanic and expert in John's Tool Box (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only), tells me the replacement cost of those Cummins diesels, or the Mercedes diesels in the Sprinter and Jeep Grand Cherokee, are pretty high. Parts like injector pumps are expensive, too.
So, keep this in mind if you're considering a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel or another Chrysler product with a diesel. Even though you might just use the vehicle to haul around your family, rather than racking up lots of miles running between various job sites or customer locations, you'll miss out on the extended warranty coverage trumpeted in Chrysler's ads.
Posted by: Todd | Aug 1, 2007 12:28:34 AM
In The Detroit Free Press “Chrysler's warranty deal shows confidence” in the US, but in Canada show they have no CONFIDENCE in their vehicles as reported by the Toronto Star. “Canadians not offered Chrysler lifetime warranty”
I guess now you can only get the BEST warranty in the business if you are an AMERICAN.
Posted by: Todd | Aug 1, 2007 4:36:31 PM
I bought a 2007 1500 quadcab Hemi in March of this year; only has 3/36 warranty. Are they going to extend this offer to all elligable 2007 model year vehicles or am I just out of luck?!
Anybody???
Posted by: David Price | Aug 1, 2007 5:44:10 PM
Like so many victimology writers, Tom Mutchler misses the very point he makes about the Dodge truck diesels---that they in fact ARE still on the road!
Posted by: Cale Johnson | Aug 1, 2007 8:15:45 PM
It should be noted that the lifetime warranty is non-transferable. Because most buyers sell their car before 100k miles, Chrysler has a very limited exposure to lifetime warranty claims. It's very good marketing but of dubious benefit to most consumers.
Posted by: darrell | Aug 8, 2007 1:13:24 PM
That's a very BROKEN customer experience - transferring car ownership voids the warranty (e,g. selling it).
BROKEN, BROKEN, BROKEN
Posted by: Bryce Decker | Aug 18, 2007 9:02:19 AM
There is another problem with warranties: dealers who stonewall requests for diagnosis and repair on vehicles covered by warranty. What does one do about that? The nearest alternative dealer is 100 miles away. My car is a 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport with a turbo-diesel engine.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 22, 2007 12:05:59 AM
To answer the question about if you bought a vehicle in the 2007 MY(model year)before July 2007. They are offering a comparable lifetime at an added cost via dealorship for all vehicles covered under "the after July 2007" date. This actually can be purchased for all vehicles bought in the 2006-2007 MY which were bought with the 3/36k warranty. All US purchased Dodge,Chrysler, and Jeep except vehicles stated not covered in the after July 2007 warranty. This information was accessed from Diamler/Chrysler website.
Posted by: Ron Rigell | Feb 16, 2008 9:38:23 AM
I am considering buying a Chrysler Product simply because of the lifetime warranty. I currently own a 02 Explorer Sport and had two cases of Transmission problems amounting to 3000.00 total, including the rear end going out during warranty.
According to Consumer magazine one can save 20,000.00 dollars by "running a vehicle into the ground". If this is true I want to buy a Jeep or Dodge and drive into a dealer at the ripe old age of 90 years and tell them to replace my engine and transmission for the 3rd time.
It does cover the engine right? And how about 4x4's.....are they covered?
Please let me know.