Chrysler lifetime powertrain warranty

[sreigle]

I saw a news item yesterday that all Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicles sold after 7/26/07 will have a lifetime powertrain warranty for the original owner only. I know no details. Naturally, we bought two months too soon! Story of my life.

Anyhow, I thought those in the market might like to check out this warranty. I would think the other manufacturers will likely follow suit before too long.

[skypilot]

Saw the ad this morning -- lot of fine print on the bottom of the screen limiting the actual vehicles / engines this applies to. Tried the web site earlier and nothing on it at that point -- another marketing gimmick??

On edit -- I just checked the web site again -- now posted: Not applicable to diesel vehicles, chassis cabs .......

[sreigle]

The one I saw included the Ram 2500/3500 series and nearly every vehicle they make but it was a news article, not on the official Dodge site.. I guess I better do some more checking.

[sreigle]

I'm hearing elsewhere, also, that diesels are not included. Shucks.

[skypilot]

Copied right off the Dodge web site at: http://www.dodge.com/en/lifetime_powertrain_warranty/

"See dealer for a copy of limited warranty and details. Non-Transferable. Not available on SRT, Diesel vehicles, Sprinter, Ram Chassis Cab, and certain fleet vehicles.

ON PURCHASES BEGINNING 7/26/07"

I was looking at a new 2007.5 (or 2008, not sure which it is) that local dealer has -- Laramie package with everything but the kitchen sink in it; would be nice to include such a warranty given the new particulate filter and all.

[ols1932]

Steve,
According to my son who works for Chrysler, the new Dodge trucks have a really good transmission now, can be compared to both the Allison and the Ford tranny. Not the same as, however he believes it's related to the BMW tranny. That's the reason they put the lifetime warranty on it. They don't expect it to fail. Having said that, probably the reason they don't warranty it for life on the Cummins is because of the amount of torque generated by the Cummins.

Make sense?

Orv

[sreigle]

It does make sense. I read somewhere in the Chrysler propoganda that it was tested to 1000 lb-ft torque. It does seem to be an excellent tranny so far, at least to me.

On the warranty, I was told that Chrysler created a stir at at least one dealership as the initial announcement did not mention diesels are not included and they went out and told customers. I suspect that's the one I read because I saw nothing about no diesels and I was looking to see if ours would be covered if we bought after 7/26. In any case, diesels do not get the lifetime warranty, just the 100k mile warranty they already had.

[hookman]

This site explains the life time warranty
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...707270340/1148

[Eagle Man]

I would be very skeptical of any manufacturer giving any vehicle any kind of lifetime anything. There seems to be a list of those vehicles excluded, what we need is a list of those included, and a very careful reading of the fine print.

[skypilot]

Reading that article brings up some interesting points -- only to the original buyer. Chyrsler's research indicates most of their buyers only keep their vehicles an average of 4 to 4.5 years. Average --- that means half trade sooner (some like me much sooner so I'd get no benefit and the person who purchases my used vehicle gets no benefit. So, for Chrysler, it is a win-win proposition -- good PR (competing against the 100K warranties) yet very little pay-out. And given the changes, who knows what is going to happen in 4 to 5 years.

[stiles watson]

Guaranteed that the CPAs and actuaries got into the act to determine exposure.

[bsmeaton]

If I remember correctly, Yugo tried that before jumping over the cliff.