Not so fast 300C fans.....
Thread Starter
Prominent Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
Not so fast 300C fans.....
Buy backs and numerous TSB's for example, pulling to the right affecting 50% of them....
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...threadid=69304
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...threadid=69304
Chrysler is doing a buyback on my 300C
What an ordeal..... My 300C has had the dreaded "pull to the right" from day one. Chrysler has a TSB that is supposed to correct it but not so on my car. There are several others that I know who are going through the same thing. So, after six attempts from my dealer, an independent service center, another Chrysler dealer and a Chrysler Field Rep. (he flew in from somewhere ), no one could correct the problem. So now they are going to buy it back. The 300C boards seem to show that about 50% of all owners are going through the same thing. Too bad, as I loved the car other than that. The Mercedes E Class is also having this issue....
.....If I could find one without the problem, I will. But there are already six TSB's on the 300 for different issues. That is scary. I bought the car hoping Chrysler would have tested the car better. Oh well.....
.......My dealer test drove all the 300's (even the V6 models) and all but one pulled to the right. The cradle assembly that adjusts the front end does not have enough adjustment so they came out with a "kit" that was supposed to fix that. The kit was simply a longer camber bolt I think.
What an ordeal..... My 300C has had the dreaded "pull to the right" from day one. Chrysler has a TSB that is supposed to correct it but not so on my car. There are several others that I know who are going through the same thing. So, after six attempts from my dealer, an independent service center, another Chrysler dealer and a Chrysler Field Rep. (he flew in from somewhere ), no one could correct the problem. So now they are going to buy it back. The 300C boards seem to show that about 50% of all owners are going through the same thing. Too bad, as I loved the car other than that. The Mercedes E Class is also having this issue....
.....If I could find one without the problem, I will. But there are already six TSB's on the 300 for different issues. That is scary. I bought the car hoping Chrysler would have tested the car better. Oh well.....
.......My dealer test drove all the 300's (even the V6 models) and all but one pulled to the right. The cradle assembly that adjusts the front end does not have enough adjustment so they came out with a "kit" that was supposed to fix that. The kit was simply a longer camber bolt I think.
Last edited by Doug Harden; Jun 24, 2004 at 01:47 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
Are they driving on level roads?! Many 2 lane roads around here will cause a car to pull right, as the "crown" of the road for water shedding means the right lane leans right, and the left (oncoming) lane leans left. Hell, even the 6 lane (3 per direction) highways here do it. Water has to go somewhere... 
If there really is a TSB, though, then it sounds like more than just normal road leaning/truck groove following...
If there really is a TSB, though, then it sounds like more than just normal road leaning/truck groove following...
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 766
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
This is really disappointing news, especially considering the starting point for the underpinnings for these cars. Hopefully they can correct the problem so that sales won't fall off therefore - leading the auto companies to rethink their RWD plans because of faltering sales. (I know, I may be reaching a little here...but, you never know)
Note to GM: The Zeta cars - well, actually all of the new products that we are continually told is in the pipeline - they better be free of such unnecessary gremlins and any other indications of mediocrity and ho-hummness. They have to be executed as flawlessly as possible if GM is to turn the tide in the marketplace. They have to be first rate out of the box, this may be your last shot at greatness, let alone dominance.
Note to GM: The Zeta cars - well, actually all of the new products that we are continually told is in the pipeline - they better be free of such unnecessary gremlins and any other indications of mediocrity and ho-hummness. They have to be executed as flawlessly as possible if GM is to turn the tide in the marketplace. They have to be first rate out of the box, this may be your last shot at greatness, let alone dominance.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 189
Buying the first year of a new gen
I for one, will never again buy the first model year of a new generation or new car.
I made that mistake with a 2002 Nissan Altima (the one with the factory altezza look-a-likes).
We had the car 6 months before we traded it in...
The drivetrain was reasonably well put together but in hindsight, I would have rather had the 3.5 over the 2.5.
Ours was plagued with interior problems. The door panels felt very cheap in terms of fit overall materials used. You'd pull on the door handle and you could see the panel about to rip off the door.
Second, the center console had a little compartment up front with a push to hold close and a push to open latch on it. That broke 3 times with very light use.
The center console scratched up with the brush of a key or a magazine or clothing. It was rediculous.
Other things like 3 trips to the dealer because my Airbag light woudn't stay off. The dealer ordered 3 wrong relays and finally got it solved on the last attempt.
All in all - My Altima wasn't a bad car, it was very comfy and extremely roomy - But... when spending $$$$$$ on a new car, I'd expect better - Therefore I'll give an auto manufacturer a year or two before I buy the "new thing".
Seems like during the life of the vehicle generation, things only get better.
I made that mistake with a 2002 Nissan Altima (the one with the factory altezza look-a-likes).
We had the car 6 months before we traded it in...
The drivetrain was reasonably well put together but in hindsight, I would have rather had the 3.5 over the 2.5.
Ours was plagued with interior problems. The door panels felt very cheap in terms of fit overall materials used. You'd pull on the door handle and you could see the panel about to rip off the door.
Second, the center console had a little compartment up front with a push to hold close and a push to open latch on it. That broke 3 times with very light use.
The center console scratched up with the brush of a key or a magazine or clothing. It was rediculous.
Other things like 3 trips to the dealer because my Airbag light woudn't stay off. The dealer ordered 3 wrong relays and finally got it solved on the last attempt.
All in all - My Altima wasn't a bad car, it was very comfy and extremely roomy - But... when spending $$$$$$ on a new car, I'd expect better - Therefore I'll give an auto manufacturer a year or two before I buy the "new thing".
Seems like during the life of the vehicle generation, things only get better.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 1999
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You'd think...
..these engineers and their fancy computers would have taken care of "stacked tolerences".....and assembly line inaccuracies....
It really sounds like the welded front structure isn't with-in spec and there isn't enough adjustment built-in to compensate....same as with the 350Z's.....
It really sounds like the welded front structure isn't with-in spec and there isn't enough adjustment built-in to compensate....same as with the 350Z's.....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
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Joined: May 1998
Posts: 317
From: Maumee, OH
Re: Buying the first year of a new gen
Originally posted by Dante93GTZ
I for one, will never again buy the first model year of a new generation or new car.
I for one, will never again buy the first model year of a new generation or new car.
Amen to that. Just got done with our 1997 Pontiac TransSport mini-van. It was the first model year of the style everyone now knows as the Montana. There were 3 recalls on the power sliding door alone. A recall on the steering box, a blown head gasket and blown tranny. All of this before 80,000 miles. Rear liftgate worked when it wanted to and the interior literally fell apart at around 70,000 miles. Calipers started hanging up right after we bought it. One failed injector around 60,000 miles.
Yeah, ok, any one of these by themselves is probably not a biggie. But this thing literally started falling apart after 60,000 miles and the power sliding door was joke. So much so, I have a Microsoft Word document detailing the problems we had EVERY YEAR. On or about mid-February the power sliding door would quit working. Every year, we got a different excuse (and bill) for why it quit.
Oh, and you couldn't put your foot on the so-called "dead pedal" because the radio would cut out.... Quality!
Moral of the story, first year runs are for OTHER PEOPLE, not me. Never again. Same reason why you don't buy a Microsoft operating system when it first comes out. Always wait for the first service pack before you buy.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,215
From: Coppell, Texas
I had a 1999 Grand Am GT which was the first year of the new body style, and I had zero problems with it. I bought it used w/ 40k miles on the clock and put another 30k on it. Standard maintainence for the most part. I did have to get a new factory CD/radio put in, but other than that nothing. The interior had a few spots where the plastic on the A-pillar was warped a little and the material on the door panel was bubbling up slightly, but it was barely noticable.
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From: Japan
Originally posted by falchulk
You have people that complain like this for every car. As a matter of fact the camaro was b!tched about piston slap and pleanty of other things. Only the dumba$$'s will trade it or sell it back. Its a great car.
You have people that complain like this for every car. As a matter of fact the camaro was b!tched about piston slap and pleanty of other things. Only the dumba$$'s will trade it or sell it back. Its a great car.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
My question is this....HOW can something that affects nearly 50% of the cars tested make it through any sort of beta testing??!!??
As with the 350Z, SOMEONE should have noticed this in testing. Nissan tried ot blame it on "aggressive alignment settings", but no-one could fix it by re-aligning them.
One other question on the testing issue....I know GM, for some models actually has a beta fleet that is destroyed when completed and torn apart for wear items, etc...are car manufacturer's rushing models to market (lord know GM can't be accused of that) without comprehensive testing? What does Chrysler do?
As with the 350Z, SOMEONE should have noticed this in testing. Nissan tried ot blame it on "aggressive alignment settings", but no-one could fix it by re-aligning them.
One other question on the testing issue....I know GM, for some models actually has a beta fleet that is destroyed when completed and torn apart for wear items, etc...are car manufacturer's rushing models to market (lord know GM can't be accused of that) without comprehensive testing? What does Chrysler do?
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Anywhere but here
Originally posted by falchulk
Pick your brand and I can point you to a page like the one above.
Pick your brand and I can point you to a page like the one above.
Sure, it happens to lots of new car launches, but that doesn't make it right.
Hopefully they'll get it ironed out in no time and get back on track.