Why all the Dislike for Chysler/Dodge/Jeep auto's

Easy I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 v8 2wd with 83,000 miles and the entire front end needs to be rebuilt tie rods, ball joints and all including control arms due to rust
Close to $3000 if I don’t do the work, around $700 if I do the work or bring it to a local Cooter.

my 82 diesel suburban at 30 years old with 438,000 miles never needed ball joints just had to grease

This type of nickel and dime crap gives Dodge a bad name, after I do the front end it will be broken freeze plugs next or bad grounds again or a messed up voltage regulator in the ecu.

It's 20 year old Wisconsin vehicle. Just JB Weld it all back together.
 
Easy I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 v8 2wd with 83,000 miles and the entire front end needs to be rebuilt tie rods, ball joints and all including control arms due to rust
Close to $3000 if I don’t do the work, around $700 if I do the work or bring it to a local Cooter.

my 82 diesel suburban at 30 years old with 438,000 miles never needed ball joints just had to grease

This type of nickel and dime crap gives Dodge a bad name, after I do the front end it will be broken freeze plugs next or bad grounds again or a messed up voltage regulator in the ecu.

i also have a 2001 Ram 1500 4WD with the 5.9L at 125k miles. Live in Michigan. I think the whole front end minus brakes are original. Crossing my fingers! So far it seems ok other than some sloppy steering and of course rust everywhere. New axle ujoints, diff seals and hubs though.

I also own a 2004 Grand Cherokee V8 Limited with 150k miles. My wife’s DD. I’ve had to do a lot of PM on it and fix things here and there. But I think I’ve gotten most of the usual suspects at this point out of the way. She likes it so hopefully nothing major for a while!
 
Why I'm not a fan...

A friend has a 2020 Wrangler that has been in for service 8 times so far and some of the issues are still not fixed.

My brother had a 2016 Grand Cherokee with major issues by 10K miles. Needed a new engine by 25K miles.

Another buddy bought a brand new 2018 Ram 1500 and I **** you not, there was chrome window trim on one side of the truck and black window trim on the other side. He too has been in several times for warranty work.

Not to mention my local Jeep/Ram dealership looks and feels like a prison. Did I mention I have a friend who is a tech there and his exact words were, "I'd never buy anything I service"? Lol...None of that builds all that much confidence.
 
Why I'm not a fan...

A friend has a 2020 Wrangler that has been in for service 8 times so far and some of the issues are still not fixed.

My brother had a 2016 Grand Cherokee with major issues by 10K miles. Needed a new engine by 25K miles.

Another buddy bought a brand new 2018 Ram 1500 and I **** you not, there was chrome window trim on one side of the truck and black window trim on the other side. He too has been in several times for warranty work.

Not to mention my local Jeep/Ram dealership looks and feels like a prison. Did I mention I have a friend who is a tech there and his exact words were, "I'd never buy anything I service"? Lol...None of that builds all that much confidence.

Hilarious, I own and know quite a few people with similar vehicles and none of these stories to share.
 
The only time I will drive a jeep is when I get enough money to 2.5 vw engine swap a jeep.

Only then will it be reliable.

For jeeps, I don't see a reason to use a jeep for any off roading when you can just lift a jetta, convert it to four wheel drive (mk4 jettas preferred) and put off road tires on it.

Cheaper, reliable, higher performance, and stylish.
 
The only time I will drive a jeep is when I get enough money to 2.5 vw engine swap a jeep.
Say what you want about the Pentastar but it's a better engine than the 2.5.
Only then will it be reliable.
Contrary to popular opinion, Jeeps do just fine.
For jeeps, I don't see a reason to use a jeep for any off roading when you can just lift a jetta, convert it to four wheel drive (mk4 jettas preferred) and put off road tires on it..
Then you've never really been off-road.
Cheaper, reliable, higher performance, and stylish.
Yes, no, hell no, and meh.
 
The only time I will drive a jeep is when I get enough money to 2.5 vw engine swap a jeep.

Only then will it be reliable.

For jeeps, I don't see a reason to use a jeep for any off roading when you can just lift a jetta, convert it to four wheel drive (mk4 jettas preferred) and put off road tires on it.

Cheaper, reliable, higher performance, and stylish.
I think a stock Wrangler would leave a heavily modified Jetta in the dust on anything more intense than a wash boarded out dirt road 🤣

Scotty doesn't like them either,


I feel like I have to post this again…
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Hilarious, I own and know quite a few people with similar vehicles and none of these stories to share.
Well, all I can say is my buddy has been a tech in the same dealership for 20 years and he says they're pieces of **** but he loves the job security. All kinds of stories about parts are not torqued down or missing bolts from the factory and the general opinion of management is who cares - they sell well.

In fairness, there are A LOT of Jeeps and Rams in these parts (not so many Chryslers or Dodges) and I know more people with Jeeps/Rams who have minimal issues or no issues but I can't think of any other brands where I personally know that many people who have had major/recurrent issues with newer model vehicles. The guy with the 2020 Wrangler has driven Wranglers for the past 20 years and had minimal problems which is why he keeps going back - he is very disappointed with this Wrangler. Look, I'm currently having a front brake job on a 2019 Lexus with 23K miles and nearly bald tires - I'm starting to not be a fan of any manufactures as I think cost-containment and profits are the number 1 goal everywhere but the above is my experience.

As far as FCA, it seems like when it's a stinker then it's really a stinker.
 
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Manufacturers in the last 20 years have been going with the attitude that if we can save $1 on making a part out of plastic inside the transmission that was previously made of metal, and the cost benefit analysis shows the likely failure rate under warranty is less than the total cost savings, they go with the cheaper part. The company is being run by bean counters, not engineers. They don't see the big picture and what it does for customer perceptions. They might have saved a million dollars on just one part but when it fails out of warranty, the owner will likely not buy the same brand again.
You just laid out Ford's business model! Not that GM, Stellantis, or anybody else is that much better currently...
 
I have a 2020 Jeep GC 3.6 ....Ive owned a Dodge Journey a 2016 4 cyl that i gave to my brother....and a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 truck 4.7 v-8. plus other mopar cars back to high school ......first was a 73 plymouth Duster with a 318 4 brl
I get why do you buy junk cars ? Ive owned them for years and never had a lemon yet....and drove them to 155k miles ( 09 Ram)
Worst car was ive ever bought was 01 Honda Civic EX auto my wife had ....Engine blew at 65k.....trans at 80k.....oh and AC went out after she gave it to her daughter at 88k.....we were in a class action suit against Honda and took years to get 3800 bucks back....thats is all we got.
Ive never had a engine blow or trans crap out on any mopar auto ive owned...The worst thing i cant think of is the windshield wipers stopped working on the highway in a down pour in the Ram truck once...
Ive read were people have had problems but ive never had one yet....knock on wood.
Has anybody had any catastrophic event with a Mopar?
Not a hater here but, my brother in law worked for Chrysler, his new vehicle had OBDII code in 2 weeks, his son Kevin, got a truck that needed Head work in less than 6 months
 
Yeah the Cherokee overheated after you turned it off it was really strange. And we think it warped the block because we thought maybe the head gasket was leaking or something even though there wasn’t any signs of it so we took everything apart and went to put it back together and the cylinder head and block wouldn’t mate together anymore they were uneven. Very strange.
Look up 0331 head. I know it was mostly '99 and '00, but the '01s may have had the issue as well.
 
My first car was an 82 Plymouth Sapporro which had a Mitsu engine..and a 5 speed. Flywheel went out around 100k (bought the car with 32k). I drove that car like it was the last lap at Daytona. Dumped it to avoid fixing the flywheel.
2001 T&C - this was the smoothest driving vehicle I have ever owned. Also the slowest. Bought with 30k miles, sold to a dodge mechanic at 130k. Had a lot of minor repairs, alt, water pump, sensors. But the engine was buttery smooth and the trans was perfect when I sold it. I changed the oil and trans fluid A LOT on her ...and it paid off.
98 Ram 1500- bought it new and used it 100% in my landscaping business. Rear diff failed at 75k. Otherwise held up fine. Sold it at 90k to upgrade to a chevy 2500hd so i could pull a 24' enclosed trailer.
I love the looks of the new GC, may consider one if prices are reasonable in a few years. But I will probably just buy another Ford.
 
Does the "Death Wobble" count?
Had a 2010 Wrangler 4 door, highway driving was awful. Noisy with soft top, bearable with the hardtop. Took three men and a boy to remove the hardtop. Putting down the softop was an exercise in endurance. Awful fuel economy. Even worse in the snow, except it would go, not alway where you pointed it, but it would go.
 
Does the "Death Wobble" count?
Had a 2010 Wrangler 4 door, highway driving was awful. Noisy with soft top, bearable with the hardtop. Took three men and a boy to remove the hardtop. Putting down the softop was an exercise in endurance. Awful fuel economy. Even worse in the snow, except it would go, not alway where you pointed it, but it would go.

You think the Wrangler is bad on the highway? I took a Camry rock crawling and it got stuck. What a turd! /s
 
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