After my telecom with the 'Special Handling' representative on 1 June, I tried to respond to their 'link' in that email (FCA does not allow a reply to the email sent to you in yahoo email, you have to click a link which to their advantage, you have NO RECORD OF THE EMAIL), the email service that links to will not allow you to send the comments (2000 character text limit not exceeded). Since then, it has not been working ( Our email system is currently unavailable. Please try again later. ). Called them on the 3rd, left a message, still no reply. They are stalling big time. Told them (by phone call message late 3 June) if not able to send my questions or get a phone call from them, I will be filing a NHTSA complaint on 10 June (60 days since initial notification). As I posted earlier here in this post, my airbag is near the 9 years for zone 1 and I will not drive it until the airbag is replaced. I refuse to accept any risk based on the recall data and history. If you own a recalled vehicle and drive it, you may be screwing any chance of litigation if it hurts you. FCA doesn't care, as most of you already know!


I have been using the NHTSA recall information on Takata airbags (referenced earlier) as posted by myself and other members here. Do not rely on FCA giving you any information as they do not care about you at all.


WOW! All of a sudden the email link worked! I tried every day multiple times, this morning it finally took the reply! Sent the information to them I want answered.

Reply sent to 'special handling';


7 June 2016, 0718hrs


MS Christine


My crossfire has been parked since first notice on 11 April 2016. FCA has been slow to non-existent in keeping me notified about when my car can be repaired and driven again. To date, I have 2 separate case numbers (xxxxxxxx & xxxxxxxx) that I know of. Of all the calls I have made, I have no idea if other case numbers are in your system, and since that is how your tracking this with me, I suspect FCA is hiding behind an administrative system to extend compliance of NHTSA requirements it has been tasked with. I have researched this on the NHTSA website and have downloaded multiple adobe .pdf documents. The questions I asked (and will continue to ask) to date and beyond, were geared to answers related with this 'pre'(?) recall. In relation to this end (of fixing my car and being able to drive it again), I ask the following direct questions;


1. What zone (as assigned to the prioritizing of repairs) is my VIN ( 1C3LN69LX8X074421 ) assigned to?


2. When is the current estimated closure date when replacement parts are available for my 2008 crossfire?


3. My car was born on Sept 4 2007 at 12 noon, my airbag is (as of the 4th of June 2016) 8 years 9 months installed, and in zone 1 since July 2009. NHTSA lists my VIN as a risk of degradation of the airbag module 6-9 years in zone 1. I know as a rule these numbers are plus/minus, but here in SC we just recently (October last year, 2015) had a 1000 year flood (standing water persisting everywhere) with extremely high humidity that still exists. Where am I in relation to having my car fixed?


4. I will not drive my car until it is repaired. I asked our local dealership to inquire about a loaner vehicle. I also asked (and was denied) about Sumter Chrysler Dodge Jeep temporarily disabling this potential killer airbag.


Your email link has not worked since 1 June!


Reply to (my email was here) with answers & firm resolution NLT 10 June 2016.




Lets see if they reply to this set of questions posted in a (finally working) email system they are using. If they do not, I will file with NHTSA. I strongly suggest everyone getting a FCA runaround do the same notice to them, and filing with NHTSA. One of the documents I read on the NHTSA website (can't remember off top of my head) has FCA tasked with addressing their crappy recall procedures. Don't take their crappola, hound them until you get your car fixed. BTW, just remember if you do find another (TRW) airbag until you get notified, you MIGHT have a monetary claim for the interim solution costs you incurred. It should be know also that (the TRW airbag/wheel) might not match your interior colors.












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Well well, after they got my email reply (with those questions in post 61 below) I get a phone call from 'special handling'. All of a sudden they want me to have a rental (BUT I have to pay pay pay for full coverage insurance)... NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. So, was shifted to another 'rep' and basically she also said its ok to set up the rental, I said NO WAY am I paying anything for this airbag fiasco. She then suggests another upchannel to another rep (someone new named Mike) and he's to contact me sometime this week. I also insisted they reply by an email to my contact email (remember they only want to do phone conversations that I am 100% sure they record but provide no copy to me). So if they reply by email (satisfactorly), I'll not file NHTSA. Seems to me they are trying the hardest NOT to have this make it to NHTSA. Will keep you all up-to-date!


As I posted earlier, my car has been parked since April 11th when I received the initial notice of recall. The 10th of June will be 60 days. If you have the capability, and you are in phone contact with Chrysler (only), find a way to record your copy of everything said. When you call them, they state they MAY record for this or that reason. If you agree to anything, they will hold that against you.




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OK, since last post, was shuffled 'higher up' (?). Agent stated emphatically they will not let any contacts be documented by emails. His words, it is not 'policy' to do this other than by telephone call with them. So, I just followed through and filed my complaint with NHTSA (concerning FCA's rotten handling of this affair). Be sure to read this NHTSA website ( NHTSA | Recalls Spotlight: Takata Air Bags Recalls ), it has the official information available. FCA does not want to give out anything that helps beyond what they consider as help, and only by phone. I am done with them unless they contact me by mail or email. Seems they just want to CYA and not keep their owners in any official loop.




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It would be wise to contact any and all outside consumer protection sources for replacement of the airbag in our cars. A further contact with Chrysler corporate, didn't even want to address my inquiry about the 'policy' regarding phone calls only. This policy stinks of protectionism, all they want to do is protect themselves from the very customers trying to hold them to a customer service standard. SAD for this company. The Chrysler name is quite the disappointment in regards to customer service, that's for sure. Its no wonder they have merged with so many other companies over the years...


I am considering doing the airbag disconnect until they fix their supply side of the airbags recall. I have a feeling they will attempt to charge me to 'reset' any system after I bring my car in to have it replaced. I seriously don't want them touching my car, but this (airbag replacement recall) pretty much has to be done.




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In my quest for redress with Chrysler, I found this ( Massive Takata Airbag Recall: Everything You Need to Know ? News ?*Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog ). If anyone thinks this issue is going away anytime soon, I have some swamp land in Florida that is alligator free, for sale!






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The attached article was in Autoweek issue for May30, 2016.

 

So heard where the Feds have recommended to approximately 300,000 Honda & Acura owners to park their cars until the air bag modules are replaced.

 

I actually bought an air bag off eBay from a 2004 salvage. Got the module & clock spring with it. Now is it the actual air bag or the module that connects to it or both. Anyone know for sure.

 

You could always get a 9v battery and test to remove all doubts..

 

I would recommend ALL 07 and 08 XF owners involved with this recall (especially those in zone 1 recall area who has the highest risk according to NHTSA) file with NHTSA on their complaint website. Chrysler is stonewalling owners with delays. They will not send you a letter saying what zone your car is assigned nor give you a FCA letter saying it is OK to drive your car during this recall, and they will only tell you what they want to tell you. Pressing them, they shuffle you off to another branch. They (from a CSU supervisor) have a 'POLICY' of only dealing with you by phone call only. You can not get anything from them in a documented format due to this 'Policy'.

 

Submitted a complaint today to NHTSA on the overall time required to get my 2007 NA Coupe repaired. My guess is that it may be late 2018 to 2019 before they get around to handling my coupe. Originally sold in KCMO metro area (probably Priority 3) for 6 months and has since been owned & registered in SC (Priority 2) for nearly 8 years.

 

Unless they changed the zones (priority), I have a .pdf that I believe indicates SC as priority A (priority A in section 7 on the amended Nov 3 2015 .pdf ). And if I remember correctly, one of the NHTSA .pdf's I downloaded directs Chrysler have parts available for priority A (Priority A, as ammended) by March 2016 (expired). I'll look at the downloaded .pdf's (in case they rewrote/posted them) and get back here. I might have quite a mea-culpa?


Found the .pdf that instructed priority A (I was calling it zone 1 but in various places it is listed as zone A or priority A, sorry for the confusion) The text in this added (below) .pdf ( 20160504-Fact Sheet-Takata-Recall-History-Key-Terms.pdf ) Pg. 2 3rd line says: By March 31, 2016, the Coordinated Remedy Order required that all affected vehicle manufacturers have a sufficient supply of remedy parts to begin remedying vehicles in Priority Group 1. Vehicles in that Group are at greatest risk of experiencing an inflator rupture.


Now I do agree that even 1 replacement airbag (given the definition given) would cover them dorks at FCA, the intent is they (IMHO) should have parts for our priority A cars 2007 and 2008 (South Carolina and California, as amended) by MARCH 2016, and yes I had May stuck in my head, oh well). So, is FCA stonewalling us owners, I believe so!

 

Thanks for the reference documents.

 

Just filed a complaint at carcomplaints.com website about FCA and this recall. Seems they have a public forum for them. Mine will be reviewed and posted within (according to them) three days. You have to register, according to their site you will not be spammed/sold. So people, try them!

 

We filed a complaint with The NTHSA a while back for the same issues described below. We have a 2008 Crossfire and are currently going through the whole Email/Phone thing with Chrysler. We are in the process of trying to get a rental worked out with Chrysler but still currently having issues. Our RED warning light is on for the airbag and according to the owners manual we need to go to the dealership to get it fixed. It says the airbag could explode without warning or not inflate if there is a accident. So we have not been driving our car.

 

Your going to keep getting a massive runaround with Chrysler. Be careful, you just may be responsible for all the associated costs of that rental. FCA Chrysler division is in so much trouble lately. Just got my confirmation from ( CarComplaints.com | Car Problems, Car Complaints, & Repair/Recall Information ) concerning the complaint I have with them. They posted it (filed @ the 9th) as a valid complaint (they review all of them making sure they are OK to post on the site and is a valid consumer complaint). So, it is another avenue to take care of them lazy Chrysler people. BTW, More than once a month now I am getting incentives to 'UPGRADE' to a newer car. I bet it is a marketing ploy to sell cars AND get out from under the LPW that I have with them. Oh, the incentive I just got, is for a Chrysler 200! That's right, another car FCA is stopping production of. NEVER will I buy another Chrysler.

 

I just filed my NHTSA complaint for the Takata recall for my 2007 coupe.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ It takes little time and effort. Maybe if many of us that are affected file complaints then FCA will fix our cars. Mine is sitting in garage useless due to the "death" concern. Kinda like driving with a IED in front of your face. Takes away the driving pleasure.

 

I recently received my clearance letter from Chrysler for the TAKATA airbag replacement....but the form pointed out the "parts are not yet available". They DID however put me on a contact list for when they (finally) do become available.... I should live so long..😟

 

Got the same letter ... only in reference to our Chevy Tahoe.. They did have a comforting footnote that is was still safe to drive it..

 

It's still safe to drive something that can send metal shards through you at 2 jillion MPH ?