[frat1504]

We have a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (169,000 miles) which now need a new transmission. We have a Lifetime Powertrain warranty and brought it to the dealer. Dealer have had our van for 5 weeks waiting for approval from Chrysler, said there was nothing they can do but wait. Now they say Chrysler wants electronic images of the transmission to see if there was neglect, dealer said we'd have to pay over $600 for these images

First of all I feel like it's costing us $600 to help them to find a reason to deny the claim. Second the dealer said they also may deny it because the cost of the transmission will exceed the value of the van. From what I can see there is no mention of the value of the repair exceeding the value of the vehicle in the actual factory warranty. I feel if they want to buy out the van then that is not honoring a LIFETIME WARRANTY because they are deciding the end the lifetime of the vehicle.

Has anyone had any experience with this. It is impossible to get anyone on the phone at Chrysler except low level customer service agents who do not know anything and cannot transfer you to any supervisors. The best they can do is send a message for a call back but no one every calls back. So frustrated with this whole experience that we will never purchase a Chrysler again.

 

[Pgh_AL]

We have a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (169,000 miles) which now need a new transmission. We have a Lifetime Powertrain warranty and brought it to the dealer. Dealer have had our van for 5 weeks waiting for approval from Chrysler, said there was nothing they can do but wait. Now they say Chrysler wants electronic images of the transmission to see if there was neglect, dealer said we'd have to pay over $600 for these images

First of all I feel like it's costing us $600 to help them to find a reason to deny the claim. Second the dealer said they also may deny it because the cost of the transmission will exceed the value of the van. From what I can see there is no mention of the value of the repair exceeding the value of the vehicle in the actual factory warranty. I feel if they want to buy out the van then that is not honoring a LIFETIME WARRANTY because they are deciding the end the lifetime of the vehicle.

Has anyone had any experience with this. It is impossible to get anyone on the phone at Chrysler except low level customer service agents who do not know anything and cannot transfer you to any supervisors. The best they can do is send a message for a call back but no one every calls back. So frustrated with this whole experience that we will never purchase a Chrysler again.

You are in a no win situation either way you lose . Their not going to fix it

 

[Zambee500]

Now they say Chrysler wants electronic images of the transmission to see if there was neglect, dealer said we'd have to pay over $600 for these images

Neglect!!?? Do you have the invoice(s) from the prior transmission servicing? I believe the transmission service interval is 120k miles, or 60k miles if taxi/fleet/frequent towing. If you were following the maintenance schedule recommended by Chrysler, then I don't see how Chrysler can then say there was neglect if you provide them copies of their own maintenance schedule and your receipts proving you did what Chrysler recommended you do to properly maintain the transmission.

Transmission replacement should be ~$4k from the dealership. I have no clue what these vans are worth these days, but the used car market is still red hot while the supply chain shortages continue to interrupt the new vehicle market, so I would pull some comps and have your ammo with you at the ready. Not unlike dealing with insurance companies after a wrecked vehicle.

 

[2granddaughters]

Find out when the District Service Manager will be coming to the dealership and make an appointment to talk to him.
If you have maintained the transmission and have documentation just keep moving forward with them. You can win if you persist.
Be civil but don't worry about "hurting their feelings" - when they see you are prepared and committed they will work with you.

 

[Jeepman]

It's all about honor and that is in short supply these days. A warranty is a warranty and the conditions mentioned (you paying for images) aren't in the warranty, are they? They're are trying to dismiss you, I'm thinking. It's a tactic. Hang tight.

ChryslerCares (last seen July 25, 2022) per:

Post from Chrysler Cares - March 9, 2022

Hello from Chrysler Cares! March 9, 2022 https://www.chryslerminivan.net/threads/hello-from-chrysler-cares.177171/#post-1777700 Hello Chrysler enthusiasts! As you continue to navigate forum conversation, know Chrysler Cares is always here to assist you. We exist to provide additional support...

www.chryslerminivan.net

is one avenue, a threat to go to small claims court is the other.

I have heard of the small claims court threat working and quite quickly, for other situations.

They don't want to be bothered, they want you to be bothered, and so much so, that you will go away, quietly. Turn the tables since they are denying, in effect, that the lifetime warranty, doesn't mean lifetime. Pretty simple for the Judge to rule on that, plus it's you against Goliath. Judges like that too. Chrysler doesn't want the bad press either.

"EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT, CHRYSLER LIFETIME WARRANTY SUFFERS EUTHANASIA"

So frustrated with this whole experience that we will never purchase a Chrysler again.

Good luck there. I was looking at carcomplaints.com yesterday, regarding a 2016 Honda Civic, and Owners were saying the same thing about Honda. A good Dealership, that goes to bat for you, can be very helpful. Then again, Shops are so busy these days they don't want the discounted Manufacturer's rates that warranty work involves, and will weasel out, or upsell.

 

[Dvan]

We have a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (169,000 miles) which now need a new transmission. We have a Lifetime Powertrain warranty and brought it to the dealer. Dealer have had our van for 5 weeks waiting for approval from Chrysler, said there was nothing they can do but wait. Now they say Chrysler wants electronic images of the transmission to see if there was neglect, dealer said we'd have to pay over $600 for these images

First of all I feel like it's costing us $600 to help them to find a reason to deny the claim. Second the dealer said they also may deny it because the cost of the transmission will exceed the value of the van. From what I can see there is no mention of the value of the repair exceeding the value of the vehicle in the actual factory warranty. I feel if they want to buy out the van then that is not honoring a LIFETIME WARRANTY because they are deciding the end the lifetime of the vehicle.

Has anyone had any experience with this. It is impossible to get anyone on the phone at Chrysler except low level customer service agents who do not know anything and cannot transfer you to any supervisors. The best they can do is send a message for a call back but no one every calls back. So frustrated with this whole experience that we will never purchase a Chrysler again.

Well, new owners' new playbook....Or you been PSA Peugeot? We have some friend's that have that "Lifetime Powertrain" and they have used it! At this time their son was driving it. With over 300k on it.
Hope it works out for you.

 

[Woolshire]

OP - You, of course, did have the 5-yr inspections completed, correct? If so, and you had the tranny serviced before 120k miles, it should be covered. I’m at 123k and also have the lifetime warranty in effect…hopefully

 

[Cciman]

Powertrains are poorly defined for a reason.

 

[J Wikoff]

My dealership and the help agent at Chrysler's warranty department told me more than once that there is no inspection requirement for the lifetime warranty.

 

[Ivan Caravan]

My dealership and the help agent at Chrysler's warranty department told me more than once that there is no inspection requirement for the lifetime warranty.

G. Inspections
In order to maintain the Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty, the person or entity covered by this Powertrain Limited Warranty must have a powertrain
inspection performed by an authorized Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection
must be made within sixty (60) days of each 5 year anniversary of the in-service date of the vehicle. You must have the inspection performed to continue
this coverage.
Here is the PDF

 

[J Wikoff]

That's for the late 4th gens that had it included. Ours is the max care that we paid extra for on our 14. So that may be different.

 

[georgef]

That's for the late 4th gens that had it included...

It was also included for the early 5th generation vans, I believe 2009 was the final year.

 

[Westphal]

It was also included for the early 5th generation vans, I believe 2009 was the final year.

Our 2009 had the lifetime powertrain warranty and got an inspection every 5 years. My parents' 2008 van that is now ours also has the warranty and 5-year inspections.

 

[Woolshire]

The inspections are definitely required on 08’s, as the OP has (as do I). My next one is due almost exactly one year from now. I have the first two on record. Of course, this doesn’t mean I won’t have trouble getting warranty work done, when the time comes. Seems they have to put everyone through the ringer.

 

[Cal T&C]

I have the version of the Max Care Lifetime warranty issued in 2014. The fine print says “wear and tear” and “design defects” not covered. It also limits the warranty repair to the value of the vehicle.
I think I read the older version that you have and it doesn’t have those limitations.The FCA lawyers must have realized the long term liability to perpetual repairs.

 

[KOG]

We have a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (169,000 miles) which now need a new transmission. We have a Lifetime Powertrain warranty and brought it to the dealer. Dealer have had our van for 5 weeks waiting for approval from Chrysler, said there was nothing they can do but wait. Now they say Chrysler wants electronic images of the transmission to see if there was neglect, dealer said we'd have to pay over $600 for these images

First of all I feel like it's costing us $600 to help them to find a reason to deny the claim. Second the dealer said they also may deny it because the cost of the transmission will exceed the value of the van. From what I can see there is no mention of the value of the repair exceeding the value of the vehicle in the actual factory warranty. I feel if they want to buy out the van then that is not honoring a LIFETIME WARRANTY because they are deciding the end the lifetime of the vehicle.

Has anyone had any experience with this. It is impossible to get anyone on the phone at Chrysler except low level customer service agents who do not know anything and cannot transfer you to any supervisors. The best they can do is send a message for a call back but no one every calls back. So frustrated with this whole experience that we will never purchase a Chrysler again.

Good luck. My 2009 was in warranty, no question. Zone rep refused to authorize a reman, insisted that a dealer rebuild was all he would authorize. Reman is 11 hour flat rate time for R&R, local dealer had the part in stock. Should have been a two day repair. It took 5 MONTHS at three different dealers, two of them twice each before the repair was authorized. I've been a Chrysler only customer since 1970. Currently own 5 minivans and 5 RAM diesels. I was never allowed to communicate with the zone rep in any fashion. No phone, no email, nothing. Dealers told me that they can't call the rep, have to call a call center who then sends a message and the rep calls them. I wrote three separate letters to the chairwoman's office and never received any response. I suggested that the zone rep receive a "Salesman of the Month" award for selling an F250 and an Odyssey.
There is no Chrysler anymore. It's "Stellantis" which is Peugeot. I will never purchase or recommend another Peugeot product again.

 

[Vanr69]

I had to work with (fight) FCA about a broken valve spring at 50 miles past the 50K warranty on my Town & Country, one thing that seemed to help was me keeping a detailed record of EVERY conversation, then quoting what was said during past conversations "on 11-15-2021 at 12:51 pm Linda said ..." With this kind of anal note taking they got an idea of who they were dealing with and may have helped them come to the conclusion that I was not going away. They paid for 3 tows, one diagnostic fee & the repair, I payed $350 for all consumables used in the repair.

 

[Flip7]

Exactly why I don't purchase additional warranties. They don't sell these because they are good for the consumer. They sell them because they can drive you to their dealerships and because they can make more money. You are better off putting the money you pay upfront into an investment account. It looks like it took you 13 years to get to a transmission failure. Assuming you had an annual rate of return of 8% on a $1,500 investment, you'd have just over $4,000 today to pay for a transmission repair. I had the transmission rebuilt in my 2009 GC last year at 130,000 miles for $2,800.

 

[97K15004WD]

Looks like the OP vanished - I would guess a troll. This thread is meandering...

 

[Cal T&C]

Max Care update for 2014 T&C 30th Anniversary. Just got estimate on cylinder head repair from recent failure. $3000. So far Warranty has paid out $6500. All failures mentioned in this forum.
This might be my last CJDRFA vehicle.