Month: June 2010

As I have stated many times before over the last couple weeks, when in doubt, it’s best just keep your mouth shut. Trust me, no matter how bad of an experience you may of had with your dealership, providing a customer evaluation that’s anything less than stellar will come back to bite you. Your evaluations are NOT confidential, are purposefully shared with your dealership and believe me, if your review causes them to feel any pain, they will do what they can to return the favor. In my case, the dealership in question was Tuttle Click Jeep in Irvine, CA, and they decided to retaliate against me by placing a “flag�, or what Chrysler refers to as a “restriction� on my Jeep.

What a pleasant surprise. As I was promised by Chrysler, a refund check for the full amount I was made to pay to have an exhaust manifold leak repaired back in March was in fact issued and I received it in the mail yesterday.

Thanks to a member over on JK-Forum.com, a very interesting fact was brought to my attention today and it was in regards to the “flagging” of vehicles and it being something that is actually covered in the Jeep Warranty Information Handbook. In this handbook, the official term used is “restriction”, it falls under the section “What is not covered” and this is what is states:

You see, the question asked was this – when did my Jeep actually get flagged? Was it on October 11, 2009, back when I first brought my Jeep into Tuttle Click and was first identified as being modified? According to the official policy of Chrysler, that is when it should have happend and if it did, it would prove that the flag on my Jeep was not administered by Tuttle Click as a form of retribution. Of course, if my Jeep was flagged on a much later date – oh, say maybe after a certain negative customer survey was filed with Chrysler, that would offer even more proof to the claims that I have been making all along.

If you can believe it, I just got a call from Chrysler and spent the last half hour or so on the phone talking to a guy named Nate. Apparently, Mayone answers to him and my articles here on Project-JK.com, the thread I started over on JK-Forum.com and all the emails you sent on my behalf compelled him to make this call. While my conversation with him was professional, agreeable and in a surprising way, even somewhat enjoyable, this is what I got out of it.

I’ve got to be honest and tell you that deciding to write these article about Chrysler was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I absolutely love all my Jeeps, the Jeep culture and the Jeep lifestyle. I have always been a loyal fan and huge supporter of the brand but I have to say that this recent experience has left a really bad taste in my mouth. Certainly, in all these years, I never thought there would be a day where the company who makes the vehicle I love so much would snub me in the way that they have, without merit and right from the top.

Chrysler IS NOT your friend and customer evaluations are NOT kept confidential. Anything you say can and will be used against you by your dealership. So, the next time you get a survey in the mail, I’d toss it in the trash and if Chrysler calls you to do a survey, just tell them you aren’t interested – trust me, it just isn’t worth it.