I really hate new cars

[aris_unlimited]

Just needed to vent a bit guys, figured here was the place to do it since it is a mopar I am talking about lol.

Car: 2005 Dodge magnum r/t

We have owned the car for roughly 8 months, and have only been able to drive it reliably for the first 5 (due to money issues that we all experience around x-mas time I haven't had the time or $ to fix everything).

First there was a clunk in the front end. So I jumped underneath the car to take a look. First off let me say that whoever designed the suspension system on the dodge magnum is an absolute retard. Went to looking around and every single joint/rubber boot etc. that could hold grease looked completely empty of grease and of course no way to add more. So I replaced both upper and lower ball joints, and the outer tie rod ends as well because they looked pretty bad too. This helped the problem for about 15 minutes of drive time lol. Checked them out again, and again looked devoid of any grease. Luckily I had installed aftermarkets that let me grease most of them, so regreased and it seems to have helped the problem.......not solved it, but made it less noticeable.

While that was going on, I noticed a moaning noise coming from the car. My first thought being hubs I ordered both the rear hubs and put those in. Which made the noise a lot less noticeable......but there is still some noise coming from the front so I ordered front hubs too. Although I have yet to install them.

Talked to a few more guys about it, and their suggestions were to replace the sway bar bushings for the clunking noise. Which because of the symptoms seemed to make sense. Well before I have the chance to do that I get a check engine light. Run a diagnostic on it and find out I need an oil pressure switch. Ok not a big deal. Fast forward 2 weeks, get the money up to get that sensor and realise I got more lights going off on the dash. Come to find out one of the speed sensors went out as well. So we decided to let the car sit over the winter and we could fix it after it warmed up some.

Fast forward again, spring is almost here and things are starting to thaw. So I go outside and start looking the magnum over, considering doing some of the repairs soon. But wait, there is a funky line on the windshield.......and now the windshield is cracked! So I need a new one of those as well now.

Honestly this car seems to be my nemesis of all cars. I have never had a car that had this many problems so quickly. I have had the occasional car that every time I fixed something, something else would go wrong lol. But it seems with this one, every time I fix something 2-3 more things go wrong.

For any of those wondering the car only has about 100k miles on it.

[brads70]

Is it painted yellow? 

 Bummer sounds really frustrating! It ticks me off that they ALL seem to have "planned obsolescence" built into them these days. I have a 2005 Suburban and so far have replaced the instrument cluster, O2 sensor, and transmission. All at under 80 miles on it. 

[Cooter]

This is why Imports are selling like they do...

[Doomed]

I feel your pain, I as well own a 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T.

So far the entire front end has been replaced TWICE, transmision at (only 65,000km on it), throttle body, rear axles, radio/ gps unit, shifter, wiper motor, part of the fuel syestem, and windshield, amongst other things I cannot remember, and now there is a constant rattle in the dash that they connot find. Also, the exhaust baffles have broken off insider the mufflers and they want $1500 to replace it!

Thank God I spent the extra cash on the extended warrenty. So far they say I have saved over $25,000 on repair costs because of my warranty. The car is awesome when it works. I have had a rental car for over 3 months in total since owning the car.

I have called Chrysler at least a dozen times regarding the lemon and they blow me off everytime, saying that they will only service the car's warrenty and are not responsible for it otherwise!!!

Kyle.
         

[aris_unlimited]

Might want to get in touch with a lawyer then Doomed.

I wish my car was covered under lemon law, but I bought it used and unfortunately the only lemon law here in Utah only applies to brand new cars..... something that should be fixed

[mopardave]

if you havent addressed the clinking noise it is probably the tension struts. More common then the sway links.

[KZ]

seems like the perfect place to RE-paste the Consumer Reports ratings on new cars...check out where they have Chrysler 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/02/honda-subaru-tops-ford-biggest-gainer-in-consumer-reports-annual-report-card/1

[torredcuda]

My new favorite saying is "if it has boobs or wheels it`ll give you problems and cost you money!" (excluding the wonderfull gals on this board)  You bought a used car that is 6 yrs old with 100k so depending on how the previous owner(s) tool care of it there may be some maintenance.Most if not all new cars do not come with grease fittings on the suspesion components but the aftermarkets do.As for the imports they seem to ahve just as many problems and plenty of safety recalls lately so no thanks for me.

[72cudamaan]

Wow, 100k miles and the car needs repairs, go figure. Not too long ago (obviously before your time though) you'd  be lucky to get 60 or 70 k on the whole car.LOL
 And why are you just throwing parts at the car without diagnosing the noises first. Seems to me you should be bashing yourself for nthrowing parts at it and buying a worn out car instead of bashing the car company. And by the way, any time a suspension part comes with a grease fitting....you have to put grease in it before you put the part into service.

[tommyg29]

cant speak about magnums, but my 2 dodge rams Ive owned since 2002 have both been great, and Ive logged about 150,000 miles in them since (120,000 in my 2002 Ram, and 35,000 in my 2005 SRT-10). But, I have to say I had a couple minor issues starting about 110,000 in my Ram, but anything after 100,000 miles without a major problem is like living each day past your 65th birthday 

and I agree that todays cars generally last longer than our vintage cars were ever designed for.
How many ebodies were junked before they ever saw the end of the disco era?
Corrosion and rust resistance technology alone has improved by a quantum leap.

[Super Blue 72]

So far the entire front end has been replaced TWICE, Kyle.
       

Reminds me of the guy at work.  I think his is a 2008 or 2009 Chrysler 300 SRT-8 and he says the front suspension has to be rebuilt like every year... 

[aris_unlimited]

Maybe I am being a bit unfair towards chrysler with my bashing, but I'm used to more reliability from my cars. But then again up until a couple years ago I was a Nissan junkie. And every Nissan I've ever had has never given me a problem. Heck I bought an 85 300zx when I was 19 with about 180k miles on it. Replaced the alternator and drove it till it had 220k miles on it. Still didn't have any real problems, I traded it in on a blazer lol. Then the blazer had problems (practically rebuilt the front suspension on it). Then I bought a 350z, and other than our local dealership being complete dinks I didn't really have problems with that. Traded the blazer for an 06 xterra (for the mrs), and that too was a great car.........until she rolled it. Money was a little tight then so I got rid of the 350z for a 98 f150. F150 wasn't a bad car, just needed ball joints. But I got sick of the crappy mileage (14mpg on the highway, but it had huge tires and a lift) so I sold that too her dad for what we owed on it. He still drives it and loves it. Then I bought the magnum, the bane of my existence. And this isn't counting the first 3 cars I had that I also had no real problems with(all with over 100k miles) quick list is 88 ford mustang lx, 89 nissan 240sx, and 88 bronco II (with over 200k miles by the way).

Wow, 100k miles and the car needs repairs, go figure. Not too long ago (obviously before your time though) you'd  be lucky to get 60 or 70 k on the whole car.LOL
 And why are you just throwing parts at the car without diagnosing the noises first. Seems to me you should be bashing yourself for nthrowing parts at it and buying a worn out car instead of bashing the car company. And by the way, any time a suspension part comes with a grease fitting....you have to put grease in it before you put the part into service.

For one, I am trying to diagnose the problems. Kind of difficult when all the technicians I take it to say "beats me". Including the dodge dealer. For two a car should not be worn out from 100k miles of driving (when we got it, it had about 90k), most cars today are designed to last 200k miles. Now I can understand needing some repairs here and there, but this is ridiculous. As for bashing the entire car company, I have found out quite a bit about magnums since owning them, and there are quite a bit of them that are pieces of junk. But then again I have found tons and tons of complaints over the whole LX platform. Granted maybe chrysler should be hugged and told it's ok everyon makes mistakes occasionally, and you are welcome to do that. Me on the other hand I tend to remember the crappy cars I've had and I don't buy them again. Maybe I am just missing the days when cars used to be reliable, and believe me I understand reliable having never owned a brand new car, and having bought quite a few with over 100k miles.....and guess what they all worked! Granted they may have had a problem here and there, but they didn't start falling apart all at once.

As for buying a "worn out" car. I had the car gone over before I ever bought it. And was told that it was a good car. Apparently another 10k miles is just too much for that certain car.

I can only assume that your remarks are based off of brand loyalty. And I understand that. I love my cuda (and it's still in pieces, never having driven it) and I still like it. But I will never buy another LX based platform from chrysler.