NHTSA Complaint #10892645 — 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

THE INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WENT OUT ON OUR MINIVAN. THE MECHANIC THAT WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM GAVE US A TENTATIVE QUOTE BASED ON THE LAST CHRYSLER MINIVAN HE REPLACED ONE ON OF $380. WHEN HE CALLED ALL OF HIS NORMAL PARTS DISTRIBUTORS NO ONE CARRIED THEM ANY LONGER. HE THEN CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY QUOTED HIM $570. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO US THAT IT IS ABNORMAL BECAUSE USUALLY PARTS FOR OLDER MODELS BECOME LESS COSTLY, UNLESS YOU HAVE A COLLECTIBLE CAR, AND HE SAID AN 05 T&C IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT A COLLECTIBLE CAR. HE STATED THAT THE DEALER ONLY CARRIES PARTS ON HAND IF THEY ARE USING THEM REGULARLY, WHICH IMPLIES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC STOPPED SHORT OF OUTRIGHT CLAIMING CHRYSLER IS EFFECTIVELY PRICE GOUGING CONSUMERS. THIS IS A MECHANIC WE TRUST & HAVE USED BEFORE, & TRUST HIS FRANKNESS & FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE SITUATION. HE EVEN EXPLAINED THAT HE CAN NOT USE AN USED PART BECAUSE OF PROGRAMMING ISSUES THAT CHRYSLER BUILT IN.