Chrysler today leapfrogged every other car maker by extending its powertrain warranty on every new car and truck it sells to the life of the vehicle. The warranty will apply to the entire powertrain including the engine, transmission/transaxle, drive shafts, and axles. The new warranty goes into effect today, July 26, 2007 and applies to all new 2007s that are on the dealer lots as well as 2008 models.
The warranty covers all parts and labor as long as the owner brings the car in to a Chrysler dealer at least once every five years for a free powertrain inspection. Apparently, the only fly in the ointment is that the new warranty applies to the original owner and is not transferable. If the car is sold within the first three years, the warranty reverts to the previous 3 year/36,000 mile coverage for subsequent owners. The press release is after the jump.
[Source: Chrysler]
UPDATE: The new warranty's logo has been added above. What do you think - infinity symbol with wheels a clever logo or too confusing?
Chrysler Introduces New 'Best-in-Industry' Lifetime Powertrain Warranty
on Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge Vehicles
* The New Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty – the first from an OEM and the longest in the industry – is a statement of confidence in the reliability of Chrysler products
* Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components – engine, transmission and drive system
* Provides worry-free ownership for new Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge owners
Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 26, 2007 - Chrysler today announced that the Company would extend its powertrain warranty from the 3-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty to a new Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty applies to most new Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles purchased from dealer inventory and delivered on or after July 26, 2007.
The Lifetime Powertrain Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components – engine, transmission and drive system. The new powertrain warranty is limited to the first registered owner or retail lessee. Customers should contact dealers for details on vehicle selection.
"This new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty is a statement of confidence to our customers to the reliability of their powertrain. It's peace-of-mind reassurance for as long as they own the vehicle," said Steven Landry, Executive Vice President – North America, Sales and Marketing, Service and Parts, Chrysler Group.
To continue warranty coverage, the owner must have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection must be made within 60 days of each 5-year anniversary of the warranty start date of the vehicle.
Landry added, "The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty underscores our focus on quality and customer satisfaction. It demonstrates our commitment to customers and the confidence we have in our ability to produce quality, reliable and durable vehicles. That's why we put 'lifetime' on it."
Customers may visit Chrysler.com, Jeep.com and Dodge.com for more information. A warranty promotion – print, radio, television and Internet – begins Friday, July 27.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
AlexP @ Jul 26th 2007 11:42AM
"Bold moves"
Don @ Jul 26th 2007 12:56PM
In-friggin-deed.
I certainly hope this sparks some sales!
Alberto @ Jul 26th 2007 2:08PM
Im buying a Viper and driving the hell out of it every single day. I will put 200,000 miles and comute in peace of mind everyday.
georgejetson @ Jul 29th 2007 7:11PM
@Alberto -- unfortunately, SRT vehicles (including the Viper) are excluded.
Albanez @ Aug 15th 2007 7:52PM
Question:
What good is a Lifetime warranty that doesn't transfer to the second owner of the P.O.S?
We all know that nobody, in America, drives the same car for more than 5 years. Besides, as soon as hybrid, electric and any other enviromentally friendly technologies catch on, nobody's gonna want a gas guzzling Chrysler anyway.
Sounds like a desperate marketing gimmic to keep oil companies in style for another 20 years, to yours truly. Plus, how long do you think it'll be before every other car manufacturer jumps on the "too good to be true" warranty bandwagon? Remember "Employee Discounts for everyone," anyone?
Last question. If these engineers are so good that their designs don't fail, why are they so slow to adopt efficient technology?
I doubt that this Lifetime Warranty has anything to do with the actual quality of the vehicle. My '03 PT Cruiser has had thousands of dollars of issues, and the dealer hasn't tied any of them to the powertrain. So if your power trains are so good, why don't you focus on the rest of the vehicle already?
Mr. Oak @ Jul 26th 2007 11:44AM
It looks as if the proverbial gloves just came off.
Chrysberus is coming out swinging. Top that Ford, GM Honda, Toyota.....
Still, you need to de-uglify the Sebring.
Mr. Oak @ Jul 26th 2007 11:45AM
It looks as if the proverbial gloves just came off.
Chrysberus is coming out swinging. Top that Ford, GM Honda, Toyota.....
Still, you need to de-uglify the Sebring.
Don @ Jul 26th 2007 12:57PM
I hate to admit this, but the Sebring sedan is starting to grow on me...but I still ain't sure about the Sebring convertible...that rear deck lid is, um, strange.
icu812ru469 @ Jul 26th 2007 1:19PM
No need to top it, Chrysler will only be around another 5 years perhaps and then they're gone. Stupid ideas from stupid people... let's have a lifetime warranty on a "part" that will definitely break at some point in it's lifetime...
No thank you Chrysler, I'm not that interested in seeing your dealership every few months for repairs. I'll take my GM or Toyota and see the dealer maybe every few years...
Bob-omb @ Jul 26th 2007 11:45AM
What the hell are they huffin'?
casey @ Jul 26th 2007 11:49AM
This puts Chrysler back into the warranty ballgame, for sure! Great piece of mind to have, especially if one decides they may want to keep his/her vehicle longer than normal. Score one for Cerberus!
mackbeech @ Aug 1st 2007 10:56PM
What about the 07's bought last month.
brimg87 @ Jul 26th 2007 11:54AM
GM outsells Toyota in Quarter 2...
Ford turns first profit in 7 quarters...
Now this...
All I can say is, go Detroit!
psarhjinian @ Jul 26th 2007 12:33PM
Ford very nearly didn't make a profit and had been losing for seven straight quarters prior. GM outsold Toyota by a very slim margin and has been losing ground against them for years prior.
Four months does not a trend make--not against the backdrop of decades of erosion. This is all good news, but all it means is that the patient is off critical life support. He's still in hospital, still needs serious medical attention and certainly isn't out of the woods yet.
J.Crew @ Jul 26th 2007 11:54AM
Ok, that will be interesting. They must be banking on the fact that most people trade in or sell their car after 5 years. I want to see numbers on who keeps their car more than 5 years. It looks great on paper and should drive sales, but the average consumer will not stay in their car of any make longer than 5 years. This is not a shot at Chrysler as people get bored fast and want new cars. The non transferable part is their way out of the "lifetime" part. It will be funny to see a Jeep Compass 30 years from now being rolled into a Chrysler store though...
The Other Bob @ Jul 26th 2007 1:58PM
It makes me more willing to buy a Patriot with a a CVT transmission. I just don't trust those things.
This warrenty would be great for me. I own two cars now, both 2001 models, bought new, one with 112,000 miles and one with only 68,000. It would be great if these 6 year old cars were still under warrenty.
That said, I have never had a single problem with either car's drivetrain, so maybe its a non issue. (Both GM cars)
Whiplash @ Jul 26th 2007 2:05PM
I agree fully. Most people don't keep their cars long enough to capatalize on this.... but I do! This is one more reason to pick up a Magnum when my current 10 year old truck expires.
scosol @ Jul 26th 2007 10:27PM
Precicely- most people don't want to keep a car they bought new for more than 5 years or so-
Reason being- if you can afford a new car at some point, 5 years later you can probably afford a NEW new car with a new style that you really want.
But yeah- very bold move- as pickup trucks are a different story. Someone who actually uses a truck generally doesn't care how old it is as long as it gets the job done. I would seriously consider shelling out $40k for a custom-ordered Dodge diesel 2500 with that kind of assurance. (way overkill for my needs, and double the cost of my current truck- but I don't have to worry about breaking it!)
Jim @ Jul 26th 2007 8:47PM
In some states this warranty may be tansferable by law. Not sure, as I'm not a lawyer, but I've been the pleasant recipient of a few "state law requires we honor the original non-transferable warranty" type events. Just food for thought.
Bold Move indeed. I'm a Honda driver for life, but hats off the the Ram guys.
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 11:19AM
Off topic:
Speaking of "I'm not a lawyer," did anyone watch the daily show a couple nights ago and see Jon Stewart playing clips of Bush and his advisers saying "I'm not an expert," and "I'm not a scientist," and "I'm not a lawyer?" It was good for a long ROFL.