Consumer rights in the spotlight as Dodge defends its actions – customer crushes car with tank.

[Express]

Consumer rights in the spotlight as Dodge defends its actions

David McCowen
30 June, 2016


See link below for video



Dodge customers crush car with tank



Furious Australian owners of a problematic Dodge Journey have crushed their car underneath a tank to raise awareness of consumer rights.

Dodge customers Joe and Kate Masters decided to publicly destroy their family car following a series of mechanical and electrical issues with the vehicle.



Dodge customers Joe and Kate Masters crushed their car under a tank. Photo: Destroy My Jeep


Video of the event shows Kate Masters saying "you might think that we are a little nuts, but this decision was not made lightly", before describing the "pure arrogance" shown to them by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Australia.

For its part, FCA refutes some of the Masters' claims, saying the couple shut off communications and would not allow the carmaker to inspect their vehicle. FCA says the 2010 Dodge Journey was serviced outside its dealer network and that the consumer rights crusaders did not work through processes established by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal or Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

While Joe Masters says "it's kind of baffling to try understand why Fiat Chrysler Australia simply refused to help us", the company's statement takes a very different view.



The customers feel they were mistreated by Dodge. Photo: Destroy My Jeep


"We had attempted to work proactively with this customer, offering free service work and free genuine parts after their warranty had expired," FCA said in a statement.

"But with all avenues of communication shutdown by the customer, we were left to conclude that this stunt had little to do with reaching any genuine agreement with Dodge Australia.

"While Dodge Australia was keen to resolve this issue, we weren't in the position to issue the demanded refund of $43,000 for a vehicle purchased in 2011, that was driven for more than 100,000kms and that has no known manufacturing defects, nor had any evidence provided by the owners to substantiate these claims."

Drive understands Dodge dealers launched an attempt to buy the car back from the family for a fair sum, but that an agreement could not be reached.

The tank stunt was arranged in part by Queensland's Ashton Wood, a consumer advocate who rose to prominence with his "Destroy my Jeep" crowd sourcing campaign in 2014.

Queensland senator Glenn Lazarus led the destruction of the Dodge, attacking it with a sledgehammer before taking charge of the tank.



Dodge says it did "everything possible" to work with the owners. Photo: Destroy My Jeep


The former Palmer United Party member seeking re-election as an independent says Australian motorists should have better consumer protection "to force car dealerships and vehicle manufacturers to resolve vehicle issues".

"Countries around the world have successfully implemented lemon laws to provide consumers with protection and I believe it's about time we did the same in Australia," he says.

"Buying a new car should be an exciting time and I am determined to ensure the people of Australia have the consumer protections they need when making such a big purchase."

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/d...30-gpva1r.html

[NX74205]

Just goes to show that customers are not always right. If you don't let FCA inspect the car, how the hell are they supposed to know what's wrong? Under what premise do they think they're entitled to a full refund on a 5 year old, 100,000km car?

[mik]

There may be more to it than what we see here , the annoying part though is he missed the door frames , i hate that .

[sleepisforthedead]

Looks like he car was stripped of many parts first..? Doesn't look to be a driveline in there

[Fordman1]

Centurion tank.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Centurion tank.

Yes, ex 1st Armoured Regiment. The Australian version has the large external fuel tank on the rear.

[Sprintey]

Chrysler products get the best destructions by their owners.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Yes, ex 1st Armoured Regiment. The Australian version has the large external fuel tank on the rear.

What do you recon are the costs involved with getting hold of one of these Tanks to flatten a car, surely you cant just borrow one

[CoupeKing]

They thought the arrows would do the job...'someone plz call grandpa'

[Vesper Martini]

I have friends who just bought one of these and absolutely love it. whatever issues it had would have been easily resolved. and they could have just.. sold it.