A vehicle I never should have purchased...Lemon Law
 

Last year in September, I made the huge mistake of purchasing a 2016 Jeep Compass. The little car was of decent size for our needs, came with a warranty, was brand new, and was a Jeep. A month after buying it, the seatbelt lights and chime were acting up, as well as the radio's BT connection. I took it back, and thought all was well. The dealer replaced the belts, retractors, and a few other things, told me all was well, and away I went....

4 months later, it happened again. They replaced the same things as in the past, and sent me on my way again.

August of this year, all hell broke loose. It's been in the dealer 3 times since August the 13th, and has only been in my hands for two weeks since then.

In the past year, the following have been replaced

Seat belts 4X
Retractors 4X
Control modules 3X
Weight sensors 2X
BT Module 3X
Radio 1X
Wiring Harnesses 2X
Airbag Module 1X

The dealer is forced to send information to FCA engineers to look at so FCA can direct the techs on which part to replace. The latest part, the one we're waiting on to be programmed and delivered is the entire Instrument Cluster. Bear in mind that mine is not the higher end car with all the bells and whistles. It's the basic 130RES stereo with basic Instrument Cluster. How these two systems work together is beyond me, because my stereo isn't even a touchscreen. But, some janitor at FCA must have been unclogging a crapper next to two engineers while they were mulling over the data on break, and mut have suggested the IC to be replaced. Even the Service Manager believes it's as if the engineers are blindfolded, in a dark room, throwing darts in hopes that one of them will eventually hit the bullseye.

I have contacted a lawfirm that handles Lemon Law claims, sent in all my paperwork, receipts, work orders, finance papers, and everything pertaining to the vehicle, complete with video and photos. I was told that it could take 30-60 days for a reply from FCA on the matter. The attorney also told me that not only do I have a solid case, but that he believes I should be able to either get my vehicle swapped, or even bought back by FCA.

Has anyone else dealt with Lemon Law claims? If your case was a strong as mine, what was the end result for you?

Hell, at this point, the two Yugos I owned in High School had less problems than this Jeep.

I'd say your problems go beyond what is required to have them take the car back and pay you for all your trouble.

Sorry you are having all this trouble!

american motors,and jeep built good vehicles,till mopar got into it.Now with the yugo of italian cars fiat,in mopar,no way would they give me one.
Better to find good chassis,and interior,and put new drivetrain in,than buy any of this new crap,that made only to bring profitt to the owners.

The Yugo WAS a Fiat...the 127.



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The attorney feels that it will likely end with FCA either buying it back or giving me another vehicle. Either way, he said that there would be a cash payment for my having to go through this, and CA will pay for the attorney fees. It's going to take time, time I hate to have to use, but hopefully an agreeable solution will come out of this.

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I hope on your second trip back to the dealer for the same trouble you at least got the satisfaction of saying, here "Fix It Again Tony".
Good luck with the claim.
I also hope that FCA has to pay your legal fees if you win.

I most certainly did...in front of a customer waiting on delivery of their Compass.



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one vehicle i see all the time on russian video's is the LADA.I'd love to have one,as they seem to last for ever.

Otherwise known as a Fiat 124.

The Jeep Renegade is the Fiat 500X. Fiats are everywhere! LOL However, I kinda dig the looks of the Renegade.

I had hoped, with the Compass and Patriot being made on the same lines in the US, that they would be decent vehicles. I see a ton of the Patriots on the road, as well as their sister Dodge Caliber. The problems with my Compass are unique, apparently, to only mine since I can't seem to dig up the same issues on past versons or it's siblings.

If we can get them to buy this one back and cough up some cash, I'll likely get a Wrangler, or push the entire brand away for something else.

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Might want to reconsider a Wrangler. Consumer Reports has it on its list of worst of the worst.

At least the rear window defogger was there to keep your hands warm while you pushed.

To be honest, they weren't that bad. I had electrical issues with the first one, then wrecked it. Insurance company gave me another since they didn't think I had enough abuse. I drove it for two years without issue, until the clutch finally went out. The problems with both cars were self inflicted. I was young and stupid, and didn't care for them the way they should have been cared for.

I swear, if I ever come across another one that is in good condition, I may have to check my bankd account to see if I can afford to buy it. The price for the car, $3990, was unbeatable. I was in high school, working full time, and took over the payments from my older brother...$99 per month. Perfect for me at the time.

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i'll agree with that mopar ruined jeep.and as you mentioned finding a good chasis and dropping in a new drivetrain.i would like to see this with cars.in big over the road trucks you can buy brand new what is called a slider,this is a new cab and chassis,you add your engine ,trans and rear ends.

I had two fiat's one a spyder in the 70s,My problem was damn lucas electronics.Has a BSA motorcycle same damn thing electronics.they like to smoke.

We test drove the Patriot and Compass two years ago before buying the wife's Subaru Crosstrek XV. Didn't like either one of them.

Prior to the issues listed, I enjoyed the vehicle. It was peppy enough with in-town traffic, and while not overly powerful, handled the freeway easily. The 6 speed transmission is fairly solid, especially compared to the optional CVT offering. The seats are comfortable, and all controls feel well thought out and easy to reach without looking. It also has a nice turning radius, making parking lots very easy to navigate.

The problems listed, though, make me cringe anytime I drive it...just waiting for the light to come on again and the radio to drop my phone connection. Those are two extemely aggrivating problems for me, to the point that I'd rather drive the old truck in a grocery store parking lot on a Saturday near the 1st of the month than drive the Compass.

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Going from a Compass to a Wrangler is akin to going from a frying pan into the fire. I would sooner go to a late-model RAV4 or CR-V than another Jeep product.

I've been through the Lemon-Law in Texas twice with Ford Motor Company.

First go-round was a 1999 Ranger Sport with the 2.5L and 5 speed. GREAT fun and surprisingly good fuel economy - when the brakes weren't applying themselves. Therein lay it's downfall. The brakes would slowly apply themselves as the truck was driven and eventually lock, preventing any movement. After going to the dealer 4x, we called Ford to complain. They sent us to another dealer for service, twice. No resolution. At that point we got the state involved.

They gave Ford one last opportunity to fix it, which they failed in doing and ordered Ford to either replace the vehicle or issue a refund. Ford issued a new vehicle. That in itself was a joke. Ford gave us a certificate on what they would pay for and said for us to go to a dealership of our choice, pick out the one we wanted in any color and present their certificate for the dealership to process. The manager laughed at us. "Nobody has EVER beaten Ford in a Lemon-law case!" We took our business elsewhere.

The replacement was a 2000 Ranger with the 3.0V6, slush box, and every option they offered in a 2WD chassis. For once year it was flawless, then all hell broke loose. Driving home one day, it decided the new idle speed was 3700 RPM. That was a wild ride. After that it was down hill. If you turned left, the engine would shut off. If you pressed the O/D switch, it would drop into neutral and start flashing all sorts of lights on the dash.

The laundry list of parts they threw at that truck:
2 Transmission
3 Rear end (had a LOUD whine)
6 PS pumps
2 ECU
1 Camshaft sensor
1 Crankshaft sensor
1 Custom ECU flash
1 Alternator

At this point the truck got about 12mpg and top-speed was 74mph flat out on a level road. Pressing the O/D switch now resulted in the engine shutting off.

The final straw came when I went to back down the driveway one day and the brake pedal went to the floor. The house has a steep driveway and I wound up out in the middle of the yard where I left it. Called the state and they didn't even require a court visit. They ordered Ford to come get their POS and give me a refund.

I took the money and ran. Never owned another Ford since and will never have another one on my property. I have absolutely no love for the blue oval.

UPDATE!!

I've now had it back to the dealer a total of 8 times, and getting ready to go back in again. I have multiple videos of the seatbelt lights coming on when they shouldn't, but they are unable to replicate it in the shop after a day, and FCA isn't interested in allowing the dealer to keep it long enough to locate it. I've zeroed in on the seat sensor being the problem again, since I can make the light come on by shifting back and forth in the seat.

The attorney called today to tell me that FCA offered a settlement, but that due to the amount of dealer visits the vehicle has had, that he can almost guarantee that they will buy it back from me, so that's the direction we're moving in. I was supposed to have an arbitration hearing next week in Pittsburgh, but since we're refusing the settlement offer, the date will be moved out a month. He said that this should all be taken care of sometime in the next 90 or so days.

I've already picked up a nice used Explorer to replace the Jeep when the case is over, no matter how it ends. Since moving in with my mother to care for her, we bought her 2006 Ford Explorer with 35k miles. This thing is nearly like new, save for a few minor scuffs from grocery carts, and a small dent in the tailgate where she backed into something while it was open. Nothing too major. I plan on replacing the rims, which are looking bad due to salt damage. The frame is clean, but the rims are aluminum, and those don't do well in Ohio salt, especially on these vehicles. Cragar Soft 8's will be a good replacement for them.

I'll never own another Jeep, unless it was made pre-Daimler/Chrysler ownership.

Haven't bought a new gas vehicle in 38 years until last year. Hope I have better luck than yours. Hope you get recompense for the Jeep product.

I'd be happy with them just taking it back and me walking away. I'm removing the speakers and hitch receiver I installed, and hopefully selling them to someone else. I'll also pull the parcel cover in the back that I bought, as well as the Weathertech liners that I picked up...and sell those, too.

That's money I can use for the Explorer. I want to replace the stock stereo and speakers with something compatible with bluetooth, maybe get a basket for the roof, some running boards or Nerf bars, and a few other things. Selling that stuff will bring in a few bucks to spend on it.

While I"m not a fan of that era Explorer, it is a low mileage truck. They have a feminine look to them, that I hope to remedy with some well chosen accessories. The price I got it for was unreal, and I couldn't pass it up...it was my mother's vehicle that was only used for drives to the grocery and church...along with a few longer drives that my brother put on it. Well under KBB price of roughly $3500.

My attorney told me that there is a number of lawsuits like mine popping up on the electronics of the Compass, Patriot and Cherokee. This may eventually lead to another recall, according to what he told me. So long as I don't have to deal with it anymore, I'll be happy.

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Well, the attorney called me again this morning. After he shared the video I took of the issue happening while in park, and another one my wife took while I was driving it, and told them that I have posted the videos on FB in some Jeep groups I belong to, as well as a few forums I frequent, they decided to buy the Compass back from me.

It should take anywhere from 30-90 days, but I'm getting out of this POS.

After the loan is paid off, I'll walk away with a few grand in my pocket, and a bit of confidence in the system.

If anyone ever needs a good Lemon Law attorney, gimme a shout. I used the NE US largest and most successful firm, and it didn't cost me a dime.

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Great news, JP!

Hopefully, my new Chevrolet will be relatively free from defects, but you never know! Thanks!!

My best friend in college, who lives in San Diego, used California's lemon law to get rid of a BMW that would not hold a charge. It went well, so you should be fine.