Is The Dodge Magnum A Lemon?
Please note the following article doesn’t necessarily represent my view or opinion about the Dodge Magnum. It was written on behalf of a lemon law attorney who decided he wasn’t going to pay me for my work, therefore I have posted it here for your review as is:
Lemon Report — Dodge Magnum
Introduction
Introduced in the fall of 2004 as a 2005 model, the Dodge Magnum was lauded by auto critics for its aggressive demeanor and rakish design. It was snapped up by consumers who were drawn to the car’s power and agility. The sport wagon appeared to be a great combination of a large convenient wagon, with style and flair. However, since its introduction, the Dodge Magnum has had one of the worst consumer complaint ratings of any car currently in production.
Owners are hit hard in the pocket in the form of lengthy stays at repair shops, a plunging resale value, and inopportune failures. Marjorie Atkinson’s 2005 Magnum failed during a vacation, she says, “I was totally burned by my Magnum! My husband and I took our kids on a road trip in July, and the engine failed in the middle of the woods, stranding us with our camper!” This was due to a problem, she later learned, that was well-known to DaimlerChrysler, in which an engine cooling glitch was present which led to fractures in the engine.
Common problems
Some of the top complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration {NHTSA} include:
- Intermittent loss of throttle control.
- An incorrect engine cooling module that could overheat and cause the engine to crack when the car is fully loaded and approaching maximum towing capacity.
- Transmission shudders when torque converter clutch engages.
- Shift hesitation during wide open throttle.
- Auto transmission fluid contamination.
- Passenger airbag disabled lamp light remains lit.
Some of these problems are indicative of 2005 models or 2006 models only. However, costly transmission problems have been reported with both model year vehicles.
This lemon is extra sour! The number of complaints made about the Dodge Magnum to the NHTSA far exceeds the second place car on the list, the Ford GT. Many grievances center on the 2.7L V6 that also powered its predecessor model, the Dodge Intrepid. In May 2006, DaimlerChrysler issued a recall on the Dodge Magnum equipped with this small V6 citing concerns that leaking brake fluid could cause an engine fire! This recall followed several other Magnum recalls including one issued in October 2005 noting that the car could start rolling even when the transmission was in park and the parking brake wasn’t engaged.
Do you have legal rights?
Many Dodge Magnums remain unsafe, some may be undriveable, and more problems with this model are now appearing. If you own a problem Magnum, you have lost confidence in the car and you may be due further remedy. If you want to know whether your Dodge Magnum is protected, and if the law is on your side, do a web search to find out the latest information about recalls and compensation.
The $2500 Tata Automobile
The international automotive market intrigues me. Certainly, my personal interest is strongest for the traditional American manufacturers — GM, Ford, and Chrysler — but I 
do like to keep up with some of the lesser known names out there including Proton, Chery, Skoda, and now Tata. Yes, one of the fastest growing automakers in the world is Tata, an Indian automaker who is promising to build a car that will retail for just $2500. No, this vehicle will not be exported to the US, but it will revolutionize India’s transportation industry, making automotive ownership affordable to many.
India and China are Booming Economically
With 1.1 billion citizens, democratic India is only less populous than communist China. Most citizens are Hindu with various castes (classes) represented. The majority of Indians are still considered poor by world standards, although compared to just one generation ago the economic outlook for this emerging nation is very bright.
Public Transportation or Motorcycles
Most Indians rely on public transportation or motorcycles to get around. Automotive ownership is limited chiefly because the average Indian wage earner can’t afford to buy a car. Tata Motors is the country’s second largest automaker having gotten started two years before India’s 1947 independence from the British Empire. Although comparatively small, Tata does produce and/or export vehicles to Africa, Asia, Spain, and Russia. Now, Tata wants to build a car that will sell for approximately US$2500 according to an article appearing in Forbes and carried by several other publications.
Room for 4 Occupants
The thought of ultra cheap cars on Indian roads is intriguing. The price will be near what Indians are now paying for some of the best motorcycles available, but with four occupants able to ride in a Tata, these models should stir up a lot of interest.
The Growing Strain on Global Resources
Yes, India’s booming automotive industry coupled with China’s explosive growth mean one thing: the demand for oil will increase resulting in more pollution and higher fuel prices globally. What is good for India may not be so for the rest of the world, at least until alternate sources of fuel are developed to meet demand.
Photo copyright/courtesy of Tata Motors.
Auto News In Brief
The Tundra, Chinese tires, a runaway Lexus, and booming Ford sales are some of the more notable auto news items this week. Let’s take a look at a sampling:
- Despite a soft market for pick up trucks, Toyota says that sales of its big Tundra truck will meet its 2007 projection of 200,000 models sold. Hefty rebates and incentives averaging almost $7000 per model have helped to drive sales.
- China has been in the news a lot lately, mostly over poor quality products that have been sold in the US. Besides toys and baby bibs containing lead paint, a New Jersey tire importer is recalling 255,000 tires manufactured in China. The tires, sold under three different names, lack an important safety feature.
- Unintended acceleration has been the problem for 40 drivers of the Lexus ES350 sedan, a situation that has caught the attention of federal regulators. 8 crashes and 12 injuries have been reported as some drivers have complained that their runaway cars only stop upon hitting another object.
- Ford’s China sales are up 29% for the year, a welcome bit of news for the American automaker. Chinese auto sales are increasing at a rate of 20% annually, a figure that should push China past the US for yearly auto sales by 2015.
New car models these days are introduced throughout the calendar year. In an upcoming segment of The Auto Writer we’ll explore some of the latest cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs for the North American market.
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