My 2005 Pacifica is burning oil and I can't get Chrysler to fix.?

Question

I have brought my Pacifica to a couple different dealers for burning oil and I get no results. It is burning about 1 qt. per 1000 miles. They can't figure out where it is going. It isn't leaking and they won't say there is a problem cause they can't find out where the oil is going. So I call and write Chrysler Customer Care and all they do is call the dealer and tell me nothing is wrong. The dealers say they are going to do an oil consumption test and halfway thru they tell me that they don't do the test. I am nearing the 36,000 mile warranty and I fear they are going to tell me something is wrong after the warranty is up. The only people I talk to that say there is nothing wrong with my car is Chrysler Service Dept. and Chrysler Cust. Care. Any ideas??? I have run out of options to get the oil burning problem handled. I am at the mercy of the dealers to detect the problem so I can get it fixed and they can't figure it out and refuse to document oil loss on service history.

Answer 1

You should still be covered under your powertrain warranty upto 60,000 miles???? The 36,000miles will be bumper to bumper issues. With your motor consuming oil I would think it should fit under the powertrain warranty (engine, tranny & other driving gears). Check your warranty in your bill of sale and your service manual.

Hope you can get it solved

Answer 2

I feel your pain.
Basically, with Chrysler, their customer service is lousy. However, "sometimes" it 's the dealer. The problem with nowadays is that a lot of the info is recorded on their computers, so if you go to another dealer...the info "may" be the same. Despite that there have been other clients that have gotten better results from going to another dealer.
Number two...the bigger dealerships have customer relations...this dept/person should be your best friend. A few $10 Starbuck gift certificates have gone a long way.
Basically, you have to go to the chain of command.
Service Manager, General Manager , President (if it is a bigger dealership) and then District manager.
I wouldn't threaten them...Chrysler is used to that. However, sometimes you can't be reasonable and need to make a scene. The times that they brushed me off or my clients got them nowhere, but sometimes you need to put your foot down. As far as the warranty, unless they're real sticklers...I wouldn't worry about it if you go over. The district manager has those problems come on their plate all the time.
Hope this helps.

Lawrence
www.carmatchpro.com

Answer 3

Unfortunately, this is correct. Chrysler engineering states that 1 quart of oil per every thousand miles is acceptable consumption. Whether this is an accurate calculation or Chrysler just being lazy about finding the cause, who knows. At some point, the dealer should have contacted Chrysler and received this information.

It is shocking, and yes, I disagree with it as well, but it is a Chrysler specification.

Answer 4

First of all, has it always used oil? If not, then something certainly has went wrong. If it always has used oil, how do you drive? Easily, never flooring it? If so, the rings have probably never seated. Had one guy with 36,000 miles on an 4 cylinder Japanese engine, used oil almost as bad as yours. Drove the tar out of it for 15 miles and that solved it. Since you don't want to run 100 mph for 15 miles, give it several full throttle starts, to the floorboard passes and such. Stop being nice to it.

Answer 5

Call Chrysler again and threaten legal action. 3 quarts of oil between oil changes is NOT normal.

Call 1-800-992-1997 to speak with Chrysler Customer Service. (USA only).
Other numbers that have been suggested are: 1-800-763-8422 and 1-800-227-0757

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/warranty_trbl.htm

Typically the Lemon Law only applies for the first year of new car ownership, but it varies by state. If you have been having problems since it was new, and have gone to the dealer during that period, you may still be able to turn to the lemon law.

Answer 6

For a shoddy American car, yes that kind of oil loss is considered 'normal'! I drive a 1985 Honda Prelude w/ a 86 Accord engine in it. I get almost 40 mpg and no oil loss. It cost me 2,200, and I'll NEVER sell it!

Answer 7

This is a true Lemon Law problem. Call Chrysler and tell them about the problem and that no one can fix it. The car is still under warranty and you want a replacement or you will get an attorney and press charges under the Lemon Law. Don't delay and don't let the warranty run out.

Answer 8

hard for me to write this but this oil use is acceptable. Not a warranty issue. And to hurt even more more new cars have this problem then I ever remember.

Answer 9

every time u bring it in the service slip will say cust complains of high oil use.....you did save them... get # for zone rep,,, dont just call write letters...talk to your state attorney generals office and consumer protection agency if there is one.. any repair shop can run a compression test for about 50 dollars...might pay to find out whats goin on...

Answer 10

this might help
http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/