2007 Nitro Drive Shaft Fell Out

[rickaren]

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Took Nitro in today and had them perform the regular oil & filter change covered under Chrysler's Maintenance Contract.

I also brought in a copy of this Thread and explained I wanted an inspection of this issue on my vehicle. Since it was already going to be on the lift anyway shouldn't be too much, right?

Receive phone call for my approval to perform any diagnosis was $93.00! I said I could understand an hour but not $93.00. Advisor said this was for one hour labor! Guess I thought labor rate was still around $65.00 an hour.

Anyway I gave my approval just-in-case there was an issue. I have the lifetime drive-train warranty plus an extended service contract so I would be covered except for a $50 deductible to pay for the $700.00 replacement shaft in the future, if there is a problem. Being pro-active cost me $102.95, so I better have the deductible waved if there is ever this problem.

Service Repair Order states "No Problems Found At This Time"

Better safe than sorry, is expensive.

[aquijano]

I just want everyone to be aware of the defect causeing the driveshaft to go out. I recently had my driveshaft go out also causing the airbags to deploy. Ive been fighting dodge to do something about this but the are just giving me BS. I was told by a dodge dealer that there techs weren't able to determine what caused it but then corp it saying i hit something. I just got my truck fixed bc my ins covered it and when i was picking up my truck i talked to the tech who didnt seem to know what was going on bc he told me that it was a material defect that caused it , which was the heat shield that was rubbing on the driveshaft. i was able to get his diagnosis in write and i hope this will help me get something done. This is something that is happening to alot of ppl and if we dont fight it someone could be hurt. If this happens to anyone please file a complaint with NHTSA

[DarrellP]

On March 24, 2012 while proceeded to excellerate from a stop, the drive shaft on my 2007 Dodge Nitro simply fell off to the ground as was described in main story. Luckily i was in a stopped position other wise if i had been on a main highway i may not be here today to tell the story. I had my nitro immediately towed to the dealership where i have my nitro service on a regular basis. In fact the weekend prior to the drive shaft falling off i had it in for its normally service and had engine belts changed and the lift gate light ordered and said would be replaced on warranty. But when it came to the drive shaft another story. My drive shaft had the same mysterious grooves around the shaft where something from the undercarriage of the vehicle had obviously been rubbing it down and caused the shaft to fail. My local dealership service said that the only way that could happen would be for me to somehow have caused damage by bottoming out or something to cause such damage. I explained to them that wasn't the case at all and that i had not caused any damage to the vehicle, that the drive shaft had simply come apart. Due to the service department telling chrysler corporation that i had to have cause damage to the shaft that they couldn't say that it was a defect. I have been fighting with Chyrsler warranty department since then to try to have them cover the shaft under its warranty and of which i had purchased an extended warranty when i purchased the vehicle. I was forced to make a claim with my insurance company to cover the damage as chrysler to this day has not agreed to cover it under warranty. Chrysler's warranty department actually told me they wouldn't make a decision on it until they heard back from my insurance company to see if they would cover it. I explained to Chryslers warranty department that it should be irrelevant weather my insurance will or won't cover it. That they should do the right thing and cover the defective drive shaft and if other items needed repaired then my insurance would be responsible for the rest. My insurance today agreed to cover all damages and therefore am disappointed with Chysler's warranty department and explained to them they have long a long time Chrylser customer and will recommend to family and anyone i know not to purchase a chrysler vehicle because they do not stand behind their vehicle warranties. And not only that but this could have been much worse. Had i been going hight speed on a main highway there Most likely would have totaled the vehicle and possibly lost my life. This is a serious safety issue for all drivers off 2007 dodge nitro or possibly any other model years of vehicle that may have the same issue. Good luck to all and hope you have better luck with Chrysler on this issue.

[rickaren]

Thanks Darrell for taking the time to report your issue. To me it just doesn't make sense that your Dealer would refuse to cover your repair under warranty. They make good profit on warranty work and know this is how they acquire repeat new car sales. You are also a present service department customer. I do have some questions since I would be very surprised if my Service Department would not cover any driveshaft repair on my Nitro, but could see them getting approval from Chrysler first being supportive of any repair needed. Hell they have performed every TSB I requested or found or any issue I have seen others have here like replacing the fuel gas tank, and even installed new head gaskets per my request.

Questions:

Did you buy your Nitro new and does it have the lifetime powertrain warranty?

Does your Nitro have non-factory wheels? (larger than 20")

Have you been carrying heavy loads in your Nitro or pulling a trailer?

How did you make a claim under your auto insurance (as others have too) when your driveshaft breaks in two?

Thanks for sharing and yes I would be pissed, too.