Parts back orders .. what next?

rickm · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:26 am

My son t-boned a trailer on Nov 11th with my 08 Liberty. I have USAA Insurance and they immediately put me into a brand new rental, a Nissan Sentra that only had 56 miles on it.

Now, almost 1 1/2 months later, my rental coverage from my insurance has run out, and I'm still waiting for my Liberty to be repaired.

It seems that they are waiting on a power steering cooler from the local Chrysler dealer. I stopped by the dealer and he says that the Dodge Nitro is the same part number.

He says there are 107 of them on a national back order, and he cannot tell me if one of them is mine. Now that's reassuring... makes me want to go out and buy another Jeep product immediately.. three years down the road and they can't get a part for it. Guess that's what happens when the government takes over the car companies. I asked the parts guy if he'd tried calling China and seeing if they had one in stock that they could send us. Seems like everything else is made there nowadays, it would not surprise me to find out the part I'm waiting on is on the boat from China.

So I guess Monday, I'm going to go over to the Ford dealer and write them a check for a used Ford Fusion. Ford didn't take any government bailout money, maybe they still have car people as CEO's

sorry, yes, I'm a bit upset about the whole thing and ranting a bit

Oh, and while I was waiting on the parts guy to get there... I was looking at the Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition. What were those guys thinking when they designed that silly model? There is absolutely no way that anyone on that design team has ever spent any time at Thule Greenland or points further north...... that jeep has Air Conditioning as standard equipment? LOL and where is the block heater? and where were the inside cab electric space heaters? and where were those clear plastic thingies that they stick on the windows to keep them from frosting up? I think they need to put me on the Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition Design Team, I have real life experience up there, and that Jeep would last less than 24 hours up there.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:53 am

The parts are likely on backorder because they're being diverted to Liberty production, which is up 35% I believe. They are even working through the normal Christmas shutdown.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot more than PS coolers on backorder...

He can't tell you if one of them is yours because they're ordered by the dealership, and don't have your name attached to them.

Sorry to hear about all of the drama.

The Arctic Edition is just an appearance package...for the most part. Maybe with a little offroad hardware. It's not a Arctic Preparation Package...

.... the government never took over Chrysler. I hardly call a high interest loan a "bailout". Regarding Ford, they didn't want to deal with the government "terms", like pay freezes, and the like for their big executives.... that is the only reason why they didn't take any government loans. However despite their financial reports, they're still in hot water...even more so than the other two.

rickm · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 5:48 am

Yes, I know the Wrangler Arctic Edition is an appearance package.. that's very obvious lol. I just do not understand them trying to sell one of those things in this area.... but I guess some fool will no doubt want to drive one around... starting about May here, we never get any rain til about November and our summer temperatures often range well over 100 degrees and sometimes up to 115 degrees. I can't remember the last time that it snowed here. There's never any ice, very few nights with more than 2 or 3 hours below freezing. That's what everyone in Merced, CA needs is an Arctic Edition 90 N 0 W Editon Wrangler. Sell us one with some extra inside cabin cooling or extra engine cooling and call it the San Joaquin Valley Edition... I guarantee it would be a hit

The dealership parts guy is the person that said that he did not know if the part that he had on order for the repair shop to repair my Liberty was among the national back order... so somewhere at some point in time I thought I heard that car manufacturers had to stock parts for cars that they sold for x number of years. So are you saying that the Liberty sales are up and that makes the production up 35%...... so instead of keeping a supply chain for parts to repair their vehicles that need to be repaired, they would rather just go sell new ones and park them as they require repairs? That just doesn't make sense to me, and whoever is in charge at Chrysler needs to take a look at whats going on over there. Either that, or step down and let someone take over that can fix the problems.

Mike08Liberty · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 11:28 am

There could be a thousand reasons why a part is back ordered.
- Not prepared for the spike in production
- Manufacture of the part is behind because of the Holidays
- Manufacture of the part has parts into him that are back ordered
- The factory that manufactures the part had a problem
- A group of parts could have failed QC inspection

How many more reasons do you want???

I get your upset it's taking so long but crying over it and saying your going to buy a Ford Fusion isn't going to help anything. Have fun with your Fusion :roll:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:48 pm

Biggest reason for backordered parts these day's is 100% due to the economy.Every single parts house has reduced there inventory drastically over the last 2 years and wait till a large # of orders are placed before ordering from the source.The source will not make the parts till they recieve a big enough order to make it worth there time.

They all are scaling down and those rarely needed parts are becoming rare and hard to get.It's all a money game as no place will loose money daily on a massive scale to make customers happy.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:10 pm

I'm not saying the increase in production is the reason, I'm saying that it COULD be the reason. Others have posted reasons for the backorder too, all of them are valid, but who knows exactly why. Production for parts and the vehicles can and is interrupted often. I don't want to know how many times I've been sent home early or wasn't sure if I was gonna be working a particular WEEK because of parts issues which can range from bolts to carpet, to engines... Then there have been other times where my plant has stolen stuff (paint, carpet, etc...) from other plants to keep us running.

Crap happens, you just happen to be in the middle of it.

Oh, and by my understanding, the parts just have to be available for 10 years after the vehicle is discontinued... they don't have to be in stock however. This vehicle is still in production, so who knows if that even applies right now. I'm starting to wonder if the current Jeep sales growth is due to the Grand Cherokee... people going to dealers looking at a Grand Cherokee, realizing that they cannot afford it, so they buy Liberties, Compasses and Patriots instead.

rickm · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 7:37 am

blah blah, it's a real difficult part to get...

http://bit.ly/seSt7d

Hayden makes it, I'm sure others do also. It took me all of 30 seconds to find this one on the internet.

We have at least one major radiator manufacturer here in this city (can't remember the name of them now), but I'm guessing they could build one in about 10 minutes.

This isn't rocket science. This isn't a major piece of the vehicle. It's not the engine, transmission, transfer case, computer, or anything major like that, it's a simple $30 part.

rickm · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 7:43 am

Marlon_JBT wrote:

I'm starting to wonder if the current Jeep sales growth is due to the Grand Cherokee... people going to dealers looking at a Grand Cherokee, realizing that they cannot afford it, so they buy Liberties, Compasses and Patriots instead.

Nah, it's probably the people from my area that go in and look at the $34,000 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Editiion 90 N 0 W and laugh their booty off, then buy the Liberty or Compass or Patriot. lol I'm sure some fool down here will just have to have one, but they seriosly need to send those things to Alaska or something....... but add a bit more heating to them first

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:25 am

rickm wrote:

blah blah, it's a real difficult part to get...

http://bit.ly/seSt7d

Hayden makes it, I'm sure others do also. It took me all of 30 seconds to find this one on the internet.

We have at least one major radiator manufacturer here in this city (can't remember the name of them now), but I'm guessing they could build one in about 10 minutes.

This isn't rocket science. This isn't a major piece of the vehicle. It's not the engine, transmission, transfer case, computer, or anything major like that, it's a simple $30 part.

You didn't read the fine print...........

Quote:

Notes: Universal Power Steering Cooler Kit

Not a OE direct fit part.

Mike08Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:42 am

Rick, maybe you should get a Focus and get rid of the Liberty. You whine worse then my 7 year old ... :roll:

Build a bridge and get over it. If it takes 30 sec to find a UNIVERSAL PART then go get your truck from the body shop and fix it yourself ...

rickm wrote:

This isn't rocket science.

rickm · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 2:28 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

rickm wrote:

blah blah, it's a real difficult part to get...

http://bit.ly/seSt7d

Hayden makes it, I'm sure others do also. It took me all of 30 seconds to find this one on the internet.

We have at least one major radiator manufacturer here in this city (can't remember the name of them now), but I'm guessing they could build one in about 10 minutes.

This isn't rocket science. This isn't a major piece of the vehicle. It's not the engine, transmission, transfer case, computer, or anything major like that, it's a simple $30 part.

You didn't read the fine print...........

Quote:

Notes: Universal Power Steering Cooler Kit

I'll bet it's a pretty close fit. I would guess that they can make it fit and get my vehicle back on the road til Jeep's "national back order" clears up, rather than me spending $30 a day in a rental.

Mike08Liberty wrote:

Rick, maybe you should get a Focus and get rid of the Liberty. You whine worse then my 7 year old ... :roll:

Build a bridge and get over it. If it takes 30 sec to find a UNIVERSAL PART then go get your truck from the body shop and fix it yourself ...

rickm wrote:

This isn't rocket science.

Not a OE direct fit part.

rickm · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 2:48 pm

Mike08Liberty wrote:

Rick, maybe you should get a Focus and get rid of the Liberty. You whine worse then my 7 year old ... :roll:

Build a bridge and get over it. If it takes 30 sec to find a UNIVERSAL PART then go get your truck from the body shop and fix it yourself ...

rickm wrote:

This isn't rocket science.

Great Mike, you seem to have all the answers.... The only problem is, I'm tall, especially from the waist up and I can't sit in a focus comfortably. My head hits the roof.

However, I did rent a Ford Fusion when I was visiting Tennessee in July, and I really liked that car. So guess what I'm going to do today. Nope, I'm not going to get rid of my Liberty... unlike some folks that just go use their vehicle to play around in, I actually need mine for work, so I'm keeping it. I actually do like the Liberty except the gas mileage, but I live in CA and it's a 4X4, so I understand that.

But what I do plan on doing this afternoon is buying this nice red 2010 Ford Fusion that I found, as a second car.

I think the other fellow may be right about the economy being partly to blame for parts shortages.

However, instead of telling people they whine like your 7 year old, you should spend a little time and read up on what's happening in the auto industry, especially after all the government bail out. All I can tell you is that the U.S. government should let people that know how to build cars, build cars, and keep their nose out of their business, even if they did give them a big bunch of money.

You want me to post you a picture of my Fusion, or wait and post one of it sitting beside my Liberty when I get it back :shock:

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:51 pm

rickm, the government had no input on what Chrysler builds, current models or future. I don't know why you keep talking about that.

Chrysler has paid back their loan.... so why does it matter anyway?

Also, would you like to have your lifetime bumper to bumper voided because of the use of an aftermarket PS cooler? I don't think so. If your power steering goes out in the future, you can kiss coverage of any component in that system goodbye, likely including the steering wheel/column itself.

(Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I remembered you saying that in the past.)

Mike08Liberty · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:33 am

Fusion Focus same crappy Ford ... I'm sure crying about the PS cooler and buying a Ford will fix all your problems.

As Marlon said ...

Marlon_JBT wrote:

rickm, the government had no input on what Chrysler builds, current models or future. I don't know why you keep talking about that.

Chrysler has paid back their loan.... so why does it matter anyway?

rickm wrote:

However, instead of telling people they whine like your 7 year old, you should spend a little time and read up on what's happening in the auto industry, especially after all the government bail out. All I can tell you is that the U.S. government should let people that know how to build cars, build cars, and keep their nose out of their business, even if they did give them a big bunch of money.

I said you whine WORSE then my 7 year old. My daughter has manors and doesn't cry when she doesn't get her way.

Maybe you need to read up on the whole Government loan ... I guess you've never got a loan for anything right???? Exactly :roll:

rickm · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:11 am

oh my, I guess you call declaring bankruptcy paying back a loan? good one... that's not the way I've ever paid back a loan, but I know there are a lot of folks that do that, especially in this economy. You should look up Cerberus Capital Management and see just what they did to Chrysler. Let's see, at one point Chrysler announced that GMAC would begin financing all of their automobiles... huummm... now who is it that owns GMAC? Let' see, I believe it's like 73% owned by the U.S. Treasury and the rest owned by Cerberus Capital Management. Oh yeah, I know, Chrysler Financial has changed their name to TD Financial.... some bank in Toronto bought them... great. You should read up on what Cerberus Capital Management has done to Chrysler, GM, United Rental and other companies. Oh, and look who is or was running that company.

I'm not saying that the government has a hand in what model cars that Chrysler builds, but I am saying that at some point in time, they had some people inside Chrysler that probably didn't need to be there. Same thing with GM. Whether or not that's what's caused the problems with those companies or not, I don't know. I do know that if an automobile company can't supply a simple part for a 3 year old car, they are surely hurting, and it doesn't make me want to go buy another one of their vehicles, unless I see some sort of turn around in the next couple of years.

And no, I'm not saying that buying a Ford Fusion is going to solve all of my problems, but I did need a second vehicle, and it's surely a lot better than paying $30 a day for a rental car when Chrysler can't tell the repair shop when they might see the new part to repair my Jeep.

No I'm not financing the thing, I've already written them a check and paid for it. And before you start telling me about the recall on the Fusion, I'm already aware of it, but thanks anyway.

I sure hope that Italian guy that's running the company knows something about running an automobile company, otherwise Chrysler/Jeep is hurting for sure. Yes, I know he was on the board of directors or was the chairman or something at Fiat, but does that really give him the qualifications to turn around Chrysler?

gren71 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:33 am

honestly never thought id read a thread of people bickering back and forth over nonsense..

Hope your part comes in and you get you jeep back soon.

Cheers

:JEEPIN:

Mike08Liberty · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:45 am

Rick, a backorder can happen to any company at anytime. As we've said before there are A LOT of factors that can cause a part to be backordered. You go talk to the service guy at the Ford dealership and if you can an honest answer out of I'm sure he will tell you they have backordered parts in the past. Your getting pissy over something that can happen to any company, in any industry for 100 different reasons.

I own a Dental Equipment sales and service company. I deal with a lot of different manufactures and guess what, from time to time they have a part on backorder. Do I cry over it, no because it's outside of my control and there are 100 reasons why that part could be backordered. Do I yell at my manufacture/distributor? NO ... Yelling won't solve my problem or get me my part. "So Mike, what do you do?" "I'm glad you asked that, first I call some of my other distributors and see if they can get me the same exact original part. If so, then I buy from them. If not, I wait patiently until my part arrives."

Just the the title of your thread reads "what next" ... the Fusion has a part on backorder and you go buy a Chevy??? Really???

You seem like one of those guys who believes the government secretly microchipped you when you were born so they can track you ... :-)r

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:09 am

Mike08Liberty wrote:

You seem like one of those guys who believes the government secretly microchipped you when you were born so they can track you ... :-)r

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:26 am

rickm wrote:

oh my, I guess you call declaring bankruptcy paying back a loan? good one... that's not the way I've ever paid back a loan, but I know there are a lot of folks that do that, especially in this economy. You should look up Cerberus Capital Management and see just what they did to Chrysler. Let's see, at one point Chrysler announced that GMAC would begin financing all of their automobiles... huummm... now who is it that owns GMAC? Let' see, I believe it's like 73% owned by the U.S. Treasury and the rest owned by Cerberus Capital Management. Oh yeah, I know, Chrysler Financial has changed their name to TD Financial.... some bank in Toronto bought them... great. You should read up on what Cerberus Capital Management has done to Chrysler, GM, United Rental and other companies. Oh, and look who is or was running that company.

I'm not saying that the government has a hand in what model cars that Chrysler builds, but I am saying that at some point in time, they had some people inside Chrysler that probably didn't need to be there. Same thing with GM. Whether or not that's what's caused the problems with those companies or not, I don't know. I do know that if an automobile company can't supply a simple part for a 3 year old car, they are surely hurting, and it doesn't make me want to go buy another one of their vehicles, unless I see some sort of turn around in the next couple of years.

And no, I'm not saying that buying a Ford Fusion is going to solve all of my problems, but I did need a second vehicle, and it's surely a lot better than paying $30 a day for a rental car when Chrysler can't tell the repair shop when they might see the new part to repair my Jeep.

No I'm not financing the thing, I've already written them a check and paid for it. And before you start telling me about the recall on the Fusion, I'm already aware of it, but thanks anyway.

I sure hope that Italian guy that's running the company knows something about running an automobile company, otherwise Chrysler/Jeep is hurting for sure. Yes, I know he was on the board of directors or was the chairman or something at Fiat, but does that really give him the qualifications to turn around Chrysler?

...

<- Lives in the Detroit Area
<- Chrysler AND General Motors Employee
<- Has 62 Years of Chrysler in his blood

I don't need to look up anything, trust me, I know what's going on.

Now that you have clarified yourself, you are talking about the Bridge Loan which was given to Chrysler by G.W. Bush.... NOT the Debtor-In-Possession financing AFTER the Chapter 11 filing, and as I have said, THAT HAS BEEN PAID BACK IN FULL. Yeah I really don't have a comment on the bridge loan, however, bankruptcy was looming before that loan was given. It's not like they filed BK JUST TO AVOID paying back the government, which is what you make it sound like. Cerberus had nothing to do with GMAC becoming Chrysler's finance unit... that was Obama and his crew, they claimed that Chrysler Financial was not viable.

Marchionne knows a lot about running an automobile company. I like most of what he has done with Chrysler, which thanks to Daimler and Cerberus was in absolute shambles. Cerberus didn't have a friggin clue. Daimler just wanted to cut costs for the Chrysler Group ONLY, then shuttle money back to Germany, leaving Chrysler with well...nothing.

Again, you're just a victim of bad luck. I've been there, but not with a car part.... computer part. It was on backorder for 2 months, but I didn't run to another company just because of one bad experience. It's not easy to run an auto company, nor is it easy to work for one.

... and it's dang hard to work for two of them.

jon153 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:40 am

Oh, for crying out loud! Tell them to put a used one on from another wrecked one until yours comes in so you can drive your Liberty. I would guess that there has to be a wrecked 2008 Liberty at a junk yard somewhere in your area that you could get one from for a temporary fix? I just wasted 15 minutes of my life reading these arguments over the bailouts. BTW, I think the Fusion is one of the better cars that Ford has built in years and is competitive with anything in the same price range the Japs/ koreans are building at this time. Good luck with it. What does it get, about 36 mpg on the highway? Hell, it will practically pay for itself with the gas savings.

Parts back orders .. what next?

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