Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22
is an assault on bureaucratic circular logic, and when talk turns to
Chrysler’s bankruptcy, you can almost picture the book’s character,
Yossarian, shaking his head about the latest developments surrounding
warranty claims. Current Chrysler owners might find themselves owning
vehicular orphans whether or not the company manages to stick around in
some form. Chrysler’s bankruptcy deal, where there’s an upside and a
downside to the Schwartz, could see the new, “Good” Chrysler floating
above any responsibility for any Chrysler vehicle sold before the
bankruptcy.
Consumers groups, realizing that buyers will have
no recourse, have filed an objection that’s spurred a quickly organized
hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. According to a report by
ABC<, the new Chrysler has agreed to cover normal warranty claims,
but when some new issue that would normally prompt a recall campaign
pops up – or some other kind of defect rears its ugly head – the
company would want nothing to do with it. Bad thingamajigy covered,
horrible manufacturing or design defect that causes you injury, not
covered. No right to sue, either.
It’s not like Chrysler
vehicles have stellar resale values now, but if this is how things
shake out, the machinations to avoid standing behind its product are
likely to further devalue anything wearing a Pentastar.
[Source: ABC]