DETROIT... Bowing to pressure from a lawsuit and citing a mixture of
driveability, efficiency and environmental concerns, Daimler Chrysler
today announced that the short-lived production run of the Wrangler
Rubicon will cease in April. The Rubicon model of the popular sport
utility had additional equipment meant to make it more capable in off
road situations. "The Rubicon package has proven to be a failure in
the actual environment where the vehicle is being driven." said
Dieter Baumgartner, Jeep Division Director of Product
Placement. "Many of our customers have had serious complaints about
the steering system at slow speeds and with the rising cost of
gasoline, the excessive fuel mileage." Baumgartner continued.
Kimberley White of Silver City, New Mexico bought a Wrangler Rubicon
in January, 2003. She and others are joining in a class action
lawsuit against Daimler Chrysler in an attempt to return what she
claims is a defective vehicle. "At first we really liked it," she
stated recently, "It fit our lifestyle perfectly, with the tough
looks and big tires." But the more she and her boyfriend drove it,
the more undesirable the special features of the Rubicon model showed
through. "We took it to the Southridge Mall parking lot and tried
pulling the little lever and pressing the buttons for the four wheel
drive system." she said in an interview, "But it went so slow people
were honking at us and when we tried to turn into a parking space it
felt like the whole drivetrain just locked up solid and the tires
made all these scratching and squealing noises." Other complaints
listed in the lawsuit included poor gas mileage, noisy highway ride
and the possibility of environmental damage if used off road.
"In reviewing sales figures we have decided that the low volume of
production does not justify the additional expense that continued
production will cause us." said Baumgartner. "We are seriously
considering the addition of a Rubicon package to the Liberty, but
without all the extra equipment that the Wrangler model had. We have
found that most of our customers prefer leather seats and cruise
control on their Jeeps.
driveability, efficiency and environmental concerns, Daimler Chrysler
today announced that the short-lived production run of the Wrangler
Rubicon will cease in April. The Rubicon model of the popular sport
utility had additional equipment meant to make it more capable in off
road situations. "The Rubicon package has proven to be a failure in
the actual environment where the vehicle is being driven." said
Dieter Baumgartner, Jeep Division Director of Product
Placement. "Many of our customers have had serious complaints about
the steering system at slow speeds and with the rising cost of
gasoline, the excessive fuel mileage." Baumgartner continued.
Kimberley White of Silver City, New Mexico bought a Wrangler Rubicon
in January, 2003. She and others are joining in a class action
lawsuit against Daimler Chrysler in an attempt to return what she
claims is a defective vehicle. "At first we really liked it," she
stated recently, "It fit our lifestyle perfectly, with the tough
looks and big tires." But the more she and her boyfriend drove it,
the more undesirable the special features of the Rubicon model showed
through. "We took it to the Southridge Mall parking lot and tried
pulling the little lever and pressing the buttons for the four wheel
drive system." she said in an interview, "But it went so slow people
were honking at us and when we tried to turn into a parking space it
felt like the whole drivetrain just locked up solid and the tires
made all these scratching and squealing noises." Other complaints
listed in the lawsuit included poor gas mileage, noisy highway ride
and the possibility of environmental damage if used off road.
"In reviewing sales figures we have decided that the low volume of
production does not justify the additional expense that continued
production will cause us." said Baumgartner. "We are seriously
considering the addition of a Rubicon package to the Liberty, but
without all the extra equipment that the Wrangler model had. We have
found that most of our customers prefer leather seats and cruise
control on their Jeeps.
