Chrysler Roadside Assistance, no more

I noticed that Chrysler has deleted its Roadside Assistance
during the basic warranty and optional service contracts on
new vehicles. (They still include Towing Assistance to tow
your car to the nearest dealer for a covered part.)

When did they remove the Roadside Assistance for new cars?
Cars that still have existing roadside assistance through
their warranty and/or svc contract should still be covered.

Did too many Chrysler cars need Roadside Assistance, or did
they just figure that it cost more than customers valued the
service?

Roadside Assistance was provided by Cross Country Motor
Club, and they still manage the towing service.

 

When did people start "needing" this?

I drive old cars, and I've never wished I had a manufacturer's "roadside
assistance" program to rely on.

DS

 

When did they remove the Roadside Assistance for new cars?

I think the car companies have done a really good job of muscling in on the
space that AAA used to occupy by itself, probably at greater cost to the
consumer and with little additional benefit.

Personally, I carry a AAA card in my wallet, in case things really go to
hell in a hurry. I don't 'need' manufacturer road side assistance any more
than I need a tow truck parked in my back yard, waiting for the day I need
it.

--Geoff

 

Bought a 2004 in November. It came with roadside assistance

 

The Roadside Assistance Program went away with the '03 Model Year vehicles.

Purchasing a DaimlerChrysler Service Contract, does however, INCLUDE $100
"Sign and Go" Roadside Assistance for the term of the Service Contract.

If you ever need a jump start, run out of gas, lock the keys in the car or
want someone to install a spare tire, all you need to do is call the 800
Number on your DCSC Gold Card. As long as the bill is less than $100 - you
pay nothing.

Another benefit of the DCSC Plan that many people don't know about is that
all current mechanical plans now include FIRST DAY Car Rental. Doesn't
matter why the vehicle is in for service (Warranty, Service Contract, Recall
or Retail Repair) you're entitled to a $30 Car Rental Allowance. (The only
exception is collision/body repairs)

Sorry for the commercial......

Regarding your question about why DCX dropped the coverage from the Basic
Warranty - I assume it was all about trying to save money.

Have a great week.


SBH

 

I'm not sure about that as Cross Country has been around for at least a few
decades. Besides AAA, there are plenty of other organizations that provide
roadside assistance, including insurance and petroleum companies. I suspect
AAA would charge much higher fees if they had no competition.

 

Whenever people have a flat tire on the freeway, lock their key in the car,
have a low battery, otherwise have a bad day, etc.

That's great, but that doesn't make roadside assistance useless.

 

That's interesting. Maybe AAA has the market locked up more tightly in
Michigan than in other places. I've never heard of anyone providing any
real competition to them. Never heard of 'Cross Country', either.

--Geoff

 

That's what the jack and spare is for.

That's what I carry a spare key in my wallet for.

That's why I have jumper cables.

Its a waste of money for nothing more than keeping your hands clean, as
far as I'm concerned. Fast orange hand cleaner is cheap!

 

Mercedes cars come with roadside assistance which is free throughout western
Europe, if I am not mistaken, so having it for Chrysler seems reasonable as
a corporate policy.

DAS

 

I guess it depends on how much is your life worth to you. Locally somebody
was killed not too long ago as a result of doing nothing more than changing
his tire alongside an Interstate when somebody plowed into him. That's a
tough price for driving over a screw you'll never see. I'm not convinced
that couldn't happen to me if I tried to change my tire alongside the
freeway. And that's assuming there is a shoulder to park on, out of the
travel lanes. A lot of places don't have that luxury, particularly in
urban areas.

Toss in darkness, or a steep grade, or rain, or snow, and this sure isn't
something I'd want my wife doing. If nothing else, a large tow truck with
lots of blinking lights can block the path of errant vehicles. We have
jumper cables of course, but they wouldn't do any good without something to
connect them too. As for a spare key, it's sure a good idea to keep one in
your wallet if you can, but I think the thick SKIM keys on modern Chryslers
would give even George Costanza's wallet a run for its money.

 

You only need the fancy key in the ignition. If all you want to do is open
the door, a $0.99 old flat Chrysler key will fit. You just won't be able to
run the ignition.

 

News flash: driving a car has risks! Everything in life does- there's no
guarantee you won't get plowed into while standing well off the roadway
waiting for the AAA guy to show up either, that has happened also. Or
robbed, or mugged. I'll take changing my own tire after pulling to the
safest position I can find ANY day over helplessly putting my fate in
someone else's hands. I can do it and be GONE in 15 minutes- about half
the time it would take "roadside assistance" to show up.

 

I agree - but when I do need AAA service I wish I lived in an area where it
only took 30 minutes or less for the tow truck to get to me. In the greater Los
Angeles area the normal quote is 45 minutes to an hour.