Chrysler's Recall Crisis: The Troubled Twins - Dodge Aspen & Plymouth Volare (1976-1977)
Chrysler faced a major recall crisis in the late 1970s due to numerous issues with the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare models from 1976-1977, affecting over 1 million units sold. Quality control problems, including carburetor and brake failures, led to significant financial losses and a tarnished reputation. Despite efforts to address the issues, sales plummeted, pushing Chrysler to the brink of failure until government intervention saved the company.
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Product Recall What: twins: Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare (Chrysler), 1976 and 1977 models Recall Date: Dec 28, 1977 & May 1, 1978 (among others)[1] Situation: The 1976 models were collectively named Motor Trend s Car of the Year . Several minor recalls ensued in 1978. However, one serious recall cost Chrysler millions of dollars.[2] Nature of Recall: In all, the 1976 Volare/Aspen had five mandated recalls on suspension, ignition and fuel systems, brakes, steering, and the body. Chrysler also declared a voluntary recall on all front fenders and adjacent sheet metal.[3] Number of units sold: well over 1 million (291,919 Volares in 1976, for a 42.8% gain in Plymouth sales; 219,449 Aspens in 1976; 382,418 Volares in 1977; 219,449 Aspens in 1977). In 1977 Volare/Aspen accounted for 51.4% of corporate sales. [3] MSRP[4]: various models; instances: 1976 Plymouth Volare Premier $4,389 1976 Dodge Aspen Custom $3,518 ETM 627 - Justin Blount Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare November 30, 2014
Problems and Responsibility Problem, Carburetor: the Ball Brothers carburetor was simple and would ice in the winter and flood in warm weather, resulting in stalls.[5] Problem, Brake failures: brakes pull to one side, seized calipers, chafing of calipers boiled brake fluid[5] Various other quality control problems: hot starts (due to bad engineering), poor trunk weatherstripping installation, loosely mounted steering box, cracked brake shoes and drums, defective voltage regulators, defective alternator, broken engine mounts, broken transmission mounts, random loose bolts.[5] Responsibility: Lee Iacocca said in his autobiography: Aspen and Volar were introduced in 1975, but they should have been delayed a full six months. The company was hungry for cash, and this time Chrysler didn t honor the normal cycle of designing, testing, and building an automobile. The customers who bought Aspens and Volar s in 1975 were actually acting as Chrysler s development engineers. When these cars first came out, they were still in the development phase. Looking back over the past twenty years or so, I can t think of any cars that caused more disappointment among customers than the Aspen and the Volar . [6] ETM 627 - Justin Blount -
Impact of Recall Most major recall (most impactful): In 1978, Chrysler recalled every 1976 and 1977 F body for possible replacement of the front fenders, which were prematurely rusting. This cost Chrysler millions of dollars.[2] Reputation: Chrysler reputation lowered, time taken to regain reputation, These cars almost killed Chrysler: the company was on track to corporate failure in 1979; a series of government loan guarantees by the new CEO Ioccoca saved it.[7] Sales: For the next 3 years (1978-1980), sales fell 20%, 22%, and 43% respectively.[3] Even though most of the problems were corrected, the ill-repute was fixed. ETM 627 - Justin Blount -
References 1. "Plymouth Volare Recall - Read About Volare Recalls & Complaints | AutoMD." Plymouth Volare Recall - Read About Volare Recalls & Complaints | AutoMD. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.automd.com/recall/plymouth_m/volare_mm/>. 2. Hennessey, Ed. "The Plymouth Volare, Dodge Aspen, and Chrysler LeBaron." Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen including Super Coupe Cars and Chrysler LeBaron. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://www.allpar.com/model/aspen.html>. 3. Knutson, Lanny. "1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen - Introduction and Reviews." 1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen with Reviews. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.allpar.com/model/volare.html>. 4. "Used Classic, Collectible, Exotic and Muscle Car and Truck Prices, Values & Specs by Manufacturer." NADAguides. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/Manufacturers>. 5. Smith, Patrick (2014). "Phscollectorcarworld: Buyer s Guide: 1976-1980 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare." Phscollectorcarworld: Buyer s Guide: 1976-1980 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2014/06/buyers-guide-1976-1980- dodge.html>. 6. Iacocca, Lee A, and William Novak. Iacocca: An Autobiography. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1984. Print. 7. Huffman, John. "5 Most Notorious Recalls of All Time." Popular Mechanics. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/industry/4345725#slide-5>. ETM 627 - Justin Blount -
