Don't You Just Hate It When That Happens?

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

From Auto Letters by Jim Mateja in the Chicago Tribune: Q I purchased a new 2009 Chrysler 300 SRT8 a few weeks ago from dealer stock. The rear license plate was on, but the front wasn’t. The plate bracket was in the trunk, but I was told that nobody was available to install the front plate. I was told not to worry because I wouldn’t get pulled over and it looks better without the plate. If I wanted, I could bring the car back to get the plate installed. When I got home, I looked at the bracket to see whether I could install it and found that Chrysler changed the grille on the 2009 300 SRT8. The directions show the bracket is made to attach to the old grille. The parts department said the bracket is the correct one for my vehicle. I took the car back to dealer, and they agreed it couldn’t be installed, but there was nothing they could do. They said I should display the license plate on my dashboard. How can Chrysler produce a car that doesn’t and can’t conform to the state law, which requires a front plate? A How could a dealer tell you not to worry and that you wouldn’t get stopped for driving without a front plate that’s required by law in Illinois? And how could a dealer tell you to display the plate on your dash when all it takes to attach the bracket is cutting it to fit the mesh grille that replaced the egg-crate grille for 2009? ‘It just takes a little initiative by the dealer,’ Al Wagener, a salesman at Knauz Chrysler in Lake Bluff, told us when we called to ask how Chrysler could have goofed.”

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Areitu Areitu on Jan 05, 2009

    This might be terribly off topic, but I'm surprised the 300C is still being sold new.

  • Nudave Nudave on Jan 05, 2009

    I'm sure the lack of a correctly fitting front license plate bracket will be the least of his worries. If you're dumb enough to buy a POS, you don't deserve sympathy.

  • Kericf Kericf on Jan 05, 2009

    I have an inspection sticker that expired last August and I have been surprised not to get ticketed for it yet. My registration is current at least. It's just one of those things many cops don't notice unless you get pulled over. /should probably take care of it though.

  • Willbodine Willbodine on Jan 05, 2009

    At one point I had the bumpers on my TL repainted and the body shop lost the front plate and frame. I didn't think too much of it, because, after all, the car looked better without it. Then, on a trip to San Francisco, I parked on the street and received a "no front plate" citation... for $120!

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