Jeep has announced a five-year warranty and capped price servicing plan in an effort to win back consumer confidence after taking a massive sales hit in 2016.
The renewed commitment by Jeep also includes lifetime roadside assistance for owners who service their vehicles through a Jeep dealer.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) President Steve Zanlunghi said the Jeep brand in Australia needed an overhaul, from company culture to brand image in terms of reliability and quality.
"We are trying to win back the trust of the Australian public," Zanlunghi said. "We're confident we can - we just need the customers to give us another chance."
"This is not a short term promotion, this isn't a flash in the pan, this is something that's going to be embedded into the Jeep strategy going forward. It's a commitment to our owners now and in the future. It's not a silver bullet that we think will drive sales, this is the foundation for the Jeep brand, so that we can grow sustainably going forward."
Every car breaks down, it's how you handle that customer that shapes the brand.
Zanlunghi said that when he took over the reins of the Australian wing of FCA in 2016 it was customer care that he saw as the major area Jeep needed to improve on.
"Every car breaks down, it's how you handle that customer that shapes the brand," he said.
"I think for the longest time here we probably weren't doing the best job in taking care of our customers."
All 2017 Jeep vehicles will be covered by the five-year transferable warranty, coming with five-year capped-price servicing and five years roadside assistance (lifetime if serviced through a Jeep dealer).
Those vehicles which are 2016 or 2015 model year cars, bought (as new vehicles) before February 1, 2017 will come with Jeep's original three-year warranty and will gain a two-year extended warranty (through Eric Insurance), along with five-year capped-price servicing and two years additional roadside assistance (lifetime if serviced through Jeep) for $1950. Owners will not have to pay this fee if their vehicle is a 2016 model and bought after Feb 1.
At the end of 2016 Jeep's sales were down almost 50 per cent on the year before. While 2015 saw record sales, the company was going through turbulent times with customer complaints regarding quality and a court action against FCA's senior management.
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