Warranty horror stories
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Champion
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,703
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From: Bremen, GA.
Warranty horror stories
As some of you know I work for a Dodge dealer, and some of you also know that I am going to a managers meeting next week. What I want to hear is warranty horror stories. I want to hear when you have been treated in a manner that you think is unfair. When the dealer said that mods were the cause of your problem.Tell me about beingdenied warranty coverage.. But to be fair, tell me the whole story not just your side. Please keep this to just warranty issues. I am posting this in the 3rd gen and diesel forums...Thanks in advance for the posts. I am taking this and the posts from the earlier forumtitled questions about dealers to the meeting with me......
Link to earlier forum>>https://dodgeforum.com/m_974580/mpag.../tm.htm#974580
Link to earlier forum>>https://dodgeforum.com/m_974580/mpag.../tm.htm#974580
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Middletown, RI (originally Nebraska though)
RE: Warranty horror stories
I have had two issues with Dodge in the past.
1. 2001 Durango that, 600 miles out from warranty, one of the lifter rockers came off and they wouldn't even discuss covering it due to being out of warranty. I guess a warranty is a warranty, but still think it was pretty messed up.
2. 2005 Grand Caravan that was in the shop more than on the road. Multiple emails to DC to no avail. They would kepp it for 3-4 days and give my wife a rental, after threat of the lemon law, but would give her the smallest, cheapest compact available. We have 3 daughters, all in car seats, they won't all fit. Shouldn't the rental provided somewhat compare to the vehicle having warranty work done on? I am very impressed with BMW's service in this area (wife has an '03 X5) as they have complimentary cars that are equivalant and I didn't have to get the rental agreement in the purchase contract. Yes I realise BMW's cost alot more and probably have more cushion for that, and they are really unmatched for service/warranty work, but stillI believe that if you are doing warranty work to my vehiclefor more than a day, you should cover a COMPARABLE vehicle to replace it. That is just good business ethics to me.
I know, these are old issues but it is my understanding that nothing has changed, and if anything it has gotten worse. I was told by one guy that if you don't have the rental agreement figured into your contract you get to suck up the entire price of the rental.
Just my2 cents.
1. 2001 Durango that, 600 miles out from warranty, one of the lifter rockers came off and they wouldn't even discuss covering it due to being out of warranty. I guess a warranty is a warranty, but still think it was pretty messed up.
2. 2005 Grand Caravan that was in the shop more than on the road. Multiple emails to DC to no avail. They would kepp it for 3-4 days and give my wife a rental, after threat of the lemon law, but would give her the smallest, cheapest compact available. We have 3 daughters, all in car seats, they won't all fit. Shouldn't the rental provided somewhat compare to the vehicle having warranty work done on? I am very impressed with BMW's service in this area (wife has an '03 X5) as they have complimentary cars that are equivalant and I didn't have to get the rental agreement in the purchase contract. Yes I realise BMW's cost alot more and probably have more cushion for that, and they are really unmatched for service/warranty work, but stillI believe that if you are doing warranty work to my vehiclefor more than a day, you should cover a COMPARABLE vehicle to replace it. That is just good business ethics to me.
I know, these are old issues but it is my understanding that nothing has changed, and if anything it has gotten worse. I was told by one guy that if you don't have the rental agreement figured into your contract you get to suck up the entire price of the rental.
Just my2 cents.
Amateur
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 29
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From:
RE: Warranty horror stories
I bought a 2006 Dakota 4x4 Extended cab that I put a Thule roof rack on. I complained about a waterspot on the passanger seat when I bought the truck pre roof rack and was told they left the window cracked and cleaned it up. I installed the mounting hardware before the fall rains and ended up with another water spot on the passenger seat. The seal was bad, I got fed the window story and the rain wasnt hard enough before I installed the rack to cause the leak. Dodge attempted to seal thedoor four times and then blamed the rack and told me it was my problem. I sealed the window...first try...and never went back. My parting quote was-I dont buy the extended warranty to hear what you cant fix. When I looked, the bead the dealer put down was very thin and not consistent around the door seal. Just a bad job by someone that thought they were wasting their time.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Everett, Wa
RE: Warranty horror stories
Not too much so far....just a drivers seat that's wears out every 6k miles and looks like it should be out of a 37 year old buick.
Not a warranty issue but theservice advisorhere in Amarillo, TX, tried to con me outta some cash,..bogus charge for balance of wheels, lost locking lug nut cover, and twice the price for oil and filter (twice the price of O'Reilly's....where the told me they were going to get the oil, and only charge me cost)
see below for further detail
Alright!!!! All is well my friends. Turns out the Service Advisor may not have known what he was talking about...but the Service Manager sure did!!!
They didn't own up to the missing locking lug nut cover...but they did ge me a new one
(free of charge)...that was nice.
Turns out that the $29.95 charge for rotate and balance was bogus....the mechanic had just happened in the office with the lug nut cover...whenI mentioned that I just came in for a rotate (no balance needed).... and he confirmed that their balance machine wasn't working properly.....so he just rotated the tires. (charge brought down to $17.95)
They still charged the $3 disposal fee, and the $10 labor fee (both usual) and he came down to the store price on the oil and filter.
Driver's seat keeps wearing out...I'm not (that) fat...(215-245), but the seat keeps wearing out about every 6kmiles, I put steps on the truck to keepby butt from grazing the seat when I get in (difficult after2 knee surgeries), but they built it up once...guess I'll see what theyplan on doing this time.
I'll keep an eye on those service guys from now on.
-Travis Rea
Amarillo, TX
Not a warranty issue but theservice advisorhere in Amarillo, TX, tried to con me outta some cash,..bogus charge for balance of wheels, lost locking lug nut cover, and twice the price for oil and filter (twice the price of O'Reilly's....where the told me they were going to get the oil, and only charge me cost)
see below for further detail
Alright!!!! All is well my friends. Turns out the Service Advisor may not have known what he was talking about...but the Service Manager sure did!!!
They didn't own up to the missing locking lug nut cover...but they did ge me a new one
(free of charge)...that was nice.
Turns out that the $29.95 charge for rotate and balance was bogus....the mechanic had just happened in the office with the lug nut cover...whenI mentioned that I just came in for a rotate (no balance needed).... and he confirmed that their balance machine wasn't working properly.....so he just rotated the tires. (charge brought down to $17.95)
They still charged the $3 disposal fee, and the $10 labor fee (both usual) and he came down to the store price on the oil and filter.
Driver's seat keeps wearing out...I'm not (that) fat...(215-245), but the seat keeps wearing out about every 6kmiles, I put steps on the truck to keepby butt from grazing the seat when I get in (difficult after2 knee surgeries), but they built it up once...guess I'll see what theyplan on doing this time.
I'll keep an eye on those service guys from now on.
-Travis Rea
Amarillo, TX
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 0
From: CA
RE: Warranty horror stories
I just bought the truck and anything above first gear sounds like it has serious valve/lifter noise(claking sound)...but it's not because out of gear the engine sounds great even when reved to higher rpms. I had two road tests and they keep saying it's normal exhaust noise...which is BS otherwise it would reproduce the sound out of gear.
I'm thinking it has something to do with the tranny because the sound doesn't start until after first gear and there's a grinding sound when shifting from park to reverse or drive. Since you work at the dealer have you ever heard of this problem?
I'm thinking it has something to do with the tranny because the sound doesn't start until after first gear and there's a grinding sound when shifting from park to reverse or drive. Since you work at the dealer have you ever heard of this problem?
Professional
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
RE: Warranty horror stories
Ive been to the dealer 3 times to try to get them to fix the torque converter. When my new 07 goes into full lock at low rpms, the truck makes a whining noise cruising between 35 and 45 mph and then at 50mph and 60mph.
The either pretend its not making noise or says its not an issue. None of the other trucksi tested make this noise.
The either pretend its not making noise or says its not an issue. None of the other trucksi tested make this noise.
Amateur
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 29
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From:
RE: Warranty horror stories
Here you go, I bought an 03 Hemi Ram from Altman Dodge in N. Charleston, SC and the dealership has since changed names and is now called N. Charleston Dodge. The truck was a repo and I basically paid very close to full price because it had very few miles on it. After having it a week, I started noticing that there was a lot of interior noise and was always told by the stealer that everything was normal. Shortly after the purchase, I transferred overseas and left the truck at my parent's house in VA. My Dad realized that things weren't right with the truck either and took it to his local dealer who fixed the cracked airbox, had to replaced warped front discs, the clutch drive on my fan and a rusty frame in the driver's seat. The dealer in SC would never admit to knowing anything about what happened to the truck. After being overseas for a few years, I came back and traded my truck on a new 07 Hemi Ram thinking that I just had gotten a bad apple. In trying to trade-in my 03 the new dealership asked if my truck had ever been wrecked and I told them it hadn't. They kept asking the question and I finally said that they basically seemed to know something I didn't. They told me that the truck had been involved in a front end collision. The funny thing was, I had a car fax report ran on the truck right before I bought it by my brother-in-law who works at a Toyota dealership. Nothing showed up on that report, but wouldn't you know that Altman Dodgewaited until many months after I purchased the vehicle to record that any work was performed on that vehicle at their shop due to the front end collision. I'd never buy another thing from Altman Dodge or N. Charleston Dodge (name changed, but I think it's still under the same management) ever again.
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Professional
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
RE: Warranty horror stories
ORIGINAL: RAM15004X4
Here you go, I bought an 03 Hemi Ram from Altman Dodge in N. Charleston, SC and the dealership has since changed names and is now called N. Charleston Dodge. The truck was a repo and I basically paid very close to full price because it had very few miles on it. After having it a week, I started noticing that there was a lot of interior noise and was always told by the stealer that everything was normal. Shortly after the purchase, I transferred overseas and left the truck at my parent's house in VA. My Dad realized that things weren't right with the truck either and took it to his local dealer who fixed the cracked airbox, had to replaced warped front discs, the clutch drive on my fan and a rusty frame in the driver's seat. The dealer in SC would never admit to knowing anything about what happened to the truck. After being overseas for a few years, I came back and traded my truck on a new 07 Hemi Ram thinking that I just had gotten a bad apple. In trying to trade-in my 03 the new dealership asked if my truck had ever been wrecked and I told them it hadn't. They kept asking the question and I finally said that they basically seemed to know something I didn't. They told me that the truck had been involved in a front end collision. The funny thing was, I had a car fax report ran on the truck right before I bought it by my brother-in-law who works at a Toyota dealership. Nothing showed up on that report, but wouldn't you know that Altman Dodgewaited until many months after I purchased the vehicle to record that any work was performed on that vehicle at their shop due to the front end collision. I'd never buy another thing from Altman Dodge or N. Charleston Dodge (name changed, but I think it's still under the same management) ever again.
Here you go, I bought an 03 Hemi Ram from Altman Dodge in N. Charleston, SC and the dealership has since changed names and is now called N. Charleston Dodge. The truck was a repo and I basically paid very close to full price because it had very few miles on it. After having it a week, I started noticing that there was a lot of interior noise and was always told by the stealer that everything was normal. Shortly after the purchase, I transferred overseas and left the truck at my parent's house in VA. My Dad realized that things weren't right with the truck either and took it to his local dealer who fixed the cracked airbox, had to replaced warped front discs, the clutch drive on my fan and a rusty frame in the driver's seat. The dealer in SC would never admit to knowing anything about what happened to the truck. After being overseas for a few years, I came back and traded my truck on a new 07 Hemi Ram thinking that I just had gotten a bad apple. In trying to trade-in my 03 the new dealership asked if my truck had ever been wrecked and I told them it hadn't. They kept asking the question and I finally said that they basically seemed to know something I didn't. They told me that the truck had been involved in a front end collision. The funny thing was, I had a car fax report ran on the truck right before I bought it by my brother-in-law who works at a Toyota dealership. Nothing showed up on that report, but wouldn't you know that Altman Dodgewaited until many months after I purchased the vehicle to record that any work was performed on that vehicle at their shop due to the front end collision. I'd never buy another thing from Altman Dodge or N. Charleston Dodge (name changed, but I think it's still under the same management) ever again.
RE: Warranty horror stories
I also work for a dodge dealer, I could sit down for hoursand tell youmany storys on the warranty problems. 1st on the list would be diag time under a Flat-Rate system, You could spend 1/2 hour on a sensor problem and repair a open wire and replace a sensor too. After the tech is done with the job and road test, the tech will be paid 0.6 tenths for maybe 1 1/2 hrs. and this problem applys to tranmission repairs too. If you like more information just send me a pm.
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,104
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From:
RE: Warranty horror stories
The place i bought my truck from has been great. but the local place..terrible.
I had a really squeaky front end, like overly loud. and my inner fenders where coverd in oil from the shocks. This is at 20k. I take it in. they keep it for the day and tell me they cant find anything wrong. I tell them thats bs, what about the shocks. Well, we washed it first so we didnt see anything. drive for a while and see if more oil comes out. Well, it didn't obviously so i take it back.
they keep it for two days. i get there. they have not touched it, a wrench has not touched that vehicle. I confront the service manager and he tells me they dont know what the squeak, that has now progressed into a clunk i can feel in my floorboard is. They can't get it do that. (maybe that is cause the trip od, is that same as when i brought it it) And they tell me. this is direct quote. Thye cant really tell that the shocks are bad, they need to be sure, cause if they switch them out, they have to send the bad ones to dodge, who will inspect them and see if they are bad, if they are not. dodge won't cover the warrenty repair. So i need to keep driving and see if the spit more oil. well, they dont have any left. so how is that possible?
I am so pissed by this time i take it to where i bought it. They keep it for approxamatly 15 minutes and come out. "well, both tie rods are loose, and one end is bad, so we are replaceing that, and your shocks are bad, so we are changign them out too. We gotta order parts. Bring it next week and we will fix it. give us a half day so we can get it alligned" wow. that was easy.
I had a really squeaky front end, like overly loud. and my inner fenders where coverd in oil from the shocks. This is at 20k. I take it in. they keep it for the day and tell me they cant find anything wrong. I tell them thats bs, what about the shocks. Well, we washed it first so we didnt see anything. drive for a while and see if more oil comes out. Well, it didn't obviously so i take it back.
they keep it for two days. i get there. they have not touched it, a wrench has not touched that vehicle. I confront the service manager and he tells me they dont know what the squeak, that has now progressed into a clunk i can feel in my floorboard is. They can't get it do that. (maybe that is cause the trip od, is that same as when i brought it it) And they tell me. this is direct quote. Thye cant really tell that the shocks are bad, they need to be sure, cause if they switch them out, they have to send the bad ones to dodge, who will inspect them and see if they are bad, if they are not. dodge won't cover the warrenty repair. So i need to keep driving and see if the spit more oil. well, they dont have any left. so how is that possible?
I am so pissed by this time i take it to where i bought it. They keep it for approxamatly 15 minutes and come out. "well, both tie rods are loose, and one end is bad, so we are replaceing that, and your shocks are bad, so we are changign them out too. We gotta order parts. Bring it next week and we will fix it. give us a half day so we can get it alligned" wow. that was easy.