I should ave known mentioning Toyota here would not fly

Fuel saver? who needs that? mds and people tryin to save me a couple mpg's is the worst part. I bought a big trick, not expecting high mpg.
and didn't you see the news today? toyota stuck access issue debunked for the most part.

 

Yeah, I seen the news today. It's all the drivers faults that the gas pedals are getting stuck. This was a brilliant find and since this only happened to Toyota vehicles I guess that only the people who drive Toyota's are the idiots! The government cleared Toyota of any electronic fault, because the government never makes back room deals with anyone..... Corn husker compromise and the Louisiana purchase

 

I knew that would get you fired up

 

I`ll put up with the ram`s MDS and droaning before i ever own another POS toyota.
I owned 3 new toyota 4x4 trucks, in 7yrs all that was left was the steering wheel.
All 3 rotted out severly, frames wouldnt pass NYS inspection due to rust holes.

My dodge truck will always be better on their worst day, than toyotas will ever be on their best day

 

So, Im not clear .... you don't like Toyota?

 

I think the Toy trucks look pretty good, similar to the ram if you ask me...especially the RCSB...and they're just as fast. I just couldn't turn my back on the "Buy American" concept...been that way all my life. Same goes for my city and state, I try to buy local to support my community!

 

That Buy American thing is what got me into this mess - but Im glad I at least tried.

 

Gun slinger,
Exactly what mess are you in right now? Maybe someone can help you. I realize that you recieved 2 payments for your truck from Dodge for your troubles. Is the MDS the main issue your having, and how bad is it? I think that all pickup trucks are nice and not trying too hard to slam toyota, but this is a Dodge forum afterall. Do you realize there are ways to turn off the MDS?

Also I can not say that there was a smoother riding truck than the Ram riding on those rear coil springs. If the tranny shifts are what you dont like why dont you invest half of that chrysler reimbursment on a good superchip computer. Check those threads out, there are alot of good reviews on that thread about it. Remember Ram is giving you a 100000 mile warranty and thats why the trannys are programed alittle soft unlike the others with the 60000 mile warranty

 

MDS main issue. In city/suburb driivng its pretty painful - droan/vibration/shutter. Now if you gun it all the time you dont feel it as much. But I/we dont drive that way (nor should I have to). When my wife first felt it she looked up from the book she was reading because she thought I had went over right road line and was on the wake up strips. Thats the kind of feeling it is (although not quite that bad). I know it can be turned off using tow haul but thats far from ideal and the dodge Master Engineers on that one Chat Night recommended not doing so long tem - bandaid only. And I know I can flash it out, but service manager recommended not doing it because sometimes the reprogram can leave a detectable ghost that dealer sees and can void warranty. And again, should I have to go thru this and spent my money to resolve?

Secondly, I have that well reported engine whine (time to turn up the stero) between 50-60 mph that comes from the differential. At first they were "Wow, thats not right" and they replaced the pinions (?) and interior of differential and re-shimmed it. Went away for about 3 weeks but then returned. Then they came back and said that whine is "as per design" and cant be fixed. And the reason it got better is that the new tight parts quieted it up as they loosen up the sound will retunr. Right at 50 mph the loud whine kicks in (can be stopped immediately by taking foot of gas) then right at about 50-60 mph it goes away (until of course you decel back into that speed range.


And that has kind of been the main point of my displeasure that:

1. These conditions were not present during the lots of test driving I did before purchasing the truck. I test drove it a lot and all was fine. NDS shutter started worsening at about 1500 miles and the differential whine at about 2500 miles. If the final "as per design" was true I should have had both conditions Day 1 (and I would not have purchased) AND most of the other trucks should all suffer the same issues by reason?
2. And that each time I went to service for these and took them on test drives they were like "Wow, thats not right" lets see what we can do to fix. Then after learnig it was unfixable MDS and the differential would just keep coming back they changed story to "Oh, those were all as per design" and part of owning this truck. And you can tell the service advisors HATE having to tell us this and disagree totally, off the record.
3. And I had an industry person from upper management (different manufacturer) tell me that the business reason they offerr the 100,000 mile waranties these days is they learned long ago that its cheaper in the long run to keep replacing parts that fail and/or labeling it "as per design" and customer lives with that, than doing buy backs and recalls. Its a business move to save them money, disquised as a testamant to great quality that will last 100,000 miles.

I do appreciate your kind words and willingness to help. But to me, its the sure principle of the thing. I was a thorn in their side because I think its important that everyone does not just take it and allow them (as one of thier own put it) to wear you down with denials, return visits to shop, run around. Thats all.

 

I and so many others on here, feel this guys pain. I gave up on it myself.
I sure hope that my next new truck will hopefully be better built than this one.
I hope its a dodge, but if its like this again, it wont be a dodge.

Dodge people, if you`re reading or listening....
we`ve been loyal to you, but you havent been as loyal to all of us.
Fix your engineering issues, or continue to loose very loyal customers.