Long read, stick with me...I posted awhile back about taking my truck in due to several paint defects, see HERE. Well, it's on its way back to the body shop for the third time now The first time I went to pick it up I saw the truck sitting in the lot so I decided to take a look at it before going into the dealer. Right away I noticed a ridiculous amount of tire shine dripping down every wheel and slung all over the side of the truck. Not a good start.

I started at the passenger side and the one bad spot in the clear on that side appeared to be fixed. I then looked at the tailgate and that looked okay too. Now onto the driver's side. The major spot under the driver's door still looked horrible. I really think they just wet sanded it and called it good. All the imperfections were still visible I went on to look at the bubbles in the clear on the driver's door and they were all still visible. The runs in the clear on the front fender and driver's door were not as apparent, but there were now small indentations in the paint in those areas. They look like someone took a needle to the paint and poked right through to the primer.

At this point I hadn't looked at the interior yet so I went in to have the service rep come out and take a look at all the "repaired" areas and open up the truck for me (I didn't have my spare key with me). She opened the door and, sure enough, all the imperfections in the door jamb area were still visible. Not only that, but they removed my tire pressure sticker and didn't replace it. The rep agreed that the repair was unacceptable and started to mark the areas with tape.

Now for the interior. The body shop took absolutely no measures to keep any of the dust and debris from going right into the truck. Every door panel looked like it had been covered with dust from sanding and then just wiped down with a wet rag. The dash, steering wheel, and especially the headlight switch area were the same. I told her I was really disappointed that they got the interior that dirty and she said they would definitely get it cleaned up.

I was called back today, one day after my initial trip to get the truck, and told that it was ready to go. I get to the dealer and immediately notice that the same area under the driver's side door is still not fixed. It looks like they just sanded it some more. The bubbles in the clear below the window appear to be fixed, but the black divots on the front fender and door remain. The imperfections in the door jamb remain and the damn sticker is still missing

Now for the interior......again. The body shop decided that apparently shampooing the carpet and seats would clean the door panels and dash Now the truck smells like it just rolled out of the worst used car lot you've ever seen (the shampoo they used really does smell bad). The dust and debris are still all over the place. It looks like someone threw sand at the instrument cluster then wiped it off to the sides.

The service rep once again agreed that the repair was unacceptable. I expressed my concerns about the interior and she said "well, they can't keep everything out of there." I mentioned it doesn't even look like a new truck anymore and she didn't really say anything after that.

So now my truck is going back to the body shop again What are my options here? The interior is so bad I don't see how they'll get it like new again. I haven't even owned the truck for two months and it has less than 3,000 miles on it. The thing was perfect, interior wise, when I brought it in. I'm wondering if it's time to start asking for a replacement truck. I'm so frustrated over this. If I wanted a used truck I would've bought one. Now I feel like that's what I'm getting. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

ask that it be detailed by a profesional that is the only way to bring it back to new condition

 

a third party detailer at their expense

 

Talk to the GM. I would also call/write to customer service. The 3d party detail is an excellent idea.

 

Been through this with a body shop before. They have proved to you that they are incapable of doing it right, worse yet they don't care. They are hoping to wear you down until you just accept it. Two can play at this game, you can wear them down as well. DO NOT sign for a dime of the bill until it is ALL done to your satisfaction. Never sign off for "follow up" work to be completed later because it won't happen once they have the $$. The suggestion to have it sent to a professional detailer is right on the mark. Good luck my friend.

 

Chrysler will not pay to have under doors painted, as long as it has ecoat on it. They won't paint between box, under hood, and for sure they always try to buff and sand out whatever they can because even they know the factory paint lasts longer, it is baked at high heat. I hope they fix you up. That dirty interior after the body shop is a pet peeve of mine. I put a brand new interior in my 72 chev, jambs were painted as well as inside, and all glass was in no reason to open door except the tape jambs. Well it looked like they left both doors and the rear window open the whole time they worked on it. Was not included in the price the clean up, neither was any major buffing that might be needed. Big mistake they made that is all I will say about that.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone I went to the dealer and spoke with the GM today after a not so pleasant phone call to the service director. To back track a little, I went to the dealer on Saturday to take some pictures of my truck just in case I needed proof of the damage done by the body shop. I found a huge scratch above the gauges on the black bezel and a rattle in the driver's door every time I shut it that wasn't there before.

The GM couldn't believe everything that happened and apologized for the way the service director handled the situation. My truck is now on its way to a different body shop and I have in writing that they will replace the bezel above the gauges, fix the rattle in the door, and pay to have the truck detailed at a shop of my choice. At least things are looking up. I can't wait to get my truck back and get rid of this minivan rental

 

Sounds like you are on the right track. Body shop dust is the worst crap out there, so fine it gets everywhere. I hate that stuff....


Make sure, between picking it up and hitting the detail shop that you run the a/c and heater through ALL the vents. Otherwise, a perfect detail job will go straight to hell when you turn on the fan and get a blast of dust everywhere!