Did you guys ever drive the trucks before you bought them? Or has the MDS/TC shudder become worse over time?

 

its stayed the same. i didnt really notice it when i test drove it. But i didnt spend much time driving in 40 mph zones either.

 

Ive already started the Buy Back process. Having been thru this before years ago (and won - and ironically against Dodge) I'm prepared for the intense resistance I will face. After all, like health insurance reps, their job is to do everything they can NOT to let it get to that point.

So here is where I am and how the process usually goes:

1. I contacted Chrysler service to open a case, reporting the issues. At this point they are friendly, nice and apologetic.
2. I have already been to dealer and serve rep agreed it not right and there was nothing they could do.
3. Initial Chrysler rep escalated case to Resolution Team.
4. Resolution rep calls to collect same info and history again. This time friendly tone changed to more business-like and ever so slightly resistant. Naturally they have lots of steps on a checklist to go over and they aren't going to take my word or service reps word. And I don't blame them for that. First they need to collaborate with service manager.
5. Since all my dealings were with service rep I schedule ride with Service Manager who is in difficult position of keeping customer happy - but he woks for Chrysler. He feels the vibrations and is pretty sure its the MDS "drone". I can tell he is being politically correct, off the record insinuating that its horrible design and just not right, BUT verbally explaining it technically as if to insinuate as per design. He is in a tough place.
6. He tells me he will now have to go thru a bunch of pre-defined steps in the process. He has to investigate the issue, contact Dodge Master 5-star techs and go thru his assigned steps in the resolution process.
7. He does so and calls me back reporting its a "known issue" and they do not have a fix for yet (see official statement I posted).
8. He then calls the Resolution Rep back and reports his findings. I haven't heard back from Chrysler rep yet.

Having gone thru this before I know what to expect - resistance and stall tactics. Remember, their job will be to NOT let this become a buy back. They will use language to spin this as an as per design issue. They will also cling desperately to the "State Lemon Law" specs that say needs to be in 3 times for same issue. I will remind them my dealer doesn't not want it back in anymore to meet that requirement. But, if they want me to waste peoples time and take it in for no reason I will. This dance is much like the initial Sales dance when buying the truck.

My approach point will be as follows:

1. Dodge master tech brought in by the Resolution Team states that "It is a known PROBLEM for which they do not have a solution for." And I'm not interested in waiting for a solution in the form of a reprogram. I don't think ANY vibration in ANY engine is good, esp. over the 1000 miles Ive had it like this and the unknown time it will remain like this IF they get a solution. And I don't view a reprogram as a solution.
2. The problem is getting worse - now creeping into highway speeds.
3. This is just the final straw in a series of problems I have had with the truck beginning at 200 miles including check engine lights, evap controller, complete differential replacement, dash rattle, and now MDS drone.
4. We actually try not to drive the vehicle because we hate the vibrations and don't believe it can be good for the engine. Service manager had a good analogy of the vibration. He said its like driving a manual tranny in 3rd gear when it should be in second. NOT something you would recommend or that is good for an engine. My wife says it feels like driving over the Wake Up Strips on the highway.
5. I have legal counsel and we are collecting a list of users with same issue in hopes of making a legal precedent. They could just buy it back and lose nothing - they will resell the vehicle. They have nothing to lose doing the right thing.
6. And what happened to that well advertised "60 Day Handshake" deal on TV. Ive only had it a bit over 60 days, but within 60 since problem began.

Anyway, I will report back next week when they call back. I'm expecting organized and well orchestrated resistance but I am digging into my trenches.

Give me covering fire ... I'm going in!

 

Yes, I test drove it a lot. Never felt it and drove it over course of several days, city and highway. didnt start until about 2000 miles.

 

Take yours to the dealership for service and leave it there for them to work on indefinitely. Rent something to drive if they don't offer a loaner and keep receipts when they want to do something for closure. It was frustrating for me on the first lemon/buyback I had, learned a lot. The second one was just a process to me, unwanted but necessary since not every car/truck out there is perfect. In any case though you need to give the dealership every opportunity to work on or try to fix it. Also, if its there for weeks(or months in my last 2001 car case) it just adds documentation and helps to justify to whatever your State's definition of a Lemon is.

Good luck.

 

there was a flash for smoothing mds stuff but you need to give them the number. its something like 18 019 19 or something? buy back is if the car doesnt work, right? not so much just cuz your not satisfied with how it works. i think you can have them disable mds(4 cyl eco gas saver mode)if you like the mds about the truck and dont want to lose the feature, you should deal with the fact that an engine switching from 4 to 8 cylinders as a torque increase happens is gonna do more than a engine that doesnt double or half its displacement in a second. was there a guarantee that this truck would be as quiet and smooth as a truck that doesnt shift displacement or they will buy it back? mine runs smooth but it bucks a thump when it shifts 4 to 8 at a torque or gear shift but no vibration. its smoother than my co-workers chevy duramax 2500 and gmc 2500 5.7 or whatever. look for that flash.

 

subscribed.

 

>>>>buy back is if the car doesnt work, right?
Yes and no. Most lemon buy back the car still runs. When I went thru this in 2002 on the Dodge it was because of the engine knock they couldnt cure.

>>>>...was there a guarantee that this truck would be as quiet and smooth as a truck that doesnt shift displacement or they will buy it back
Note that it was not nearly this rough or bad the first 2000 miles. One of the issues is its getting worse. If "as per design" it would be consistent from day 1 to some extent. Was smooth as glass initially - well, except for the differential whine that needed replaced. ;^)

 

Do the 2011's have the same problem? I'm guessing you have a 2010.

 

Yes, mine is 2010. I would gues it has the potential to have the same problem because it still has MDS and TCC and they havent found a fix for it.