7.5 mpg, all I can expect??
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/lemon_law/
I would think that a vehicle which gets approximately 50% of the advertised fuel economy would qualify as "substantial" defect. I would probably look for another dealer, if possible. If not, I'd probably start getting a little more agressive with them.
Hopefully there are similar laws to protect consumers in Canada.
I would think that a vehicle which gets approximately 50% of the advertised fuel economy would qualify as "substantial" defect. I would probably look for another dealer, if possible. If not, I'd probably start getting a little more agressive with them.
3. State-Specific Lemon Laws
Most state lemon laws specify that a manufacturer must provide a refund or replacement for a defective new vehicle when a substantial defect cannot be fixed in four attempts, a safety defect within two attempts or if the vehicle is out of service for 30 days within the first 12,000 to 18,000 miles or 12 to 24 months.
Success in using state lemon laws depends upon three things: keeping good records, providing the right notice, and using arbitration programs where required. As with all cases involving two or more parties, it is important to document the transaction. When it comes to dealing with auto manufacturers and dealers, it's even more important. The car business is the big leagues -- you're dealing with professionals who will do just about whatever it takes to win.
Most state lemon laws specify that a manufacturer must provide a refund or replacement for a defective new vehicle when a substantial defect cannot be fixed in four attempts, a safety defect within two attempts or if the vehicle is out of service for 30 days within the first 12,000 to 18,000 miles or 12 to 24 months.
Success in using state lemon laws depends upon three things: keeping good records, providing the right notice, and using arbitration programs where required. As with all cases involving two or more parties, it is important to document the transaction. When it comes to dealing with auto manufacturers and dealers, it's even more important. The car business is the big leagues -- you're dealing with professionals who will do just about whatever it takes to win.
Last edited by Attono; Dec 21, 2010 at 09:32 AM.
Professional
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
I'm in Canada too, New Brunswick. It's cold, I have my smaller 265/70/17 studded winters on(speedo recal), and am still getting 15mpg(imp). Which I think is respectable for city(no highway) driving. At 7.5 mpg there is something wrong!
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Ila Georgia
The compliant dept is the service dept,Yes it needs to be documented, You can tell Chrysler all day they are going to pay the bill but that probably won't ever happen if a outside shop does non emergency work when dealers are open.Park it out front with a banner and THAT store will never let you in it again.Might just get black listed from all within 100 miles.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 5
From: San Pedro, California
Not always, O2 sensors can degrade and still be within the bounds of what the computer settings are for expected values. I've had issues with my '02 vette where the dealer kept telling me the car was fine and it ran poorly but did not throw codes. As I said earlier, a tuner on a dyno will tell you if it's running rich.
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Ila Georgia
02 sensors can be slow to change.Usually high mileage vehicles.Usually fuel mpg is not a issue.Otherwise they set a code.You can watch them change with a scanner.You,service manager and tech run the scanner and look.Then you need to do a fuel mileage test with the service manager and you riding together.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Canada
AS mentioned you need to get in with Dodge on this. Ask for the complaint department and ask to speak to the Warranty service guy, or whatever he is called. Document everything. If nothing happens with that tell them you are going to bring it to a Dyno shop that can tune the truck and document everything they did. Dyno work isn't that expensive in the long run.
Tell Dodge if they get it fixed, and Dodge couldn't, that Dodge is gonna pay the bill. One way or the other. I'd also park out front of the Dealer with the Biggest banner you can make saying you got a Lemon there.
Tell Dodge if they get it fixed, and Dodge couldn't, that Dodge is gonna pay the bill. One way or the other. I'd also park out front of the Dealer with the Biggest banner you can make saying you got a Lemon there.
The only thing I can do is put the factory size tire back on to prove to them that it isn't a tire issue. I could see if I had substantially larger tires, then that could definitely affect fuel economy.
I wish there was another way to prove that the tires are not the issue as I don't have the factory rubber anymore & I don't want to buy tires just to prove my case.
Guess I am kinda screwed!
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City, MD
Are they running ethanol up there? What %. I was averaging 14-15 around town. As soon as it got cold the mileage immediately dropped partially due to the denser mixture with cold air and partly due to the ethanol. Im getting 11.9-12.0 without driving like an old lady. If I dog it right now I could see it dropping to 10 or less. Try another gas..
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Ila Georgia
Service manager and you need to do a fuel mileage test to prove your point and then go from there.They 'dealer" can do a quick tire wheel swap with another truck for a second test drive/fuel mileage test.Less then two hours time involved and you can prove your point or ? I have been involved in this issue several times over the years and needed a base line then go from there.
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
i work at a dealership as a tech and i can tell you we get more newer cars and trucks in with the owner complaining about poor gas mileage than any other single issue. we've even gone so far as to give loaners out and drive a tank of gas though theirs for a few days and we always get within 2 or 3 mpg of what the vehicle is rated for. they get pissed and take it back and nine times out of ten they call back bitching within a week that they are getting crap mileage. i have no idea what these people are doing but it aint the vehicle.
now we get some older ones in with a bunch of crap wrong that get bad mileage but never the newer ones. to get 7 mpg you'd be throwing not a code but multiple codes.
if you are honestly getting 7 mpg and not just warming that truck up forever in the morning and not throwing codes it would be the first time i've ever seen it.
now we get some older ones in with a bunch of crap wrong that get bad mileage but never the newer ones. to get 7 mpg you'd be throwing not a code but multiple codes.
if you are honestly getting 7 mpg and not just warming that truck up forever in the morning and not throwing codes it would be the first time i've ever seen it.