I bought a 2007 Dodge Ram SLT 4X4 3500 Megacab in Jan of 07. Brand new, 60 months/100,000 mile diesel engine warranty. At 55,000 miles, the turbo failed while I was in Flagstaff AZ. The dealership there replaced it under warranty.

At 77,000, the same problem happened when I was in Pampa, TX. I took it to a dealership there, and they refused to repair, claiming lack of maintenance. In addition to replacing the turbo, they are claiming I need a new engine at a cost of 11,000.00.

Am I being hoodwinked? I changed the oil, filter and lubed per the recommendations. Anyone else run into this problem?

 

Nope, not here... welcome to DF.

show them your documentation for keeping up the motor and they will have to fix it. the only maint on these motors is the fuel filter & oil changes, then long term a valve adjustment at around 150k miles or so (did mine at 45k and was pleased with the results).

Parts/Service (DF member) will chim in soon and will help if he can... He works for a dealership IIRC and has helped several DF members in the past.

 

Did it suck the air filter into the turbo?

 

No, at least as far as I know it didnt. The service center claims there is dirt past the air filter into the intake. The also claim 'the turbo fins are shiny'. They claim to have photos backing this up, but have not provided them as of yet. Before they decided not to repair under the warranty, the service center was telling me the engine should have been replaced when the turbo went out at 55,000 miles in Flagstaff. Now they are claiming lack of maintenance.

 

Afer the first turbo how did it run? Was it strong and effecient as before? Someone here had a similar issue and they found the air filter had been sucked up into the intake. He was denied the new engine as well because his air filter was dirty. Have you replaced the air filter recently? What kind of shape was it in?Stock filter or aftermarket?

 

It never ran as strong as it did before it broke down the first time. The air filter that I most recently replaced was manufactured by FRAM. When the vehicle broke down in Texas, the dealership is claiming the air filter was dirty.

 

I hate to say it, but a dealer can refuse to file a warranty claim on a repair. There is a customer hotline that you can call and voice your opinion. PLEASE read the warranty manual that came with your truck, it has useful info that can help you. If you do not have the warranty manual, it can be downloaded from www.dodge.com . Look at the top right of the page for the tab that says "for owners" and click. In the middle of the next page is a tab for warranty, click and it will take you to another page that ask year and model, then opens a manual for your vehicle.
The following is from the manual....

OWNER'S WARRANTY RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the truck owner, you are responsible for the performance

of the

owner's manual.

retain all receipts covering maintenance on your truck,

but DaimlerChrysler cannot deny warranty solely for the

lack of receipts or for your failure to substantiate the

performance of all scheduled maintenance.

You are responsible for presenting your truck to a

Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep dealer as soon as a problem

exists. The warranty repairs should be completed in a

reasonable amount of time, not to exceed

30 days.

As the truck owner, you should also be aware that

DaimlerChrysler may deny you warranty coverage if your

truck or a part has failed due to abuse, neglect, improper

maintenance or unapproved modifications.

If you have any questions regarding your warranty

rights, and responsibilities, you should contact the

DaimlerChrysler National Customer Relations at

(800) 992-1997 or the California Air Resources Board at

9480 Telstar Avenue, Suite 4, El Monte, CA 91731.

7. How to Deal with Warranty

Problems

7.1 Steps to Take

A. In General

Normally, warranty problems can be resolved by

your dealer’s sales or service departments. That’s

why you should always talk to your dealer’s

service manager or sales manager first. But if

you’re not satisfied with your dealer’s response to

your problem, DaimlerChrysler Motors Company

LLC ("DaimlerChrysler") recommends that you do

the following:

HOW TO DEAL WITH WARRANTY PROBLEMS

Step 1:

Discuss your problem with the owner or

general manager of the dealership.

Step 2:

If your dealership still can’t resolve the

problem, contact the DaimlerChrysler Customer

Assistance Center. You’ll find the address in section

7.2.

B. What DaimlerChrysler Will Do

Once you have followed the two steps described in

7.1(A), a DaimlerChrysler representative at

DaimlerChrysler headquarters will review your situation.

If it’s something that DaimlerChrysler can help

you with, DaimlerChrysler will provide your dealer with

all the information and assistance necessary to resolve

the problem. Even if DaimlerChrysler can’t help you,

DaimlerChrysler will acknowledge your contact and

explain DaimlerChrysler's position.

7.2 Helpful Addresses and Telephone

Numbers

Here are the addresses and telephone numbers of the

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center that can

help you wherever you happen to be. Contact the one

that covers your area:

• In the United States:

DaimlerChrysler

Customer Assistance Center

P.O. Box 21-8004

Auburn Hills, Michigan 48321-8004

Phone: (800) 992-1997

To contact DaimlerChrysler by email,

simply access the following website:

www.dodge.com (click on the "Contact Us" button

 

I'm beyond the dealership and have already been in contact with headquarters. They are listening to what the dealership says. I guess I'm pretty much scr***d. I sent in my receipts showing maintenance was kept up, and they are ignoring that information.

 

IMO, if you did everything your supposed to do and have documentation to back it up, file a lawsuit...

what is the current failure??? they claim you need a motor, why?

 

Per the work order, I will need a turbo and engine. I took it in because the turbo went out again. At that time, they told me the engine needed to be replaced as well. I'm pondering a lawsuit. Problem is trying to decide whether 10,000 in legal fees (assuming the case goes to trial or arbitration) with no guarantee of victory is worth the risk. I figured if I could find more 3500 owners who have had similar problems, my chances would be better trying to convince someone that this a a defect problem, not a lack of maintenance problem.