'14 2500 rant. Am I too picky?

Purchased my '14 Ram 2500 back in December. It's a Big Horn, 6.4L, Black Appearance, most of the bells/whistles. I am very easy on my vehicles, and never abuse them. This truck is no different. Anyway, I love the truck but, IMO, it has had more than it's share of problems. I'm now at 7500 miles and here's the list:

- Leaking 3rd brake light. Dealer glued lens on...nice fix...
- Fan Clutch Dead on delivery. 2 weeks later, dealer replaced.
- Assist message popping up on screen (8.4a). Dealer could not duplicate, happens 2-3 times daily.
- Rattle in left front chassis. Front inner fenders were never mounted to bumper, dealer mounted.
- Tire pressure system. Since day 1 has had problems. Rarely reads left rear, always displays "service tire pressure system" on EVIC, flashes TPMS light, dings and tells me to inflate front to 65 psi, but reads they are both at 72-75. 4 trips to dealer, replaced module twice, no fix. Dealer states their TPMS sensor reader is out being fixed. No ETA.
- Loud creaking noise in rear chassis. Dealer shot some silicone into sway bar bushing. Did nothing, problem still exists.
- Right side brake squeal at every stop. Dealer said is normal from dust. BS.
- No start issue. Several times now I have inserted key, turned, and nothing. Dealer unable to duplicate.

So, am I being picky when I start to have some buyers remorse?

There was another guy with many of the same complaints you have. He retained a lawyer and ended up getting a new truck.

Sounds like you've had some bad luck with your rig

Try recording your trucks when it has those issues the dealer can't seem to replicate then take it to them, see what they say

When they charge the kind of money these things cost, they damn sure better work as promised. They cram so much electronic gee-whizz crap into these things it's scary. Make 'em fix it, or make 'em buy it back. That's crap.

On Edit:
Reading your problems really took the wind out of my sails, as I am inching closer to getting one, but I have owned so damn many lemons from several manufacturers, I dread going through that again. It took me a year of hell and hassle to stick the last lemon up GM's ass. I don't have the inclination to put up with that.

You are 100% correct in feeling buyers remorse.
I have a laundry list of little things that drive me nuts.

I'm slowly addressing them as I can.

Much like your 3rd brake light issue, I don't trust the dealership to fix a damned thing PROPERLY.

I intentionally got the Tradesman to have as few gizmos as possible, and it's still troublesome.

I believe new vehicles "qualify" as the "Lemon-law" vehicle if theres more than 3 trips to the dealership in 18 months (or something like that). It seems youve done that.

UneasyJmitchell said:

I believe new vehicles "qualify" as the "Lemon-law" vehicle if theres more than 3 trips to the dealership in 18 months (or something like that). It seems youve done that.

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I think it's 3 trips for the same issue, but there are even exceptions to that.

I really want a 2500 Diesel, but I don't need one.

nukeman, I'd be frustrated as well... a lot of money for that kind of trouble.

I'd be starting to look for options - either from the dealership or Chrysler directly.

In a nutshell, I'd consider this "unacceptable".

Maybe try another dealer for fixes? Sorry you're having trouble, bud.

Make sure you document everything 100%, log your phone calls and what was discussed/asked/promised. Have a heart to heart with the service manager, and ask for an appointment to meet the district service representative. Be courteous, but unrelenting, and make it clear you are not going away.

tjfdesmo said:

Make sure you document everything 100%, log your phone calls and what was discussed/asked/promised. Have a heart to heart with the service manager, and ask for an appointment to meet the district service representative. Be courteous, but unrelenting, and make it clear you are not going away.

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^^^This^^^

That many unresolved issues with a new vehicle is not accepatable!

I've had no issues now at two months and 3,800 miles with my 2014 1500 Hemi, hoping it stays that way...

Agreed. They are supposed to call when the TPMS "sensor tool" is fixed and returned to them. I have gathered all of my work orders from the dealer, and am stopping by tonight to exercise the GM's "open door policy". I've had enough and intend on handing him the keys. Calmly, and respectfully of course.

Also interested in any input on another problem.
Since new, I've noticed my front tires have a positive camber which is visibly noticeable. As a result, my front tires have worn significantly on the outside edge vs. the inside. When measured, the outside is roughly 2/32 less than the inside, which doesn't appear to even be worn at all. I have taken it in for this twice. Both times I was given an alignment spec sheet saying it was within spec. Just curious if any of you have noticed any abnormal front tire wear, or if the front end visually has a positive camber appearance.

Omfg lemon brother. Abort abort


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nukeman said:

Agreed. They are supposed to call when the TPMS "sensor tool" is fixed and returned to them. I have gathered all of my work orders from the dealer, and am stopping by tonight to exercise the GM's "open door policy". I've had enough and intend on handing him the keys. Calmly, and respectfully of course.

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Be sure the service manager sits in on that meeting, also. That way they can't play good cop/bad cop and run you in circles. Everybody on the same page.

nukeman said:

Also interested in any input on another problem.
Since new, I've noticed my front tires have a positive camber which is visibly noticeable. As a result, my front tires have worn significantly on the outside edge vs. the inside. When measured, the outside is roughly 2/32 less than the inside, which doesn't appear to even be worn at all. I have taken it in for this twice. Both times I was given an alignment spec sheet saying it was within spec. Just curious if any of you have noticed any abnormal front tire wear, or if the front end visually has a positive camber appearance.

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Take your truck to an independent shop that specialises in alignment. Get them to verify the alignment to see if it is indeed within specs. If it is they could give you professional advise as to what you can do to correct the tire wear. When the OEM is not adjustable or not enough there will be aftermarket kits. I realise its a new truck but if its solid front axle chances are the camber kits from previous years will fit

The other thing to take into account is driving style, if you are always alone and pushing it through the curves theres gonna be some wear on the outside edge, espcially wih those (assuming) OE rubbers (firestone transforce?), they wear pretty fast, but decent for OE.
Is the wear just on the very outside edge or does it go progressively into the tire?
When was your last tire rotation?

hemihustlin said:

Take your truck to an independent shop that specialises in alignment. Get them to verify the alignment to see if it is indeed within specs.

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That's great advice. Those shops are getting hard to find, though. When I lived back east, my wife had a car that pulled pretty bad. It had been to a dealer, a tire store with a four-wheel-computerized-laser guided-thermonuclear-super duper-gee-whiz alignment machine, and all it did was lighten my wallet. I then went to an old time alignment shop, that I had forgotten about, and he fixed it in no time flat. All that in a tiny shop with old fashioned turntables and equipment old enough to vote. All the equipment in the world is of no use if the tech doesn't truly understand fundamental alignment.

Couple of pics. Bad vantage point and lighting. Pic of tire is one on pass side rear. Was rotated from front pass side at 5k miles. Sorry for the sideways pics!

If you are talking about that wear on the extreme edge of the tread id say thats normal and exactly what i thought. But go ahead and get your alignment verified and keep up with the rotations. Good habits die hard!

I hate these Firestone transforce tires. They suck bad. I have just over 10,000 miles on mine and the front is worn down to about ¼ tread left and the rear is down to the tread wear indicators. These are the worst tires I have ever had. Hell, I got better milage out of a set of mudders.

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