Another day at the dealer... another day of my time wasted

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Bdersch

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I had a mishap with my truck. It just died while on my way to a job site. Ended up being towed to the dealer. It's under warranty. They had it for 8 days. They found a blown fuse. Said my oil was in dire need of a change(50) My recon third brake light bulb was out(70). Needed a software update(120) then they ran another test and said my battery was bad(260). They said it was good to go. Drove away. It died again probably not even 5 miles away. Called my service advisor. Told him it was dead. He said you're ******** me. I said nope. Called tow truck. They had the truck fixed by 10 am the next day. They found a bad wire which would have only cost me my 100 dollar deductible. Instead they charged me 500 something dollars in other service work that did nothing for me. He then said don't worry about your deductible or the tow bill. I picked that up. It was all I could do not to flip the counter over. They sent me the survey. I debated wether or not to even fill it out. I scored the service department the lowest I could. Wrote in the comments what had happened. Haven't heard from anyone. Don't really suspect I will either. I may not buy another truck from them. Definitely won't be buying any aftermarket warranties. Oh. I had a broken exhaust manifold bolt. The tick went away. They "fixed" it. Now it leaks all the time.

Yikes man that sounds worse than what I've got going on here! I would not have paid that money. I'd be like deductible is $100 that's all I'm paying. Hope they try to make it right. Have you talked to Ram Care on here? They helped me a ton when my other dealer was trying to hide the vibration I had and we're treating me very rudely
 
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Bdersch

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I have been following your battery issue and I'm sorry to hear your dealership isn't treating you right. I don't live anywhere near you so take this as you may. My local Dodge, Jeep, Ram, SRT dealership (Tacoma Dodge) has great service and they have never to date dicked me around like yours has. I have purchased 4 vehicles in the last 2 years and each one (2 used 2 new) has been in for some service or another. One issue was a water leak from a seam that didn't get sealed correctly from the factory... they almost had to pull the engine And most of the dash to get it sealed correctly. They did and had the Jeep back in 3 days, all the while my wife had a Cherokee to drive. Her loaner was a big step up over the Patriot that was in for service. All no charge.

Now I have purchased other vehicles from Chrysler and not had the service I have at Tacoma Dodge. Back in 04 I had purchased a brand new Dakota SLT plus from Virginia Beach Dodge. Loved that truck, but when it came home the only way to cancel the cruise control was to either turn it off or slow the truck down 10-15mph with the brakes. I brought it to them and they respond this is normal. I insist that it's not normal and get told the tech who is a professional mechanic unlike myself (who the service writer doesn't realize was a professional mechanic before enlisting in the Navy) knows what he is talking about and I don't. I just smile and say I will remember this. I walk over to the sales dept and ask to verify the tech's findings by driving a similar truck on their lot. I get the keys to an almost identical truck and the cruise cancels with the tap of the brake pedal.
Back to service I get told that the 2 trucks were not identical so my argument is mute. At this point I ask for the manager... this guy tells me he is the manager... well your boss then... he won't get me anyone... back to the main office area I go and demand the phone number to the owner... to my luck the man is there at the time. I talk to him for a few and tell him my issues. Thankfully this guy listens to me and we walk to service again... we get the service manager (not the first guy) and we once again are told the tech knows his stuff, and the manager is going to stand behind his tech and service writer. Now mind you the owner of the dealer is right there listening to these 2 call a customer an idiot and that I didn't know what I was talking about. The owner then turns to me and asks me what my automotive experience is (he already knows). My reply is 3 years as an auto body tech, and another 10 years working at various dealerships and as an independent mechanic... would you say your truck is fixed... no it's not fixed and it is dangerous to drive... at this point the manager and writer are uncomfortable. He then asks me what I think is the problem. Well either the brake pedal switch is bad and not sending the signal to the pcm to drop cruise or the pcm is ignoring the command until the speed is reduced and it's forced to shut cruise down... how would you fix it... check the pcm pin out for the brake pedal switch input and see if it gets the proper signal, if so flash or replace pcm, if not test and or replace switch, if the switch is good ring the wire for continuity. The owner told them to get busy and get my truck fixed. He gave me another Dakota to drive while they fixed my truck (this dealer didn't have a loaner program but used Enterprise and only econoboxes as loaners). The next day I got my truck back, fixed (pedal switch) with a full tank and a detail.

Oh and I didn't leave good marks on the survey... next time I went for an oil change my service writer was someone different... I wonder why.

The last time I went in for service they rotated the tires on my Durango and forgot to tighten one wheel... I broke 4 of 6 lugs off and limped the truck back... this was a day before I was to take the truck on a cross country trip from Virginia Beach to Tacoma. Needless to say I have never been back there again.

Sorry it is so long.

Wow. It's nice and also sad to see that these dealerships are treating everyone this way. I probably should have stopped and asked for a manage for the vehicle but at the time I was in a hurry. I may call back and ask to speak with one or wait for the survey.

That's super scary about the lugs breaking off like that. If you got hurt you could have sued them probably. Did they fix all that for free?
 

RamCares

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So I took my truck to Champion Chrysler in Zionsville Indiana. I have a list of 5 things I needed to have looked at on my truck and dropped it off at 8am. Worked with Ron. When I went to pick my truck up it took them 15 minutes to even find the keys to my truck. The stupid tech who brought me to my truck got out with my truck still in drive! And had to jump back in to stop it. I will never ever go back here again.

1. Since I've owned my truck the tire winch has not worked properly. When you attach the extension tool to raise or lower the winch it "slips" and won't go up pass a certain point. It's essentially like the little "nut" that the tool slides over to raise and lower is stripped out.
Dealer comments- winch works fine for us to go up and down (with no weight on it). I told them well I've tried with my tire and it doesn't work (explained the above). He said well that's not a stock tire so it won't fit... (it's a 33" tire). I explained it fits fine but it's the weight which is similar to stock that's the issue. Said sorry we can't do anything cause tires over size.

2. My power locks on the door itself don't function correctly. I have to push together lock 3-4 tires in order for any door to lock.
Dealer- there is no codes and we can't find the problem.

3. Dropped it off said there is a loud squeak when I slow down/ stop. Could be brakes or struts maybe.
Dealer- we don't hear anything and everything looks good brake wise.
I literally heard the squeak at the first stop light I came to. Such BS!! Dealer didn't even offer at drop off or pickup to go for a ride with me.

4. my battery died on Friday. They told me that it on the phone that morning that I have to bring it in for a 5 hours test but they can't get me im till Tuesday which obviously doesn't help me when my main vehicle is dead. So I bought a new one and brought the battery in.
Dealer- well you removed the battery so there really isn't anything we can do for you. We can't test it now cause you already bought a new one. Like WTF! sorry I had to get home from autozone and you people were useless prior. That literally is them making an excuse so they don't have to test my battery and give me a new one.

5. When I talk on my Bluetooth especially on the highway it sounds like I'm in a wind tunnel. (This is the only thing they even say they fixed).
Dealer- we reprogrammed your computer with an update for your phone and it should be fixed now.
I haven't had time to test this yet. I will soon though.

I am so fed up and annoyed right now. They had my truck for almost 8 hours and the most they actually did was reprogram the computer? Talk about useless. I am attaching their "report" they gave me. At this point I'm so done with Ram service department that I could sell my truck tomorrow. All they do is say we can't find it and place the blame on you. This is just like when I had my other issues and it took like 3 times to finally get them to admit there was an issue and fix it.

Hi Bdersch,

I'm sorry to hear about your dealership experience, if you could PM our page with your VIN I'd like to document your concerns in a case for further internal review. Please don't hesitate to reach out in the future for additional assistance regarding concerns with your vehicle!

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

Boat freak

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I had a mishap with my truck. It just died while on my way to a job site. Ended up being towed to the dealer. It's under warranty. They had it for 8 days. They found a blown fuse. Said my oil was in dire need of a change(50) My recon third brake light bulb was out(70). Needed a software update(120) then they ran another test and said my battery was bad(260). They said it was good to go. Drove away. It died again probably not even 5 miles away. Called my service advisor. Told him it was dead. He said you're ******** me. I said nope. Called tow truck. They had the truck fixed by 10 am the next day. They found a bad wire which would have only cost me my 100 dollar deductible. Instead they charged me 500 something dollars in other service work that did nothing for me. He then said don't worry about your deductible or the tow bill. I picked that up. It was all I could do not to flip the counter over. They sent me the survey. I debated wether or not to even fill it out. I scored the service department the lowest I could. Wrote in the comments what had happened. Haven't heard from anyone. Don't really suspect I will either. I may not buy another truck from them. Definitely won't be buying any aftermarket warranties. Oh. I had a broken exhaust manifold bolt. The tick went away. They "fixed" it. Now it leaks all the time.

Similar story.. My sales experience at my local dealer was great, best salesman I've ever dealt with.. Then came the first and only time I brought it in for warranty work.. I had a short list, a vibration in the rear on the highway, my DS tow mirror jiggled so bad I couldn't see out of it, and the DS rear door speaker didn't work.. They screwed me around with making an appointment 2 weeks out, the service advisor promised me a loaner.
I arrived at 7:30am on a Friday, no loaner had been authorized, I had to complain to the service manager to get one, but it'd be done by the end of the day.. I called them around 3:30 (when I get off work), they said it was just being pulled it, but should be done by 5.. I left work. I get a call at 4:45 that it's done, they close at 5, and I live 30 miles away.. They needed the rental back that evening, I told them no because I couldn't drive 30 miles in 15 minutes.
I show up Saturday morning to return the loaner and pick up my truck. The speaker was the only thing they fixed, but they forgot two of the plastic fasteners when they put the door panel back on, the mirror still juggled (they said they "realigned" it), and they claimed there was no rear end vibration.

I got the survey email and gave my service experience extremely low marks, commented that I was so dissatisfied that I'd never return and that I wouldn't even trust their service people to fix a lawnmower. I never heard a word from them or FCA.

I replaced the plastic fasteners in the door panel and fix the jiggling mirror, but never could get rid of the vibration in the rear of the truck.. it's not wheels or tires (they been rotated around and now it has new tires.. vibration is the same).
 

BigRed4x4

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I'm not sure if the dealership I use has any connection to yours, Champion Dodge Chrysler of Lansing Michigan but I haven't been happy with them the few times my truck has been there. However, the last couple times I contacted RamCares before taking it to the dealership and let them set the appointment and pretty much handle everything and my experience has been much better. The dealership was trying to play games on a rental car (no loaner) and RamCares set them straight and magically I had a rental.
 

jschwanke84

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I have never had issues with my service department, so I'd say just find a new dealer.

Also, as others have said, the surveys are a very big deal for them. People can literally lose their jobs and/or their commission over bad surveys. If you get a call from the service manager definitely take advantage of that opportunity to get things taken care of and maybe some extras on top.
 

Ram Night

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I feel your pain on this. I took my Rebel back to the dealer six times for them to fix the rough running engine and unsafe crappy steering. The first time they had it two days, and they said they could not get it to run rough of pull hard to the left when giving it gas or go straight down the road. I took the service tech for a ride, and he said oh, there is a problem. The second time it was three days. So To make a long story short, on my 6th visit when the service tech told me, there is no codes, so nothing is wrong with it. So right thin I told my salesman, I want to order a new sport, and they can have the POS Rebel back.
Chrysler cares told me, if the dealer can not get a trouble code, they can not do nothing, except give me three free oil changes and tire rotations. So far I love the sport and all is good.
 
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Bdersch

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I feel your pain on this. I took my Rebel back to the dealer six times for them to fix the rough running engine and unsafe crappy steering. The first time they had it two days, and they said they could not get it to run rough of pull hard to the left when giving it gas or go straight down the road. I took the service tech for a ride, and he said oh, there is a problem. The second time it was three days. So To make a long story short, on my 6th visit when the service tech told me, there is no codes, so nothing is wrong with it. So right thin I told my salesman, I want to order a new sport, and they can have the POS Rebel back.
Chrysler cares told me, if the dealer can not get a trouble code, they can not do nothing, except give me three free oil changes and tire rotations. So far I love the sport and all is good.

IT does seem like that is a common theme I've heard before from my other dealer "no codes no issue." Whatever happened to actually looking into things and attempting to diagnose a problem
 

yoda

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Unfortunately these horror stories will only become more common and worse.
The problem starts at corporate, the more they screw the dealers, the more the dealers screw the guys working on them.
You cant expect good, trained techs and pay them welfare wages. You get what you pay for FCA
 

SYKRAMMAN

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IT does seem like that is a common theme I've heard before from my other dealer "no codes no issue." Whatever happened to actually looking into things and attempting to diagnose a problem

That's long gone. The techs are tought how to use the computer and that is it, if the "COMP" says nothing wrong then nothing is wrong, buuuulllll shiiiiiitttttt , ASE certification is a joke nowadays, it's an open book test with the answers in front of you. Dealerships are a below class c tech knowledgeable people, probably less.
 
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Bdersch

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That's long gone. The techs are tought how to use the computer and that is it, if the "COMP" says nothing wrong then nothing is wrong, buuuulllll shiiiiiitttttt , ASE certification is a joke nowadays, it's an open book test with the answers in front of you. Dealerships are a below class c tech knowledgeable people, probably less.

I feel like unless you physically show them exactly what the issue is and tell them what you think is the issue then they are clueless. It's pretty annoying to be honest. It's one of the reasons I'm not doing the maxcare warranty. Trying to get them to actually diagnosis an issue and fix it will be a nightmare.

For you guys who say I should try to get them to throw things in or hook me up for my trouble. How do I even go about that? I really would love a set of tow mirror or the backup camera. Probably more the camera since I can buy and install mirrors myself.

Or maybe I can get them to give me top dollar for my truck and buy a diesel... hmmm.
 
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Bdersch

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Finally got my survey via email. Was a pleasure filling it out. Curious what will happen next.

I have been in contact the with Andrea from Ram Cares and she is in the process of working with that dealer, starting a ticket and attempting to get my truck looked at and fixed. Big shout out to them as I can vouch without them generally nothing gets done.
 

Boat freak

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Finally got my survey via email. Was a pleasure filling it out. Curious what will happen next.

I have been in contact the with Andrea from Ram Cares and she is in the process of working with that dealer, starting a ticket and attempting to get my truck looked at and fixed. Big shout out to them as I can vouch without them generally nothing gets done.

I've filled out three of those surveys since my service experience a couple weeks ago, nobody has contacted me. The one I most recently filled out was a survey to inquire as to how satisfied I was with the dealer response after my last survey. lol. It reminds me of my last employer and their love for meetings, they actually had one titled "planning to plan".

This truly is a shame because I think Ram makes the best looking trucks on the road.. but in my experiences over the last 20 years of buying new automobiles Ford has provided me with the best service and most reliable vehicles. I don't know what i'll get next.
 
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Bdersch

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I've filled out three of those surveys since my service experience a couple weeks ago, nobody has contacted me. The one I most recently filled out was a survey to inquire as to how satisfied I was with the dealer response after my last survey. lol. It reminds me of my last employer and their love for meetings, they actually had one titled "planning to plan".

This truly is a shame because I think Ram makes the best looking trucks on the road.. but in my experiences over the last 20 years of buying new automobiles Ford has provided me with the best service and most reliable vehicles. I don't know what i'll get next.

thats kind of funny.... heres a survey of a survey to tell us how we are doing...

but i havent experienced any other service departments as this if my first new vehicle. but so far not impressed with RAM. I do agree that i love the look and features, and pretty much everything else about my truck (besides the fact that its not diesel but i cant afford a cummins). I just wish they would get their service departments in check.
 

1quick1

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In 12 years going to Chrysler dealers the only thing I have every gotten, after the major inconvenience of dropping my only vehicle off, is we couldn't reproduce the problem. Literally every time with one exception. I slid into a curb in a 2014 Grand Cherokee and had to pay out of pocket to fix and admitted what happened. They had absolutely no issue isolating and finding that issue and billing me. Warranty work. Forget it.
 
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dhambyst121

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IT does seem like that is a common theme I've heard before from my other dealer "no codes no issue." Whatever happened to actually looking into things and attempting to diagnose a problem
Laziness. They have zero knowledge except what that little plug n play computer tells them. They also do not have the desire to investigate what cannot be explained. I wouldn't trust half of the ASE Certified mechanics in existence to do my oil changes.

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk
 

aux576

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Recently took my Viper truck into the dealer for the airbag recall, when I parked the truck at the dealer I caught a whiff of brake so I asked them to check the brakes while they had it in the service bay (handing them a brake job on a silver platter). After about an hour and a half they bring my truck around and tell me nothing is wrong with the brakes, I didn't make it home before I had smoke pouring out of the front wheel. Had the truck towed to the guy I use for major repairs, he replaced the caliper and hose cut the disc, replace the pads on all 4 wheels, did a Mobil 1 oil change and charged me $400, a very fine deal as far as I'm concerned.
The dealership had their chance to gouge me on a brake job but blew the opportunity, there is a reason I tell people to avoid the dealer at all costs.
 

Ram Night

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When I had my 07 Ram in for a oil chance, and tire rotation the service writer told me my brake pads were down to 6mm and should be replaced. Then he told me as long as the truck was on the lift and the wheels were off, I could get a discounted brake repair for only $875.00. Like that was going to happen.
 
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Bdersch

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When I had my 07 Ram in for a oil chance, and tire rotation the service writer told me my brake pads were down to 6mm and should be replaced. Then he told me as long as the truck was on the lift and the wheels were off, I could get a discounted brake repair for only $875.00. Like that was going to happen.

$875??? what were they going to do put gold brakes on it???
 

yoda

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$875 may sound like a lot but tells us nothing. All 4 wheels? Parking brake shoes?
4 OE Rotors with OE Pads and labor doesn't sound that bad.
 
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