Dealership turned off dashcam before service

[Fnord]

Hi everyone,

Recently I took my 2023 Ram 1500 to the dealership to have checked the front camera for the Forward Collision Warning system, because I never got an alert, by sound or brakes, and I think it is not working even there is no malfunction message in the system.

They said the FWC was working and they took the pickup for a test drive, and they confirmed the system worked. So it was nice, when I got my truck back the first thing I did was to check the dashcam and see how it went, but for my surprise there was no recording.

The first thing the technician did was to turn off the dashcam when he jumped in my pickup and turned back on after parking in the parking lot return the vehicle to me.

So, I was very frustrated and felt I was being scammed by the dealership. When I asked why did he do it the manager said they didn't like people spying in their employees, so that moment I realized I lost all trust I had in them.

Does anyone has some legal advice about what can I do in this situation? The FWC stills the same, doesn't appear to work.

Thanks,

 

[danielmid]

Tell them it's still broken and you're unhappy they turned off the camera and you want another appointment where you can have the technician demonstrate the system to you. Why would you need legal advice?

 

[Burla]

Too bad it isnt the 80's and you could grab the guy by the scruff and smack the isht out of him and maybe you spend a night in jail, well worth it.

 

[Fnord]

Hi Daniel,

I did that, told it was working and asked to the technician demonstrate the system, the manager said I can't ask to have the FCW tested because of the risk of an accident and it is unsafe.

I asked about legal advice because I think I'm being scammed and at the same time not have available an important safety feature. The pickup came with FCW and compared to other vehicles that I had with a similar feature, doesn't appear to be working.

 

[Brandon-w]

There is no legal advice. You signed the paper in the dealer so there went your rights lol. Dealerships are like pharmaceutical companies they don't make money if you're all better and healthy

 

[Fnord]

That's is ****** up.

I really don't mind about having the dashcam turned off while in service because I don't wanna hear all ******** they say and the 10-minutes-charged-as-1-hour service.

What really pissed me off was the manager implying I was spying on them, on purpose, while all I wanted is to have a proof that the FCW is working.

 

[TotallyHucked]

With the way everybody is sue happy these days, I'd turn it off too. I see no issue with that at all, it's a private business and outside people don't need to hear everything said/watch everything done by the techs. Every dealership would be out of business the moment some Karen heard some of the discussions/jokes us wrench turners have lol.

You are right, they should try to fix the FWC. However, I also agree with the service writer that testing it can be dangerous. The only time it's supposed to work is in a near collision, so that's not really a reasonable thing to test.

**edit** I re-read and saw where you said they initially said it worked and then said they couldn't demonstrate. The should at least be able to explain how they safely test the feature. If they can't/won't do that, then yes, they scammed you

 

[CanRebel]

First. Good luck with dash camera. Most dealers wouldn't even touch the truck unless you remove it.

Second. Not sure if it's working. But if you were lucky, It's not. That thing is horrible piece of crap.
Day I got my truck, was parking it. Back up into my driveway. Grass was tiny bit high. Truck slammed the brakes hard, and put it self in park. I couldn't move it until I turned off the truck. I turned off the idiot feature.

It doesn't totally turn off either. Once in while I'm driving behind a "white" car, it beeps like crazy. Sometimes in rain or snow, it does same thing. Good thing I turned it off, likely be dead already.

 

[Fnord]

Hi Can,

The way your FCW was not working right too. Looks like pretty unsafe.

Time to put some big cardboard boxes in the street and drive over it, without touching the brakes.

The kids will gonna love it.

 

[TotallyHucked]

First. Good luck with dash camera. Most dealers wouldn't even touch the truck unless you remove it.

Second. Not sure if it's working. But if you were lucky, It's not. That thing is horrible piece of crap.
Day I got my truck, was parking it. Back up into my driveway. Grass was tiny bit high. Truck slammed the brakes hard, and put it self in park. I couldn't move it until I turned off the truck. I turned off the idiot feature.

It doesn't totally turn off either. Once in while I'm driving behind a "white" car, it beeps like crazy. Sometimes in rain or snow, it does same thing. Good thing I turned it off, likely be dead already.

It slams on the brakes too? I thought it was just a chime/warning lights. Idk why anyone would want that feature, I can pay attention to what's in front of me just fine thank ya very much. Glad my '17 doesn't have that crap

 

[CanRebel]

Hi Can,

The way your FCW was not working right too. Looks like pretty unsafe.

Time to put some big cardboard boxes in the street and drive over it, without touching the brakes.

The kids will gonna love it.

Sorry, My post was bit misleading/wrong. My post included ParkSense and FCW. Both don't work correctly though. I've even had stupid FCW beeping when nothing was around, just sunny day.

 

[CanRebel]

It slams on the brakes too? I thought it was just a chime/warning lights. Idk why anyone would want that feature, I can pay attention to what's in front of me just fine thank ya very much. Glad my '17 doesn't have that crap

I typed wrong, it was park sense that did that. I turned off both, it just beeps now.

 

[crash68]

The first thing the technician did was to turn off the dashcam when he jumped in my pickup and turned back on after parking in the parking lot return the vehicle to me.

So, I was very frustrated and felt I was being scammed by the dealership. When I asked why did he do it the manager said they didn't like people spying in their employees, so that moment I realized I lost all trust I had in them.

Your vehicle is on their property and your not, the dashcam technically could be a violation of the dealership reasonable expectation of privacy. You the customer is not allowed into the service area unless invited and/or escorted.

As for testing the FWC, try and hit another vehicle and get ready to stomp on the brakes(hope they stop you). I find it's easiest to get the FWC system to go off when a vehicle is turning down a street and your going straight. Depending on the speed, you're going to get close (within few feet close). These systems are not absolute, meaning there's nothing said by the manufacturer that it's 100% accurate

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Too bad it isnt the 80's and you could grab the guy by the scruff and smack the isht out of him and maybe you spend a night in jail, well worth it.

I'm sooooooooo with you, Brother!

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Your vehicle is on their property and your not, the dashcam is technically could be a violation of the dealership reasonable expectation of privacy. You the customer is not allowed into the service area unless invited and/or escorted.

As for testing the FWC, try and hit another vehicle and get ready to stomp on the brakes(hope they stop you). I find it's easiest to get the FWC system to go off when a vehicle is turning down a street and your going straight. Depending on the speed, you're going to get close (within few feet close). These systems are not absolute, meaning there's nothing said by the manufacturer that it's 100% accurate

I have to agree with you on this @crash68 regarding privacy and the legalese surrounding the dealerships right to privacy, too.

As much as I'd like to lay a smack down for others touching my truck because it's my property and I don't appreciate others touching my truck out of their scope, but.....

I too had my camera system turned off whilst at the dealership, and I'm friends with the Service Manager, too, and he told me almost verbatim what you just indicated.

So, moving forward, when I'm at the dealership, I tell them in advance at check-in that my cameras have been turned off by me, and to not touch my sensitive and expensive cameras (Thinkware U300) at all. I also get them to write it into the service work order as well so there is no BS for me to deal with later.

 

[mtofell]

I'm sure dealers either have or soon will have a clause in the fine print you sign at drop-off time saying you can't record them working on your rig. No way they want to give you that ammo if/when something goes wrong.

 

[reddawg67]

The fact this a post says to me how much of n entitled society we have become . Everyone is entitled to their privacy even businesses . Pull your big girl panties up and get over it !

 

[CanRebel]

Not sure everyone's else experience. But there is certain white Tesla that always triggers FCW on my Rebel. It's not glossy, I think it's dull pearl white?
Never owned one, so not really sure what white it is. Also has to be sunny. Could be the white and angle of the cars?

 

[TMyers]

Ford tech told me that he disconnects the radio/phone. He said it was aggravating when people were sitting in the waiting room and their car's Bluetooth broadcast their conversations while he was trying to work. And I don't blame the tech for turning off the camera. If I mash my finger, I don't want to be on your TikTok page.

 

[GTyankee]

The thing that caused all automotive shops to change the wording on the work order waiver, was that TV show that sent women to automotive shops using a company vehicle.
The cars were set up with battery powered stealth cameras.

One of the first places they went to was a Jiffy Lube.
Economy priced motor oil was used, instead of the Quality Motor Oil that had been requested.

Another place did Smog Tests for Emissions, a hose had been slipped off before going to the Shop, a Certified Emissions Tech had previously checked the vehicle & they did not connect up the internet while they ran the test.
The shop doing the test, said that the woman's vehicle needed all kinds of work & parts, when in fact, they caught the hose that had been disconnected during a visual check.

In both cases, everything was recorded & both places received probation from the Bureau of Automotive Repair,
That TV show is no longer doing that.
Now the Bureau of Automotive Repair does it on the sly, in California.