Ram recalls and terrible customer service

mtofell · Dec 30, 2022

DStand said:
I have even considered going out front of the dealership

My first house was in a pretty crappy area right near the local used car dealer strip. About once a month I'd see some soured dude holding up a bed sheet spray painted with, "Zippy's used cars screwed me!!" Always made me laugh.... dudes were never there long. I never knew if bed-sheet guy just got tired or is the dealer actually went and did something about it.

MADDOG · Dec 30, 2022

I get that the dealers are in a bind.

However, when you have contacted Ram directly and have them blow you off like they did merits legal action. Arbitrarily closing the case when it was not resolved is unacceptable.

smittyd174 · Dec 30, 2022

The problem is the trucks they're making still have the defective parts . It's a crappy situation and when it hits the fan they say supply issues , covid and they only make that part on every 3rd Wednesday of the month . We are screwed . Here's one for you , bought a 2022 1500 classic Warlock end of Oct 22. Front bumper had a big defect in the powder coat finish . Bought the truck and they ordered a new bumper it took 1.5 weeks to come in , over 2 months to get it put on . It's only cosmetic but 2 months for an appointment a little much , hope if it's serious it would be quicker . Take care good luck .

JCE · Dec 30, 2022

chopperman1 said:
You should also be blaming the state of California.

^ this, regardless of it being commiefornia that is absolutely unacceptable.

@DStand, do you have a way to temporarily change your drivers license and truck registration to another state where a family member lives to bypass the state you're in? I'd say F off to CA and drive the mother ****** anyway. That gov't doesn't represent the people anyway so F 'em.

dhay13 · Dec 30, 2022

My son has a 2021 2500 Cummins Night Edition. At work an excavator backed into it, scraping the door and front fender as well as scratching the emblems and running board. That was back in June. He just got it fixed 2 weeks ago due to parts availability.

jejb · Dec 31, 2022

chopperman1 said:
Additionally, and this is a big one, you have threatened legal action against the people that's job it is to help you escalate. They will no longer help you based simply on that, seen it time and time again. The case is now flagged and they will now defer to their legal team for communications with your lawyer.

You should also be blaming the state of California. I have heard if no other state that will fail inspection due to a recall that is not emisions related causing the computer to be in a "not ready" condition.

Agreed on both points. By threatening the nuclear option with a lawyer, you've probably poisoned the well as far as getting help from them. And that sucks Cali does that. Talk about putting you in an untenable position! Maybe you can contact your AG and ask for help?

Rado · Dec 31, 2022

If a vehicle can not be register how can it be sold by a dealer ?
Unless it was sold as a tow off !
I would blame the dealer who sold the truck for selling it ! And get a full refund

Kenobi · Dec 31, 2022

Ugh, what a nightmare.
I'm waiting on 2 minor recalls that there are no parts for.
Crap, even getting an oil change requires 2-4 weeks notice at my nearest dealer.

Mittens · Dec 31, 2022

My wife had two accidents in the past year. Both times her car was parked and unoccupied. One was wheel, rear bumper, parking sensors, taillight, and quarter panel. One was front bumper, hood, headlight, quarter panel. Both took about 2 months to get parts (insurance’s shop). New plastic bumpers, hood, headlight, taillight, parking sensors. I’m not really buying the shortage stuff. I think mfgs are partially giving themselves a shortage cause they don’t want to sign contracts for whatever reason.

Freakydude · Dec 31, 2022

I would talk to a lawyer and sue in small claims court for your lease payments. The dealer that sold the truck first and foremost then Ram itself. I hate seeing these stories because it makes me cringe thinking about when my truck breaks down.

HEMIMANN · Dec 31, 2022

Kenobi said:
Ugh, what a nightmare.
I'm waiting on 2 minor recalls that there are no parts for.
Crap, even getting an oil change requires 2-4 weeks notice at my nearest dealer.

Those of us that do our own maintenance have had a helluva time over the past couple years getting oil and filters, too!

KoboldTaco · Dec 31, 2022

smittyd174 said:
This is a sign of the times , recalls and can't get parts or no solution . Some recalls are more serious than others but they all need to be dealt with at some point.
Not to understate your treatment , but the dealers are stuck in the middle and they're getting crap from both sides . Corporate office says fix it and no support and you want it fixed and they have no parts .
What needs to happen is manufacturers must be held accountable to address recalls in a timely matter or pay up.
When push comes to shove they will come up with a bs fix like welding the drag links so it doesn't come loose , cheap bs repair but it worked .
I wish you luck , and when lawyers get involved they are the only ones that win.

Why won’t the owner operators of the dealerships unify against the corporate BS and take some action on behalf of the customers? Let’s not say they are caught in the middle - I’d like to offer they are the front lines of customer satisfaction and should be working with the corporate gorilla to make things better For the customer. Let’s say that they are…but in my experience I’m just not seeing the bottom swell IMHO; I see and have experienced the victims mentality.

For example - I purchased a new truck in the middle of all this inventory stuff. I’ve got a thread on here that talked about landing at 8K over MSRP (which I did not take thanks to my girl). When negotiating which started at 15K over, it was the poor me, I can’t pay bills and keep the dealership open if I don’t charge you over Because the volume was offset negatively. If you can’t run a business in the hardest of times, then your model might be flawed. I’ll admit, it’s easy to armchair QB this, but why not change the model to make it profitable again? Another example - in the US, do we really need acres and acres of car lots of cars that no one really wants? Why not just convert to direct order like most of the world already is and call it a day?

You can’t measure intent, you can only measure results.

OP, good luck. I’ll get my chance to deal with recall mess soon enough when I can schedule for my trans fix.

I support (as others have) going more social and using things like LN or other social aspects to drive results, and maybe even some industry change. We as customers pay the bills - let that voice be the voice of change.

smittyd174 · Dec 31, 2022

The sad part of all this , Ford, GM and the rest are even worse . Chrysler is the only brand that I ever got good service from and 2 different local dealerships , I'm lucky I guess . We' re about to see how #3 pans out . It can be frustrating trying to solve certain things , but recalls aren't one of them .
Had a couple recalls and of course parts were scarce , so what they did was create a list and as parts came in , they called and got you in .Maybe not the best solution but it worked and the parts were assigned to your vehicle.

Mittens · Dec 31, 2022

KoboldTaco said:
Another example - in the US, do we really need acres and acres of car lots of cars that no one really wants? Why not just convert to direct order like most of the world already is and call it a day?

I hate the whole dealer model thing. Don’t they have legal monopolies of some kind? I absolutely hate having to talk to dealers. I want to talk directly to Chrysler (or other). If something is stupid on the car, the dealer just agrees and complaining about it does nothing (or feels like it). If I ask the OEM, they say go to the dealer. Wonder how the Tesla community feels about their direct-buy setup.

Freakydude · Dec 31, 2022

Mittens said:
I hate the whole dealer model thing. Don’t they have legal monopolies of some kind? I absolutely hate having to talk to dealers. I want to talk directly to Chrysler (or other). If something is stupid on the car, the dealer just agrees and complaining about it does nothing (or feels like it). If I ask the OEM, they say go to the dealer. Wonder how the Tesla community feels about their direct-buy setup.

they get around the monopoly thing by having different Ram dealers in the same town plus there is always more than 1 brand of truck available.
you need to choose wisely who you buy from and how you buy. Best thing you can do is become an educated consumer. Education is the one thing the rich, the government and the elites hate because it levels the playing field

JCE · Dec 31, 2022

Mittens said:
I hate the whole dealer model thing. Don’t they have legal monopolies of some kind? I absolutely hate having to talk to dealers. I want to talk directly to Chrysler (or other). If something is stupid on the car, the dealer just agrees and complaining about it does nothing (or feels like it). If I ask the OEM, they say go to the dealer. Wonder how the Tesla community feels about their direct-buy setup.

It's time to allow consumers freedom and let us deal directly with the manufactures. The fact that our stupid gov't made this illegal is asinine just like 99% of the other regulations and intrusive laws in to our lives. I really wish we had actual liberty.

fireflymedic · Jan 1, 2023

I've watched enough Judge Judy to know if you buy a vehicle and can't register it the salesperson has to refund your money.

Sherman Bird · Jan 1, 2023

DStand said:
After just getting hung up on by a Ram Customer care representative, I do not know what to do here. I'd like the community's advice here.

TLDR; I have had a vehicle that is under warranty and cannot be registered with the state due to recalls that Ram has been negligent on for 5 months. I have been completely blown off. What would you do?

Back story - I have a 2019 Ram 2500 CTD and live in California. Recall W03 (transmission valve body) is open on my vehicle. I went to reregister my vehicle with the state and was informed that I cannot, due to an open recall. I contacted my local dealership, Thompson CDJR out of Placerville California, and scheduled an appointment.

1st attempt at making an appointment is in September 2022. About a month later, at the time of the appointment, I was told they did not get the parts and the appointment must be rescheduled. I scheduled another appointment as soon as possible - about a month later.

2nd attempt, I simultaneously scheduled an appointment with Folsom CDJR. They did the same thing Thompson CDJR did. At the time of the appointment it was cancelled due to parts not being delivered to the dealership.

10-20-2022 I submitted two attempts at contacting Ram Cares through their submission form on their website about this issue explaining what just happened with both attempts at getting service. I never received any response. I got an email to rate the service I was given. I gave it all zeros since they ignored me.

11-8-2022 Ram Cares calls me in response to my poor review of their service. It was a Case manager named Kathy. I explain the whole situation to her. She confirmed that Ram does indeed have parts available and she then contacted Thompson CDJR and worked with them on coordinating parts and an appointment. Thompson CDJR called me and said they will get it done, and scheduled an appointment for 12-8-2022.

3rd Attempt, on 12-6-2022, 2 days before my 12-8-2022 appointment, Thompson CDJR calls me to tell me they don't have parts for the W03 recall. I reschedule ASAP. Closest date is 1-08-2023.

12-6-2022 I call Ram Cares and speak with a woman in which I explain the previous events, give her my case number, and ask her to have the Case Manager, Kathy, to call me back. NO PHONE CALL WAS RETURNED.

12-22-22 I called Ram Cares and spoke with a gentleman explaining my situation, gave him my case number, and told him to have my case manager call me back. NO PHONE CALL WAS RETURNED.

12-30-22 Ram Cares called me informing me that I have 3 open recalls and asks if I am willing to come in. I explain I have been more than willing and have made 3 attempts, but every time there has been a lack of parts being ordered. I explain that at this time I would like financial compensation since my vehicle has been deadlined due to Rams inability to perform the recall. He offers be "free tire rotations and oil changes"
I said I will have to consult lawyer at this point to seek advice.
He puts me on about a 8 second hold, comes back and says "All we can offer you is free tire rotations and oil changes. I am closing the case out at this time. Have a good day" and hangs up on me before I can respond.

1-08-2022 will be the 4th attempt at getting the recall done, and the 5th month that my truck will have been illegal to drive. I have been making payments on a vehicle that has been a brick in my front yard for 5 months and have been completely blown off by customer service.

What would you do??? I have made an incredible amount, and variety, of attempts to get this service completed and have been completely ignored. I feel like my only option is to seek a lawyer and pursue this legally. Keep in mind, my payment on this truck is ~$750 a month and it has been deadlined/unregisterable with the state for 5 months and illegal to drive.

This has been an absolutely terrible experience with Ram Customer Service.

With your documentation, CEASE all efforts with FCA Consumer "cares". Get a Lemon Law Attorney. Good luck!

Sherman Bird · Jan 1, 2023

fireflymedic said:
I've watched enough Judge Judy to know if you buy a vehicle and can't register it the salesperson has to refund your money.

My fairy godmother said as much!

KoboldTaco · Jan 1, 2023

Mittens said:
Wonder how the Tesla community feels about their direct-buy setup.

Great point; I didn’t think about Tesla when writing up the reply yesterday. Every company has its dirty laundry but every Tesla owner I know was not happy with the product quality issues such as misaligned panels, bumpers, paint condition etc.

All those issues were resolved quickly post-purchase and they had tesla loaners, not a substandard rental from junk cars ’R’ us.

Personally, The love for a battery car is another story and for another thread. I love my CTD

Ram recalls and terrible customer service

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