2019 Ram 1500 Defective from the Factory

[MarkRam19]

In October 2019 I leased a new Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab from Buckeye Ram in Shelby OH. After the first time driving the truck on the highway I noticed a whistle noise coming from the HVAC system (less than 500 miles and 2 weeks old.) Buckeye picked up the truck and said it was a mirror noise and resolved the issue. Immediately after getting the truck back, the noise started again. On November 20, 2019 Buckeye once again picked up the truck for this issue along with a check engine light, moaning in the rear brakes and a clunk in the floor. They kept the truck for more than 4 weeks and were unable to resolve the whistle noise. They resealed the windshield, adjusted the mirrors, checked the HVAC system and instake system and hired an outside wind specialist. Ram customer support was also involved and provided 2 months of lease payments due to me not having my truck. I received the truck back (after the dealership put on over 350 miles in 4 weeks.) The check engine light immediately came one and the whistle was not able to be resolved per the service manager.

Ram customer support sent my case to review to replace the vehicle and it was denied. I now am supposed to work with a third party to resolved the issue.

Since day 1 I have asked to swap out the truck for the SAME exact truck with the SAME exact payment. I am not gaining anything from this swap except no WHISTLE sound.

Any thoughts on next steps? I currently have 32 lease payments left and the truck is defective after 5 weeks of service.

 

[Theo2019]

None of this is legal advice, but I would seriously suggest contacting a lemon law attorney to review your case ASAP. If there is a contingency fee agreement then they recoup their legal fees from the manufacturer (depending on Ohio law) and you aren't out of pocket anything. Keep documentation on everything while you are still in the truck. Also refrain from disclosing too much online about your case because it could be used against you.

In my experience, manufacturers only budge when they get served with a complaint citing state lemon law. Their strategy is to make you jump through hoops and tire you out with their own internal process - where you end up losing 99% of the time - so get an attorney and change that process. In my state, if the manufacturer has to buy back a vehicle they can't repair it clouds the title so they automatically lose money with a resale (i.e. salvage title). So they fight tooth and nail to keep you in that lease and may even offer you settlement money to stay in it ("cash and keep").

 

[DwnDak]

These are the horror stories you often hear with "all new" models in their infancy. Which is why I haven't pulled the trigger on a new Limited or Laramie yet ($76k+ where I live) .. I'm going to in about 3 months, but these bugs always worry me. Especially with the new tech in these things.

Is there another RAM dealer close to you? It sounds like RAM has tried everything they are willing to try, and the dealer itself isn't really looking to earn brownie points with you. One thing you might try, especially if you have multiple dealers in your area you are willing to deal with, is to contact them by phone (or in person if they are close) and discuss this with them. Some dealers have volume discounts and/or simply move more product. Your in a lease, so its guaranteed you have to at least turn that unit in. Other dealers may be willing to go to bat, eat that truck to get you into another in hopes of keeping you as a RAM owner into another lease. Have they sent you to a recommend third party to fix it, or what exactly are they doing in regards to the third party/what is the third party saying they are able to do??

 

[MarkRam19]

The third party is NCDS. I guess after uploading all the service records, they review it once again? This is all very frustrating seeing how I came from 3 F150s that were great.

 

[PoMansRam]

What is the actual code for the check engine light?

Is this a 2019 classic or the new style Ram?

 

[troutspinner]

Cycle the air recirculating button a couple times, that whistle will disappear. Ask me how I know. Fortunately my 19 does not do it but my 14 did.

As for your other issues, time down, etc. You really need to contact a Lemon Law Lawyer and see if you even qualify under your state's parameters. If you do, make your decision.....

 

[pacofortacos]

Can you lemon law a lease, I mean you don't own it, you are basically "renting" the truck?

Wind noise has been a problem for years.

I would try another dealer if possible.

 

[Theo2019]

Can you lemon law a lease, I mean you don't own it, you are basically "renting" the truck?

That's what I thought, but even though it is a lease, you can sell the car or trade it at any time. You're just on the hook for what the residual value is and whatever is not covered by the sale or trade of the car you owe. I had a dealer ask if I wanted to trade our old leased car in for a 2016 hellcat. They took the price of the hellcat, deducted the trade in value of the leased car from the hellcat, and then added the residual value of the leased car on to the purchase price - it was horrible and we didn't bite. It was like buying a new car and paying for a car you no longer have at the same time.

 

[PoMansRam]

A lease isn't any different than having a bank note on your truck. You just have the opportunity to turn it back in once the time/mileage allotment is met. Or you can typically keep on leasing it, buy it, etc..

 

[Johnny P]

I just went through a Nightmare with my 2017 Ford F150 XLT with 3.5 Twin Turbo and crew.Leaky Roof moldy carpets and Ford Bought the truck Back as a Good Faith bye Back and gave me all my money back except $100 a month because they had me in a vehicle at all times . I then bought a 2019 Big Horh without a Sunroof and I absolutely love it!! Now after paying my 1st payment and taking it to the car wash I took the mat on the driver side to shake them out and noticed my carpet was soaking wet.Also my Radio station changes channel's sometimes if I hot the horn and the speakers go out at times and I loose F.M.Reception at times.I just Dropped it off at the dealer and hv the trucks radio on Video as it was actually acting up..

 

[Johnny P]

Call a Lemon Law Lawyer after researching the Lemon law in your state.N.J. has a great Lemon Law and after speaking with Ford and telling them I was in contact with a lawyer they made good and I didn't even need the Lawyer. I had a case number and it took roughly 8 weeks to get a check.Hopefully Dodge (Ram) Wakes up and does the same!! Good Luck..

 

[Kap1]

I didn't read all the details but that's rediculois that they're making you go through all these trouble on a damn LEASED truck! They should have swapped it out for you on day one

 

[Fitz-0518]

Mark, you do not own that vehicle. You are renting it. Do not know OH lease or lemon law. You need to have an attorney who has effective experience with lease transactions, send notice to; The dealer, FCA and the lease company. "Replace the vehicle or you will excise your consumer lease rights" One attorney letter to all parties who own the problem and the vehicle should resolve this. Not expensive.

 

[RamCares]

I just went through a Nightmare with my 2017 Ford F150 XLT with 3.5 Twin Turbo and crew.Leaky Roof moldy carpets and Ford Bought the truck Back as a Good Faith bye Back and gave me all my money back except $100 a month because they had me in a vehicle at all times . I then bought a 2019 Big Horh without a Sunroof and I absolutely love it!! Now after paying my 1st payment and taking it to the car wash I took the mat on the driver side to shake them out and noticed my carpet was soaking wet.Also my Radio station changes channel's sometimes if I hot the horn and the speakers go out at times and I loose F.M.Reception at times.I just Dropped it off at the dealer and hv the trucks radio on Video as it was actually acting up..

Hi Johnny P,
We're so glad that you're enjoying your new truck. We are truly that you've been having these troubles though. Please feel free to send us a private message if you would like any additional assistance while your truck is at the dealer.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Johnny P]

Hi Johnny P,
We're so glad that you're enjoying your new truck. We are truly that you've been having these troubles though. Please feel free to send us a private message if you would like any additional assistance while your truck is at the dealer.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

Thanks My Truck is currently at Ramsey dodge in Ramsey N.J. and they have started a case #...Love my Dodge just made my 1st Payment now this ...

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[Graygoose]

Most of what I've read is why I bought a 2019 Classic, old bodystyle. Sorry to hear of the issues.

 

[Johnny P]

Most of what I've read is why I bought a 2019 Classic, old bodystyle. Sorry to hear of the issues.

Yea Hopefully they either find the issue or the Lawyer gets a call again..

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[Guyfromthenorth]

Most of what I've read is why I bought a 2019 Classic, old bodystyle. Sorry to hear of the issues.

I'll cut and paste as I just put this in another thread, but the "whistle" thing is definitely not just related to the new style:

"I owned 2008, 2012, and 2014's before my 2019. Every single one I owned had no wind noise issue other than my 2014. It was a NOTICEABLE whistle that showed up after about 25k miles and only at 55mph+. It was only present however when the regular vents were turned on. If I switched to defrost (windshield) or feet the noise went away. If I shifted in and out of vents 3-4x in a row sometimes the whistle would stop which lead me to believe it was the blender door or something along those lines, which is definitely not simple to access and have a look at. All winter we would run the defrost while driving so it wasn't an issue, but come summer when we needed AC on the vents the only option was to drown it out with the stereo. The whistle went when we sold the truck to the dealer and picked up our 2019 which so far, knock on wood, doesn't whistle in the wind."

 

[Graygoose]

Possibly, Ive owned three 4th gens and none had any issues whistling.

 

[JoeCo]

Possibly, Ive owned three 4th gens and none had any issues whistling.

Yeah I've had 2 4th gens without this issue.