Dealer Fiasco

[MD Sledhead]

After towing a 5000 lb enclosed trailer to the UP of Michigan and back, I felt a rumble in the rear end of my 2024 Limited with the 392s. I had felt this before on one of my older Rams with the same rear end. I have about 22K miles on my truck.
Took it to the dealer... they said the carrier bearing was out of it. I questioned their diagnosis because I had felt this before. Anyway, Waited for weeks to get it into the shop. Ask them to change the oil at the same time.

Picked it up Friday after hours and heard the terrible lifter noise at startup. I thought WTH? Stopped to eat dinner - same thing when i started it again. When I got home, I decided to see what filter they used (Hemi can be finicky about the filter). I nearly exploded... my wife says I did. The dirty ba$tards DIDN'T CHANGE THE FILTER!!! It was still the old Napa Gold I put on when I changed it. Charged me $82 to change the oil (line item for the filter). No way they "forgot"... they just thought I wouldn't look.

Not only that, but the rear end was WORSE.

I called the next morning. The General Manager was not happy, said he would straighten it out Monday. No phone call, so I stopped last night. Talked to the owner and the service manager. Of course they are going to make it right... but HOLY CRAP!!

Still steamed... wonder how many people this "mechanic" has duped??

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

After towing a 5000 lb enclosed trailer to the UP of Michigan and back, I felt a rumble in the rear end of my 2024 Limited with the 392s. I had felt this before on one of my older Rams with the same rear end. I have about 22K miles on my truck.
Took it to the dealer... they said the carrier bearing was out of it. I questioned their diagnosis because I had felt this before. Anyway, Waited for weeks to get it into the shop. Ask them to change the oil at the same time.

Picked it up Friday after hours and heard the terrible lifter noise at startup. I thought WTH? Stopped to eat dinner - same thing when i started it again. When I got home, I decided to see what filter they used (Hemi can be finicky about the filter). I nearly exploded... my wife says I did. The dirty ba$tards DIDN'T CHANGE THE FILTER!!! It was still the old Napa Gold I put on when I changed it. Charged me $82 to change the oil (line item for the filter). No way they "forgot"... they just thought I wouldn't look.

Not only that, but the rear end was WORSE.

I called the next morning. The General Manager was not happy, said he would straighten it out Monday. No phone call, so I stopped last night. Talked to the owner and the service manager. Of course they are going to make it right... but HOLY CRAP!!

Still steamed... wonder how many people this "mechanic" has duped??

You may want to post the dealer name and address, so others can avoid this type of poor service.

 

[Flip-er]

BUTT WIPE $tealership

 

[Farmer Fran]

The Rear in the RAM 1500 is JUNK!

 

[DanAR]

Even if they failed to change the oil and filter why would it suddenly start making lifter noise on startup? Oil doesn’t deteriorate that fast. Sounds like other issues to be looked at.

 

[MD Sledhead]

Even if they failed to change the oil and filter why would it suddenly start making lifter noise on startup? Oil doesn’t deteriorate that fast. Sounds like other issues to be looked at.

Many aftermarket filters fail to hold enough pressure to keep the oil in place - especially after 5000 miles. You only hear the noise for a second or two. My 2014 was the same way.

 

[MD Sledhead]

The Rear in the RAM 1500 is JUNK!

I've had the same 3.92 since my 2001. Only ever had an issue i 2001.
My 2014 spent 25,000 of it's 100,000 pulling a trailer.

 

[Wild one]

I've had the same 3.92 since my 2001. Only ever had an issue i 2001.
My 2014 spent 25,000 of it's 100,000 pulling a trailer.

2001 used a totally differant rear end,it would of had the older 9.25" AAM /aka "corporate" diff,it was a better rear end then the 230mm ZF rearend they started using in 2011

 

[JHoward]

IMHO, this is why I performed my own oci's and other simple maintenance matters.

I keep receipts and send oil samples to Blackstone Labs for analysis/ documented oil reports just in case there could be an warranty dispute.

Good luck and happy motoring.

 

[MD Sledhead]

2001 used a totally differant rear end,it would of had the older 9.25" AAM /aka "corporate" diff,it was a better rear end then the 230mm ZF rearend they started using in 2011

Thats funny, cause the 2001 was the truck that I had trouble with previously. Not just the rear end, but the tranny too.

 

[Wild one]

Thats funny, cause the 2001 was the truck that I had trouble with previously. Not just the rear end, but the tranny too.

I'm guessing the 2001 was also miled out when it gave you diff trouble. I don't think you're giving us the whole story now are you If you bought the 01 new,you were alot younger then,and i'll lay odds the truck seen more abuse due to your age differance.Come on now tell us the whole truth

 

[MD Sledhead]

I'm guessing the 2001 was also miled out when it gave you diff trouble. I don't think you're giving us the whole story now are you If you bought the 01 new,you were alot younger then,and i'll lay odds the truck seen more abuse due to your age differance.Come on now tell us the whole truth

I'm way harder on $hit now . I can afford it. Back then, I could not.

Someone asked why the noise at startup now. It is most definitely due to them draining the oil. It did that 3-4 times at startup right after. Now it seems fine.

The rear-end is another story... I can feel a slight vibration in the wheel when on the gas. Stops when I leave off.

FWIW - this truck rolled off the line FRIDAY OCTOBER 13TH, 2023

 

[Wild one]

I'm way harder on $hit now . I can afford it. Back then, I could not.

Someone asked why the noise at startup now. It is most definitely due to them draining the oil. It did that 3-4 times at startup right after. Now it seems fine.

The rear-end is another story... I can feel a slight vibration in the wheel when on the gas. Stops when I leave off.

FWIW - this truck rolled off the line FRIDAY OCTOBER 13TH, 2023

Did you even pull the dipstick when you picked it up,as you apparently didn't catch the filter,so i'm guessing you also never checked the oil either. First thing you do when a shop is doing the oil change before starting it and leaving the lot,is look underneath it for obvious leaks including checking to make to sure the filter has been changed,and pulling the dipstick to check the oil level. That's basic common sense,

 

[RamDiver]

That's basic common sense,

Or, is that more like basic uncommon sense?

I suspect the common element disappeared decades ago.

.

 

[Wild one]

Or, is that more like basic uncommon sense?

I suspect the common element disappeared decades ago.

.

You got that right
Common sense has basically disappeared in the last 30 years

 

[diymirage]

Did you ask em to change the filter?
Or did you just ask for an oil change?

Because if you just asked for an oil change, he did what you asked

(And i know us dinosaurs know that 'oip change' means 'oil and filter) but talking to the younger crowd, you got to spell it out


What did the invoice show?

 

[Grams]

The Rear in the RAM 1500 is JUNK!

Disagree. I towed 220K miles with my ‘12 Ram 1500 and that rear-end was never a problem. All I did was change the gear oil at each 100K… cheap and simple to do.

 

[tul9033]

Did you ask em to change the filter?
Or did you just ask for an oil change?

Because if you just asked for an oil change, he did what you asked

(And i know us dinosaurs know that 'oip change' means 'oil and filter) but talking to the younger crowd, you got to spell it out


What did the invoice show?

Same with rotate and balance. Many shops will only rotate unless you specify AND BALANCE.

 

[pakuma]

Call Chrysler support 800-992-1997

 

[MD Sledhead]

I'm guessing the 2001 was also miled out when it gave you diff trouble. I don't think you're giving us the whole story now are you If you bought the 01 new,you were alot younger then,and i'll lay odds the truck seen more abuse due to your age differance.Come on now tell us the whole truth

Did you even pull the dipstick when you picked it up,as you apparently didn't catch the filter,so i'm guessing you also never checked the oil either. First thing you do when a shop is doing the oil change before starting it and leaving the lot,is look underneath it for obvious leaks including checking to make to sure the filter has been changed,and pulling the dipstick to check the oil level. That's basic common sense,

I'm not an idiot! NO, I did NOT pull the dipstick or look under the truck when I picked it up.
1. It's sitting in a lot where they park vehicles they're working on - what do you think the pavement looks like??
2. Its a dealership I (previously) trusted for over 25 years.
I looked when I got home - first checking the filter, then the oil. Then I got under the truck with my creeper to look at the oil pan and carrier bearing they replaced.
This is the first oil change on this truck that I haven't personally done - I just thought "while it's there" they might as well save me some pain and aggravation

So yes... I'm not common. Most people wouldn't have noticed at all.

And someone said about the sound - I've had Hemi's long enough to know the sound I heard. I haven't heard it again since the night I picked it up. So the Napa Gold filters must be pretty good.

Did you ask em to change the filter?
Or did you just ask for an oil change?

Because if you just asked for an oil change, he did what you asked

(And i know us dinosaurs know that 'oip change' means 'oil and filter) but talking to the younger crowd, you got to spell it out


What did the invoice show?

No. I did NOT ask specifically that they change the filter. I didn't specifically ask them to put the oil pan plug back in either, but they did that. Yes, I'm a smartass.
When you ask for an oil change, it ALWAYS means the filter. No one does that $hit anymore.
The invoice showed the oil, separate line for the filter. Even stated oil and filter change. Total was $82.

We are about as far from "city" as you can get in the eastern US. They said they are going to take care of this, and I'm taking them at their word. As for the guy who did the oil change, I was told he will be gone - specifically, this issue was "the last straw".

So that's good enough for me (for now). They make this right and I'll let it go. If not, I'll drive 40 minutes to the next dealer.