I need some advice please!

[Dunnzo]

Hey everyone, I am brand new to the forum but have been visiting for a while for great information. Unfortunately I need some advice, or input on repairs made to my truck following an accident. I was at a dead stop and was rear ended by a girl who was texting and hit me at 45+ MPH. The frame was buckled and the bed/tailgate was damaged. I brought it do a Dodge dealership hoping for top notch service...and here is where I need help. Am I being over sensitive or are these repairs sketchy? There are a lot of pics so please check out my album and let me know what you think. Thanks for your time!

Car Accident Photos by dunnzo579 | Photobucket

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I wouldn't accept that as a repair and find it hard to believe a dealer would try to pass that off as a fix.

 

[Dunnzo]

I wouldn't accept that as a repair and find it hard to believe a dealer would try to pass that off as a fix.

I felt the same way, I brought it back today and the shop manager acted like I was being picky. Thanks for the fast reply!

 

[Beefy]

That looks horrible IMO!

 

[BAILEY1]

Looks like they pulled the stress point to much and pulled it apart, then put a horrible weld job on it.

 

[Dunnzo]

Looks like they pulled the stress point to much and pulled it apart, then put a horrible weld job on it.

That's what I though, or they cut it so it would move easier, but I though welding or heating a frame rail ruins it's structural integrity. I do not trust that repair job to withstand a similar impact again. While the weld may hold, the metal around it appears to be overly fatigued now.

 

[BAILEY1]

Call the insurance company that paid for the repairs and tell them that it was not fixed correctly. Ask them if you can go somewhere else and have a second opinion on the matter. Body shops love taking business away from dealerships.

Also...... welding on the frame doesn't hurt anything. I'm sure somebody will disagree with that, but welding on the frame is harmless.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

AWWWW HELLLL NOO

Take that back. I agree with Bailey talk to insurance and let them deal with it. This way they know what the people they trust does to their customers.

Step sister got in an accident and when she got her truck back she noticed her rear tires were sticking out about an inch on one side. Upon further investigation they found a few other things that were screwed up. Her frame should have been replaced. Now her lawyers are chewing through the body shop like a new chainsaw. Insurance is giving her a new truck and sueing the body shop for inferior work and putting a family in danger. Needless to say that body shop will not make any coin off that insurance company anymore.

 

[Dunnzo]

I have an update. I brought the truck back yesterday and they had it ready by the time I left work today. When they called I thought there was no way in hell they could have fixed all of the issues but I am honestly amazed. Take a look and let me know what you think. I also added more pics to the album too.

 

[ramman54]

Now that looks professional. As for structional integrety, welding/heating shouldn't affect it. Big rigs I've been around do have heat treated frames & maybe that's what you are thinking of.

 

[chedched]

I don't think they did much other than making it "look" better. I wouldn't have given them the second chance on this one. It's fairly easy to hide stuff as a bodyman. I have seen plenty in my years of working in dealerships/bodyshops...

 

[HolyRamBatman]

You can't fix stupid that quick. Looks like they just filled in some spots and painted it.

 

[Dunnzo]

sooo...

After having my truck back for a few weeks it is not nearly back to how it was. A. at highway speeds it shakes, B. it is pulling to the left, my truck has NEVER pulled, C. My steering wheel has play on the column (I was gripping the steering wheel so tight that I bent it on impact) D. some jack@$$ at the dealership broke my E-brake release so now it's just hanging. Needless to say I am not happy at all, I really thought that by going to a Dodge dealership I would have received better service than this. I am disappointed by the shortcut and I am beginning to think a real body-shop would have done better. All I wanted was my truck put back to how it was pre-accident and I keep getting a run around.

I wish people would just do the right thing, like I tell my kids "if you do it right the first time you won't have to do it again."

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Let your insurance company know about your dissatisfaction. If the work is not right it's not finished.