So this is happening. Dealer repair issues - Faulty fender flair

[JaymanUS]

4/18 – Replace passenger side rear fender flair due to factory defect.

4/19 – Picked it up. Passenger side fender flair was not installed correctly and using grey tape instead of black. Mud flap is crooked because of install. I had to bring this to dealer’s attention. Took three techs to figure out it was installed incorrectly. Or incorrect parts.

4/19 – Apparently a mistake was made at body shop as the Driver’s side fender flare and mud flap were also removed and reinstalled with same grey tape. Mud flap screws are loose and incorrect. I was not told about this issue until I brought it to dealer’s attention. I did not request for any work to be performed on this side of vehicle.

Both sides of truck – Body shop just wiped dirt off of truck and marked in dirt on drivers side. It should have been washed prior to any body work to prevent scratching and damage to new parts and tape sticking properly. Hand prints left all over both sides along with sweaty arm prints on rear driver’s side window.

4/22 – Took truck back in to have both sides fender flares and mud flaps reinstalled correctly. Mentioned again about the grey tape and was told that’s how they install it.. I informed dealer that it was not visible prior to repairs and the factory tape is “BLACK”. I also mentioned that the body shop needs to wash work area prior to repairs and I expect my truck back in factory condition.

So I am now waiting to see what happens.. I don't understand why they think it's okay to rub dirt all over my clear coat without washing it first. Grey 3M tape on a black truck.. really??? C'mon man!

 

[wgreggking]

Wow no pride in workmanship there.

 

[Pull Ya]

I bet the dealership has a swirl-a-matic car wash. Do you really want them to drive your pretty black truck through that car wash? I also agree there is no reason to be a slob when you work on a customers vehicle.
Jay

 

[Jrod]

I have the same flaps. This is how it’s supposed to be installed. I did it myself though. These flaps are awesome!

 

[smithwessn]

I spent many years working at a new car dealership as a flat rate tech. Warranty work pays next to nothing. Literally next to nothing. Especially for something like stick on fender flares. That job probably paid somewhere between .5 and .8 (half an hour to eight tenths of an hour at whatever the tech's hourly rate is) including prep time (washing), removal of the old adhesive, and installing the new flares. They probably only stock the gray 3M double sided tape.

That being said, you suck it up, do the job like its your own vehicle and try to make up for the lost time on the next job. You hope for the cash brake job or the big factory scheduled maintenance. Something that pays well that can be knocked out in a timely manner. Sending work out the door like that gives the dealership a bad name, makes all techs look bad, and costs the tech more in the long run, because he most likely isn't getting paid to do it again.

...Assuming the tech that did it is flat rate. It's quite possible the job was given to a young hourly kid who just doesn't get it. Either way, its unacceptable work. Good luck getting it taken care of.

 

[Pull Ya]

Flat rate is a hit or miss situation for the tech's. It also doesn't help if the service writers"feed" one of their friend techs with the "better" jobs. There are some great techs out there, they just seem to be in the minority.
Jay

 

[Michael]

That sounds about on par with my experience with Ram service department. Once I went to drive away after having work done on my truck just to have the center trim on the dash fall off because they forgot to put the screws back in. The reason it was in there was after replacing the fuel sensor for the second time in one week they didn’t get the fuel line connected again properly. After several days of driving it the fuel line came apart leaving me stranded where I was. When that happened it some how took out the trucks computer. Took them a week and a half to fix it. Nothing like bring in a clean truck and getting a dirty one back.


I know the voices in my head aren’t real, but man, do they ever come up with some great ideas.

 

[JaymanUS]

So I spoke with them yesterday. They are now replacing both sides with new ones. I'm not holding my breath. I will not accept them using grey 3M tape and I will be making sure the mud flaps are reinstalled correctly. This is the Harvest edition so all of this was factory installed... Not sure why it's such a problem. I can't believe they won't even give me a loaner car..

 

[lpfm1990]

So I spoke with them yesterday. They are now replacing both sides with new ones. I'm not holding my breath. I will not accept them using grey 3M tape and I will be making sure the mud flaps are reinstalled correctly. This is the Harvest edition so all of this was factory installed... Not sure why it's such a problem. I can't believe they won't even give me a loaner car..

You pretty much need to scream for a loaner, it’s fca rules, if the problem doesn’t hinder the vehicle operation then no loaner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JaymanUS]

You pretty much need to scream for a loaner, it’s fca rules, if the problem doesn’t hinder the vehicle operation then no loaner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just leaves me without a vehicle for several days 3-5 for a factory workmanship issue. Not a dealer installed item. I'll make do, but it just adds to the aggravation.

 

[madtrucker2016]

My 2016 Laramie is in the dealer now getting 3 news wheel flares put on and painted because of the shape was not normal >>>space between the body of truck and flare. so I told them its got to be fixed under warranty its called fit and trim so they did

 

[madtrucker2016]

So I spoke with them yesterday. They are now replacing both sides with new ones. I'm not holding my breath. I will not accept them using grey 3M tape and I will be making sure the mud flaps are reinstalled correctly. This is the Harvest edition so all of this was factory installed... Not sure why it's such a problem. I can't believe they won't even give me a loaner car..

Call ram customer care and they will get you into a car even if they pay for it enterprise rent a car

 

[likes2build]

I bet the dealership has a swirl-a-matic car wash. Do you really want them to drive your pretty black truck through that car wash? I also agree there is no reason to be a slob when you work on a customers vehicle.
Jay

Pull Ya in dead on about the "swirl-a-matic, lol

I always take my truck in for service already washed, the comment I get when it's ready is "we didn't wash it for you because you'd get it back dirtier than you dropped it off". Plus I always do a walk around when I drop it off and pick it up just to check for damage. Yup, I'm the kind that opens the hood and pulls the dip stick after the "free" pre-paid lube service and let them watch out the window while I do it. BTW I spent 8 years a a flat rate painter (and made out well) in a GM dealership and had no problem with warranty times as insurance companies paid like 1/2 the dealership door rate.

Pride in workmanship is the truth!!

 

[JaymanUS]

My 2016 Laramie is in the dealer now getting 3 news wheel flares put on and painted because of the shape was not normal >>>space between the body of truck and flare. so I told them its got to be fixed under warranty its called fit and trim so they did

They are repairing mine under warranty. It's just been crappy work. I will continue to refuse it until it's done correctly. Correctly installed with black adhesive and where it looks uniform with the body just like the front ones do. I never noticed the adhesive before without getting very close up with a light... and yeah.. it was black! If it's not right this time, I will be getting FCA involved and see about using my own body shop to get it done..

 

[madtrucker2016]

Hope they do your truck correct this time good luck

 

[madtrucker2016]

If you buy a truck and are making payments on it plus insurance I don't see why they don't give you a loaner or a rent a car I never had a problem with that with 3 different dealers and 3 ram trucks . They cant take your money and then tell you to walk while they repair rams problems not acceptable

 

[blackbetty14]

I had my rear pass side flare replaced when the tape let go at the top. Took 2-3 months to get the flare in and get a shop to paint it (they have to be licensed by mopar). They did the swap in 1 day and the tape is definitely NOT gray. It’s been like 5 months and it’s still on... knock on wood.

Good luck with the repair, the stick on flares aren’t the best and it really matters who does the repair bc it’s all in the prep if the tape will stick well.

 

[tidefan1967]

I replaced the tape on the LR flare myself on my previous RAM with gray 3M tape back in 2015. If the tape is properly installed how would you know/why would it matter if it was gray or purple or green for that matter? If the job is done right you shouldn't be able to see any of the tape at all. Just wondering..........

 

[JaymanUS]

I replaced the tape on the LR flare myself on my previous RAM with gray 3M tape back in 2015. If the tape is properly installed how would you know/why would it matter if it was gray or purple or green for that matter? If the job is done right you shouldn't be able to see any of the tape at all. Just wondering..........

EXACTLY! Thank you! Still don't have my truck back. Still don't have a loaner/rental!! I will not be doing any more business with this dealer once my truck is fixed.. I am just finding out that they have a pretty bad service reputation in our town.. College Station, TX. There are a lot of Aggies here that spread the word quickly!!

 

[IowaRamguy]

My 2016 Laramie is in the dealer now getting 3 news wheel flares put on and painted because of the shape was not normal >>>space between the body of truck and flare. so I told them its got to be fixed under warranty its called fit and trim so they did

I had this same exact issue on my 2016 Laramie. When I took it in they said they were delamanating and replaced all 4 for me. It took 3-4 days. Haven’t had an issue since and that was over a year ago now.