Truck Warranty Experience Question

[Takem]

I've got a 2018 Ram Eco Diesel that I bought new at the beginning of 2019. It now has 22,000 on it. It's been in the shop for fuel issues for a month and counting. The time without my rig is a major inconvenience but is not really my main issue. The first 20 days or so I was OK without a loaner vehicle. When I did finally ask for a loaner I was told it was from a rental car company and I wouldn't be able to two my boat. I was given a number directly at Chrysler and they told me no loaners where available directly from Chrysler and I had to stick with the rental. This is now a major PITA as we'd like to start traveling with the boat. The other problem has been chronic misstatements on the ETA of parts they need. I've owned a new Chevy and a new Ford but did not have any warranty issues. I'm wondering what other peoples experiences have been. Have you been given trucks you can tow with as replacements? Have you been given the run around on repairs. I'm considering going back to Chevy or Ford after this.

 

[Bsd0323]

Dodge buyer here. Never again.

 

[buck_shot11]

I've got a 2018 Ram Eco Diesel that I bought new at the beginning of 2019. It now has 22,000 on it. It's been in the shop for fuel issues for a month and counting. The time without my rig is a major inconvenience but is not really my main issue. The first 20 days or so I was OK without a loaner vehicle. When I did finally ask for a loaner I was told it was from a rental car company and I wouldn't be able to two my boat. I was given a number directly at Chrysler and they told me no loaners where available directly from Chrysler and I had to stick with the rental. This is now a major PITA as we'd like to start traveling with the boat. The other problem has been chronic misstatements on the ETA of parts they need. I've owned a new Chevy and a new Ford but did not have any warranty issues. I'm wondering what other peoples experiences have been. Have you been given trucks you can tow with as replacements? Have you been given the run around on repairs. I'm considering going back to Chevy or Ford after this.

So I cannot speak specifically about the dealer you are doing business with but I can speak about where the auto industry as a whole, as I run a fairly large Ford store in Louisiana.

With Covid shutting down factories for at least two months, it also shut down manufacturers of parts as well. There is a severe shortage of vehicles and parts. Parts that are commonly available are on never ending backorder.

Loaner vehicles - It is extremely common that loaner vehicles aren't provided for the intended use of towing. Has to do with liability and such.

Combine the above two bullet points and you have found yourself square in the riptide of Corona virus and the effects its having on the economy.

I can almost guaranty that dealer wants your vehicle fixed and back in your driveway as fast as you do. Two reasons, 1) they do not get paid for warranty work until its done. 2) they hate telling people they don't have their vehicle fixed.

 

[Rich M]

We used to do Fords for fleet vehicles, after 180,000 they were done. Been using Toyota Tundra for 10 years and still trying to wear them out.

This is down south with no salt on roads... Guess they rot easy, have no idea. We have about 15 Toyotas and 1 Nissan in our fleet.

Cousin of mine just bought a new Chevy Colorado and expects to tow a 24 ft boat. Tried to get him to go Toyota. Maybe next time.

 

[Takem]

So I cannot speak specifically about the dealer you are doing business with but I can speak about where the auto industry as a whole, as I run a fairly large Ford store in Louisiana.

With Covid shutting down factories for at least two months, it also shut down manufacturers of parts as well. There is a severe shortage of vehicles and parts. Parts that are commonly available are on never ending backorder.

Loaner vehicles - It is extremely common that loaner vehicles aren't provided for the intended use of towing. Has to do with liability and such.

Combine the above two bullet points and you have found yourself square in the riptide of Corona virus and the effects its having on the economy.

I can almost guaranty that dealer wants your vehicle fixed and back in your driveway as fast as you do. Two reasons, 1) they do not get paid for warranty work until its done. 2) they hate telling people they don't have their vehicle fixed.

Very useful information. Thank you for taking the time. This explains a good portion of it. Still seems like I've been fed some BS.

 

[Opah]

Call Bar, Bureau of Automotive Repairs file a complaint and watch how fast and friendly they get.

 

[Fullfan]

First off get away from the 1/2 ton if you are going to tow at all. Wife had a 17 eco diesel, great grocery getter but not meant for towing. She now has a 3/4 chevy w the Duramax. I'm on my 3rd Cummins, even tho they came with a Dodge I have been very happy. Last one needed a water pump at 116k, 20 min and 36.00. Truck had 167k when I traded it for another. I can not speak for loaner vehicles due to the Chevy and Dodge's only ever needing minor recall work done.

 

[DenverCountryBoy]

My wife's 2016 Ford Edge was a couple weeks out of the three year warranty when it had an electric short that melted a wiring harness.

We reached out to corporate and they authorized the dealer to cover 95% of the cost. As they got into the repair, they kept finding more damage. Three wiring harnesses had melted together. The electric console and display was fried, the wires behind the headliner shorted and burned the back of the headliner. They interior was stripped back to metal and all the damaged parts were replaced. They total repair was 5x more than the original estimate.

It took over a month because everytime the dealer found something else, they had to get approval from corporate and corporate sent out an engineering team to document what went wrong.

When it was finally ready, we went to pick it up expecting to pay 5% of the total. But Ford only charged us 5% of the original estimate to replace the one wiring harness.

Again, this is a vehicle that was out of warranty. Ford could have told us to kick bricks. Instead, they went above and beyond taking great care of us. We will be Ford for life.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

FWIW - I've had more warranty work from GM over the last 5-10 years than Ford/Dodge combined. Mostly on 3/4's on up to 1-1/2 ton diesels. been fortunate with dealers from all 3 being pretty honest, even when it meant the company they work for built a poor product.

No experience on the small 1/2 ton diesels but considering my experience with the heaviers ones, if all your pulling is a boat (assuming 16'-20' typical fishing boat?) I would buy a 1/2 ton gasser and not look back.

 

[Brooks]

I have a 2014 Ford F-350 6.7 diesel 219,000 miles, gets 18 mpg on average and it’s never been in the shop. Pulls a 5th wheel, a 4 horse trailer and gooseneck trailer. If your hauling any weight sell the little diesel and get the right tool for the job. Good luck.

 

[BFR]

I’ve had all brands over the years, there’s been good and bad service from all when it comes to warranty service. In my opinion it all boils down to the dealership. Some work hard to get stuff covered, some don’t. I recently had a miner issue with my Jeep JK while traveling, dealer in Las Vegas said not covered so I didn’t have it done figuring I could do it myself. When I went to my local dealer for oil change I mentioned it to them, lo and behold, when I picked it up the issue was fixed and covered. Why do I go to dealer for oil change you ask? I have lifetime free oil changes with them and they have multiple dealerships in many states. I also have lifetime service contract, unlimited miles so going to the right dealer is important.

 

[Titan]

You are in a different situation with the 4th gen Ram ecodiesel. Have you done the AEM/V07/8 updates? They are pressing hard against providing anything for warranty work. You need to contact RamCares, get stuff escalated. Stay on them. I will say that FCA has a crappy system, but one thing they do not mess around with are bad reviews against a dealer. You send one of those suckers off and you are getting phone calls from FCA and the manager of the dealership immediately.

I loved my (tuned) 2016 ecodiesel. Enough so I got the latest version in a 2020.

 

[Bassman]

I brought my 2019 Colorado in to have the transmission fluid swapped (the stock one was causing an engine shudder). For what it's worth, dealership gave me a loaner but the hitch had a lock through it and was told I could not tow my boat. I complained to the hills since I had to change my plans but they said it was an insurance issues

 

[Quin]

I don't think dealers have a legal requirement to even provide a loaner (it may vary by state). That said, my experience is I've always gotten a loaner except once (I was promised a loaner but not provided, long story, suffice it to say that repair was a total goat rope).

I've only gotten a loaner off the dealership lot if the repair is less than a day. Generally its the same vehicle.
If repairs are longer than a day, loaners have been from a rental company and its been a "you get what you get" thing (e.g. I once received a sedan when I had a truck).

Warranty work has always taken longer than quoted sometimes by several days but a month for a vehicle you're probably still making payments on seems excessive. I think you need to start looking at what your legal rights as a consumer are.

 

[Takem]

I don't think dealers have a legal requirement to even provide a loaner (it may vary by state). That said, my experience is I've always gotten a loaner except once (I was promised a loaner but not provided, long story, suffice it to say that repair was a total goat rope).

I've only gotten a loaner off the dealership lot if the repair is less than a day. Generally its the same vehicle.
If repairs are longer than a day, loaners have been from a rental company and its been a "you get what you get" thing (e.g. I once received a sedan when I had a truck).

Warranty work has always taken longer than quoted sometimes by several days but a month for a vehicle you're probably still making payments on seems excessive. I think you need to start looking at what your legal rights as a consumer are.

The part came in today and It should be done tomorrow. If it doesn't work out I will be looking into my rights. If I don't get it back tomorrow it will be 5 weeks.

 

[Takem]

You are in a different situation with the 4th gen Ram ecodiesel. Have you done the AEM/V07/8 updates? They are pressing hard against providing anything for warranty work. You need to contact RamCares, get stuff escalated. Stay on them. I will say that FCA has a crappy system, but one thing they do not mess around with are bad reviews against a dealer. You send one of those suckers off and you are getting phone calls from FCA and the manager of the dealership immediately.

I loved my (tuned) 2016 ecodiesel. Enough so I got the latest version in a 2020.

I really like the truck. Good to know yours worked out. I have not done those updates. Is it a good thing or a bad thing do have them done?

 

[Takem]

18.5 Alumacraft. I agree a 1/2 is plenty. I still have the 2006 3/4 ton Chevy diesel I've been driving the last ten years and I like the 1/2 ton for less heavy work.

FWIW - I've had more warranty work from GM over the last 5-10 years than Ford/Dodge combined. Mostly on 3/4's on up to 1-1/2 ton diesels. been fortunate with dealers from all 3 being pretty honest, even when it meant the company they work for built a poor product.

No experience on the small 1/2 ton diesels but considering my experience with the heaviers ones, if all your pulling is a boat (assuming 16'-20' typical fishing boat?) I would buy a 1/2 ton gasser and not look back.

 

[Titan]

Well, the actual update is bad. I was tuned before, so I knew I would be worse off after the update.
But you do get a check for $3,000 if you are the original owner. I think less if you are the second owner and the first responds to the claim.
With the tune, you also get a 100,000 mile warranty from that point forward on any engine/emission related issues.
I got the update and sold it the next week. So I really didn’t notice anything after the update except it was sluggish.

I believe GDE has a EPA legal tune now. So it might be worth getting the update and the tune immediately after.

 

[skyler_2010]

As a Chrysler tech we are also getting jerked around on parts ETA so I wouldn't take it personal on that side. Parts deliveries have been an absolute nightmare since March. As far as getting a loaner the dealership that I work for will not give a loaner that will tow anything. Something about liability issues, I think it's rediculous myself but also understand. Sorry you are having issues with your dealership and your pickup hope it gets resolved soon!

 

[Takem]

As a Chrysler tech we are also getting jerked around on parts ETA so I wouldn't take it personal on that side. Parts deliveries have been an absolute nightmare since March. As far as getting a loaner the dealership that I work for will not give a loaner that will tow anything. Something about liability issues, I think it's rediculous myself but also understand. Sorry you are having issues with your dealership and your pickup hope it gets resolved soon!

Thanks for the info. Back up and running as of today. Turns out it was a clogged filter in the pump in the fuel tank.