OK, it's official...

[BHiggins]

HBarlow... I agree with you, and I'm quite happy I have a South Bend clutch in there now. With that said, only the friction disc is considered a wear item, all other clutch components are covered by the 36month/36k mile warranty (including the flywheel). That's why I have a problem with the dealer. I was told adamantly AT LEAST a half a dozen times that slippage can ONLY BE CAUSED by a worn clutch friction disc. If I had been told it MIGHT be the flywheel slipping, I might have taken a chance and let the dealer do the work in the hope that it WOULD be the flywheel. I wasn't given that option, and the service rep should have known that dual-mass flywheels can slip too. As I said, I don't expect them to pay for my South Bend clutch, simply because there was NOTHING WRONG with the factory clutch when I took it out. What I do expect, is compensation for the flywheel.

 

[HBarlow]

That sounds reasonable but Dodge will probably take the position that they have no way to know whether the flywheel or clutch assembly or nothing at all was failing. Do you have the flywheel that you could ship to them to support your claim that it was bad?

If you had taken it to another dealer you may have received a different answer. If two dealers had told you the same thing you might have a stronger argument.

 

[TFucili]

Dodge is doing nothing for me (as I expected). I spoke to the case manager today, they claim my dispute is with the dealer and not Chrysler. I told them the problem had been misdiagnosed by the dealer, and now I'm out almost $2000. 00 because of their mistake. Am I being unreasonable? I was told BY THE DEALER that the clutch was bad, and the clutch isn't covered under warranty. The slipping problem was NOT the clutch, but the dual-mass flywheel. The flywheels have a "friction ring" internally between the primary and secondary flywheels, and that's what was slipping. Obviously the flywheel WOULD HAVE been covered under warranty, but because of the DEALER'S clutch misdiagnosis I brought the truck to an independent mechanic. I'm not expecting Dodge to pay for the whole thing, but AT LEAST reimburse me the cost of a new dual-mass flywheel... I don't think that's an unreasonable request.

I assume you spoke with a talking head "loss-mitigation" representative via phone? I would try to demand a meeting with the area service manager who visits the dealers. Bring the truck and the parts, and calmly lay out the scenario. I did this during one of my many Ford trouble episodes, when the dealer was trying to hose me. I made the repair myself, showed him the receipts and the old parts, and explained my beef. He agreed, and they at least paid for the parts. It was a fair solution. The morons on the phone don't know a clutch from Shinola, and will just string you along until you go away.

 

[RVTRKN]

I assume you spoke with a talking head "loss-mitigation" representative via phone? I would try to demand a meeting with the area service manager who visits the dealers. Bring the truck and the parts, and calmly lay out the scenario. I did this during one of my many Ford trouble episodes, when the dealer was trying to hose me. I made the repair myself, showed him the receipts and the old parts, and explained my beef. He agreed, and they at least paid for the parts. It was a fair solution. The morons on the phone don't know a clutch from Shinola, and will just string you along until you go away.

I agree, we call them factory reps here in SoCal. I did that with a rep, when my 94 went through the front brakes at 19K. I got new calipers and did the brake job myself, with the parts compilments of Dodge.

 

[Wingate]

Whats bad is that with the low miles on the truck, you are having to go thru this B. S. to begin with.

Funny how different industries view things completely different. While I don't work in the automotive industry, where I work, warranty consideration is assumed until/unless it is proven to NOT be a warranty situation.

The automotive industry seems to assume its NOT warranty unless you show up with a lawyer. go figure. .

 

[ACerf]

I would go ahead and complain to Dodge about the problem. I did when I was having problems with my injectors, and the warranty had just expired at the time. They had Earnhadt Dodge in Mesa Az. replace them at no charge! like they say the "Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease!" It is worth a try. All that said, I don't think I would go with anything but the Dodge/Cummins. You could get into the same situation with a Ford or GM product! At least the Cummins is better than the Powerstroke or Duramax.

 

[BHiggins]

I'm going to go see the dealer this week... My attitude is hope for the best, but EXPECT the worst.

 

[ACerf]

I'm going to go see the dealer this week... My attitude is hope for the best, but EXPECT the worst.

Myself, I would not waste my time going to the dealer. Call Dodge/Ram at there customer service and tell them your problem. I don't think the dealer is going to do anything for you. They may get the Service Field Rep. to talk to you. But the complaining to the Dodge direct was for me much better. Good Luck!

 

[BHiggins]

I already called Dodge, they told me my complaint was with the dealer, and not Chrysler.

 

[TCDiesel]

The Only way I see Chrysler or the Dealer Paying for any part of this Is By 3rd Party intervention in the court of Jurisdiction.

 

[ACerf]

I already called Dodge, they told me my complaint was with the dealer, and not Chrysler.

I am going to call a friend of mine that works for Chrysler. I will see what he can do for you. You have a 2008 with 20K on it, correct? Can not make any promises, but he has done me some favors in the past. In fact I got my truck through him, at below dealer cost.

 

[HBarlow]

In fact I got my truck through him, at below dealer cost.

Wow, what a deal! How do you get such a great deal?

Kinda makes me wonder why a dealer would sell you a new truck for less than he paid for it plus pay for his building, utilities, flooring interest on inventory, insurance, wages for his employees, local, state, and federal taxes, etc.

Was it "Santa Claus Dodge?"

 

[BHiggins]

ACerf... Thank you, I'll take all the help I can get. It has has 21,400 miles, and the factory warranty is still good for another few months.

 

[ACerf]

Wow, what a deal! How do you get such a great deal?



Kinda makes me wonder why a dealer would sell you a new truck for less than he paid for it plus pay for his building, utilities, flooring interest on inventory, insurance, wages for his employees, local, state, and federal taxes, etc.



Was it "Santa Claus Dodge?"

Like they say; It isn't what you know, it is who you know! It is a program that many manufactures have called; "Friends and Family Program". Since Chrysler is having so much problems, especially now, they need all the friends and family they can get!

 

[hwebster]

Just sent an affidvit into a law firm looking at a class action suit in Canada... Who knows I might some satisfaction..... yet... .

 

[ColoradoKing]

This has been an very interesting thread. Sorry about all the hassle. I think you should exercise your right as a consumer/loyal customer and berate the dealer and Chrysler to at least contribute something to solving your dissatisfaction (notwithstanding what is in the works by ACerf). The problem with both dealer and Chrysler is that they fear acknowledging the problem sets a precedent for others, and will lead to a worse backlash than losing a customer or two. The best out for them would be to accept your '08 on a 2011 trade-in to your satisfaction, then fix the clutch on the quiet and make a buck on the deal themselves. Interested to hear how this turns out!

 

[HBarlow]

At what point does customer individual responsibility enter into this issue? Does a consumer who buys a truck with the dual mass flywheel have some degree of responsibility? I don't remember the old Latin phrase but translated into ordinary English it states, "buyer beware. "

It is common knowledge that the dual mass flywheel system is a weak compromise. I don't remember where I first learned that or when I learned it but I have known for years, perhaps since late 2005 or early 2006 when Dodge began installing it behind the new aluminum case G-56 and discussion began that it was likely to be trouble prone.

Anyone who chooses the manual transmission Dodge Ram is buying into the problem. Making demands on Dodge can only result in Dodge replacing the failed DMF with . . . another DMF that will fail also.

There are two solutions. A conversion to solid flywheel. SouthBend Clutch is a respected supplier. Or an automatic transmission.

I know that some will angrily disagree. That is your right just as the choice to buy a DMF was.

Lawsuits and class action lawsuits in particular typically take years to work their course through the legal system if they ever do. And if there is ever a settlement only the lawyers will benefit. Individual owners will be unlikely to ever see a dime out of a settlement and that might be after the 2020 trucks are introduced.

 

[BHiggins]

@ HBarlow: My truck (the subject of this thread) has 21k miles, and is still under factory warranty. The dealer FAILED to properly diagnose a problem, and as such I am now out of pocket almost $2000. 00 for a repair that should have been covered under warranty. Is that "caveat emptor", or is it something else? Should I have known that Dodge would renege on their promise to warranty the truck? Should I have just ASSUMED the truck would break and not be covered? Is that what you're suggesting? Yes the dual-mass flywheels are a problem, but as a consumer paying alot of money for a new truck, sometimes you assume the dealer will cover the warranty as they should. In my case Dodge told me at least a half a dozen times that slippage can "ONLY be caused by a worn clutch friction disc", and therefore wasn't covered under warranty. The slippage was in fact NOT the disc, but a failed flywheel which is STILL under warranty. Should that be my fault under "let the buyer beware", or should Dodge cover a CLEARLY warrantied part?

 

[hwebster]

Well I have to admit that the DMF is apiece of CRAP... I bought the Cummins, with all the warts on it. I've burned off a few warts and will keep trying to get it right. Not that I am a rabid Dodge man, but I do believe Cummins is the best mill going.

I'll take Southbend over the DMF anytime. To bad it took a couple of tries to get it right.

While I agree the lawyers get rich, at least we have to try and kick some sense into the bureaucrats and over paid corporate suits. I\ll take a shot on a class action, if it means we can get some sort of protection from the racketeering practices of these multinationals. Un fortuanately we... being the Royal We. . for the US and Canada, are ******* away out heritage and countries by being party to this BS. Seems to me the 1776 attitude has been stymied by useless legislation, fat cat lawyers and... dare I say... . Wall F'in Street...

I fail to see a lot of difference in the lot of the serfs and the average man these days... We just keep getting screwed... See Bail Out - Wall Street robs Congress and Parliament...

(We Websters seem to be **** disturbers anyhow!) So kick em if you can. . who knows you might hit some junk!!!

 

[RVTRKN]

The Dual Mass Flywheel is a problem and have known to come apart. There can be many reasons why it didn't last, but it should make at least the promised 36K 3Year warranty and if it didn't, Dodge should pay, period! I bought my truck with the full knowledge that the DMF can be an issue and so far it has made 33K so far. My truck is out of Factory warranty , but still has the extended warranty, and I am confident that Frahm Dodge will take care of it if it fails. But that is because I have bought several trucks from them and I also have had warranty work done there in the past and I know that they stand behind the their sales. I believe it is a Dealer problem and BHiggins took a chance having an independent shop repair it. I think the best solution to this would have been for him to have taken it to another dealer and be present when disassembled or request the defective part. That way it would have been easy for the dealer to justify to Dodge, the warranty. Now it has been done, and they can wash their hands of it for now. Don't let up on that dishonest dealer and let the world know what kind of crooks they are.