2006 Dodge engine - now $3800+ & no warranty

[JonathanBurk]

Thanks Parks, and let me finally say thanks to all for your support in my now 48th day of this mess.



At this point I have given up on getting the $1100 mis-diagnosed repair fees I paid, and just want to pay whatever it takes to get the thing fixed, and the dealer is going to work to try & get the warranty restriction lifted. Otherwise what am I paying $4K for if it could break the next day and they charge me $4K all over again like they did before.

After it is fully fixed, I will take about a $7K-$10K loss (which I will pay in cash) and then trade it in for a Toyota.



I can post another update in a couple days when I hear back from the dealer, this is an ongoing saga it seems.



Bottomline lessons:



#1 Don't give Chrysler any reason to void your warranty... they will. And again, I didn't fight their warranty voiding.

However, in some other peoples cases I have read here, they may void it even if you don't give them a reason.



#2 If you pay Chrysler to fix something and they mis-diagnose it, you're liable for their screwup, expect to pay again for the same repairs.



#3 Don't call Chrysler customer care, they can do nothing for you, and will only serve to demonstrate to you what terrible customer service is. They will blame the dealer for everything.



#4 In most cases the dealer is your friend, but they have severe restrictions on them by Chrysler.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Johnathan, nothing against you, but I dont see how trading for a toyota is really going to fix anything. For the amount of money you are going to lose, I dont see how it makes any sense.



I will tell you a little story, heres the deal, I use to own a Dodge Ram 1500. It was my 3rd Chrysler vehicle, and I was soooo excited to own it. 2 yrs later that pile of junk got traded in on the current 2000 2500 CTD. I was about to the point of going postal on someone due to the 3 trannies, axle u-joints, heated seat replacement (in 3 times for it) using oil (blown plenum twice), Blown Limited Slip Clutches, leaking heater core, 3 shift linkages, need I go on? Most of which was covered under warranty, but the ended up voiding my warranty in the end and refused to replace the plenum gasket again, and a few other issues due to the fact I had larger tires on it and a 2" lift. I was absolutely mad as hell at that point, and never wanted to look at a Dodge again. But after a month or two, I cooled off, realized, ya know, it really is my own fault for some of these problems I had (transmission was probably my fault, 35" tires and stock gears) but as much as I hated DC (talked to them until I was blue in the face to no avail) I still really like DC vehicles. I fixed the problems after that on my own dollar. A few months later I traded it for my CTD, and even though I miss some of the comfort features that I had in the 1/2 ton, I love my new truck, even with its oil leaky mess.



I understand that you are ****** at the dealer that fixed it, and then it broke again, and as much as I hate to say it, DC is correct that you should have gone back to that dealer and had then fix it, or at least contact them and explain the repair did not fix the problem. DC is actually correct that the dealer is responsible for the repair, if they botched the repair, its that dealer that should fix it. If they are saying DC is telling them no, I have a hard time believing that, as if you paid cash for a repair, DC's warranty has nothing to do with it, its the Dealers 3 month - 12k mile warranty on all repair work that you are now dealing with, not DC in anyway.



What I am trying to say is buying a toyota is not going to fix anything. I dont get where everyone thinks that the toyota is so much better a truck. I know plenty of people that have problems with them too. Just because they tend to last longer doesnt mean anything. If all our trucks were driven by city peeps and women they would last just as long too :-laf sorry, had to. I really dont know of one person that drives a toyota that actually uses it as a truck. The only ones I do know, hack them up, put solid axles under them and wheel the **** out of them on the trail, and thats cause they are small.



Johnathan, sit back, take a DEEP breath, and look at it this way, life throws ya loops some times, and ya just gotta take them in stride, and do what ya think is best, but just dont act hastely. I would be ****** if I was you too, but I think taking a loss, at least trade for somthing of the same caliber. If your dealer has been so good to you over the years, why not see if they would be willing to trade you for somthing on thier lot, and work out a deal that you lose only what repair costs are on the old one. If they truely care about you, the dealer, they should work with you!

 

[Coolslice]

Jonathan, I support you buddy. Some people can get burned a 100 times before they realize not to put their hand in the fire, it doesn't sound like you're one of them.



I would not reward DC for this mess by rolling the dice and buying another DC product if I were you. If a Toyota will meet your needs then that's the route I'd go. Good Luck.

 

[JonathanBurk]

Alphacowboy,



I do understand your position, and agree for a lot of people it makes total sense, and I will sit back and ponder over it and may keep it a little longer. However, my decision is not totally out of anger so let me take a moment to explain.



#1 Between my note and fuel, I am paying $1300/month for my Cummins. The Toyota will be about $900. Long story short, I probably shouldn't have bought a $40K truck anyway.



#2 My complaint is a customer service one. As a very loyal Dodge owner, I felt like Chrysler didn't give 2 cents about me and didn't lift a finger to help me even after 40 days without a truck. I owned a Toyota before, and felt they stood behind their product much more than Dodge has in my experience and reading about quite a few warranty denials by Chrysler (even on stock vehicles both trucks and cars), has seriously degraded any trust I had left in them.



#3 I have no warranty on my engine anymore, and it's apparent that if something breaks Dodge will just keep charging me for the same repairs. I can't take that risk, as of right now I will be paying $5K when it should have only cost me $3800 if they treated me right, and it would cost me $1100 just to ship the truck back to the original dealer 200 miles away, argue with them that they did a shotty job, and then get it back home a 2nd time.



However, if I can get it back under warranty, I still only have 14K miles left on it so I may keep it for that time, but at this point I still don't trust it's going to be all fixed and good. My worry is it will break again, and I'll look at another $5K in repairs. I would rather pay $3K more to get rid of it for a truck I know is solid, has several years of warranty left, and a manufacturer that in the past has proven to me they care.



Again, I do accept responsibility for the possibility my mod caused the problem, and I am willing to pay, that's not the issue. The issue is I'm at day 48 now without a truck, they charged me $1100 (with Chryslers advisement) for a fix that didn't fix it, & they charge me again that $1100 despite their mis-diagnoses. Yes, I understand Chrysler says it's the dealers fault, but as I have read quite a bit and actually heard from the dealers themselves, this entire problem happens on stock trucks and they are very familiar with the issue, but Chrysler advises them to do patchwork first, replace an injector, and if that doesn't work oh well, replace everything. I can't blame "just" the dealer.



It has just been a customer service nightmare regardless of if the truck is under warranty or not. 48 days now? Ugh.

 

[JRG]

I agree with you. (for the most part)



Most of the issue is how this was handled by DC. Here you have a guy that was willing to step up and got shafted. Jonathan NEVER argued that he was demanding coverage at the "out of town dealer" How would you feel if your truck broke down a 1000 miles from home, you left a blank check, no one would fix your truck or call you, a month later they tell you to come get it for a $1100 non-warranted repair, you get home and the repair failed, DC wont credit your bill towards a proper repair (4x higher), ect.



My only suggestion was to take it somewhere customer service was more important.



The bottom line/question to all members is:



WHAT CAN JONATHAN DO TO EXPRESS HIS COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION WITH DC CUSTOMER SERVICE ASIDE FROM TAKING HIS BUSINESS ELSEWHERE? WHO IF ANYONE WILL LISTEN?



Jonathan, try not to beat up on too many CTD with your Tundra 1-ton diesel . (when not if)





JRG

 

[JonathanBurk]

I agree with you. (for the most part)



Most of the issue is how this was handled by DC. Here you have a guy that was willing to step up and got shafted. Jonathan NEVER argued that he was demanding coverage at the "out of town dealer" How would you feel if your truck broke down a 1000 miles from home, you left a blank check, no one would fix your truck or call you, a month later they tell you to come get it for a $1100 non-warranted repair, you get home and the repair failed, DC wont credit your bill towards a proper repair (4x higher), ect.



My only suggestion was to take it somewhere customer service was more important.



The bottom line/question to all members is:



WHAT CAN JONATHAN DO TO EXPRESS HIS COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION WITH DC CUSTOMER SERVICE ASIDE FROM TAKING HIS BUSINESS ELSEWHERE? WHO IF ANYONE WILL LISTEN?



Jonathan, try not to beat up on too many CTD with your Tundra 1-ton diesel . (when not if)



JRG

JRG,



LOL! Thanks man, you totally laid out exactly what I've been trying to express. Thank you!!

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Alphacowboy,



I do understand your position, and agree for a lot of people it makes total sense, and I will sit back and ponder over it and may keep it a little longer. However, my decision is not totally out of anger so let me take a moment to explain.



#1 Between my note and fuel, I am paying $1300/month for my Cummins. The Toyota will be about $900. Long story short, I probably shouldn't have bought a $40K truck anyway.



#2 My complaint is a customer service one. As a very loyal Dodge owner, I felt like Chrysler didn't give 2 cents about me and didn't lift a finger to help me even after 40 days without a truck. I owned a Toyota before, and felt they stood behind their product much more than Dodge has in my experience and reading about quite a few warranty denials by Chrysler (even on stock vehicles both trucks and cars), has seriously degraded any trust I had left in them.



#3 I have no warranty on my engine anymore, and it's apparent that if something breaks Dodge will just keep charging me for the same repairs. I can't take that risk, as of right now I will be paying $5K when it should have only cost me $3800 if they treated me right, and it would cost me $1100 just to ship the truck back to the original dealer 200 miles away, argue with them that they did a shotty job, and then get it back home a 2nd time.



However, if I can get it back under warranty, I still only have 14K miles left on it so I may keep it for that time, but at this point I still don't trust it's going to be all fixed and good. My worry is it will break again, and I'll look at another $5K in repairs. I would rather pay $3K more to get rid of it for a truck I know is solid, has several years of warranty left, and a manufacturer that in the past has proven to me they care.



Again, I do accept responsibility for the possibility my mod caused the problem, and I am willing to pay, that's not the issue. The issue is I'm at day 48 now without a truck, they charged me $1100 (with Chryslers advisement) for a fix that didn't fix it, & they charge me again that $1100 despite their mis-diagnoses. Yes, I understand Chrysler says it's the dealers fault, but as I have read quite a bit and actually heard from the dealers themselves, this entire problem happens on stock trucks and they are very familiar with the issue, but Chrysler advises them to do patchwork first, replace an injector, and if that doesn't work oh well, replace everything. I can't blame "just" the dealer.



It has just been a customer service nightmare regardless of if the truck is under warranty or not. 48 days now? Ugh.

I completely agree with your logic, and if I were in the same situation as you, I'd probably do the exact same thing. Toyota and Honda are much easier to deal with on warranty-related problems/issues.



There is good reason why Honda and Toyota vehicle sales are growing every year. When either of those companies builds a 3/4 or 1-ton truck with a diesel will surely be the beginning of the end for Dodge, Ford, and Chevy truck sales... IMHO. Mighty Cummins? Yeah right, if ya baby it...

 

[CBari]

Johnathan I Feel For You



I Had A Similar Experience With A Ford Dealership, Where I Was Looking At Buying A F350 With A Salvaged Title That 40,ooo Miles On It, I New It Didn't Have Any Warrenty But Also Knew Something Was Wrong With The Engine. Before Purcashing I Had Paid To Have The Diagnose The Problem, I Forced Them To Check The Compression On The Engine And To Pull The Injectors And Inspect. They Claimed Engine Was Good And That It Needed An Injector Control Module And 1 Injector.



I Purchased The Truck With The Cost Of Repairs In Mind, Had The Dealership Make The Repairs. Two Days Later The Dealership Called And Told Me They Had Bad News That The Motor Was Bad And I Would Need To Replace It Plus Pay For The Injector And The Injector Control Module. Needless To Say I Was As Upset As You Are. After Talking With The Dealerships Operating Manager And Not Getting Any Where I Got The Better Business Bureau Involved And They Helped Me Get The Truck Back With Only Paying For The Estimate Of Repairs.



Good Luck And Remember Everything Happens For A Reason We Just Don't Know Why Most Of The Time.



Ps I Know For Sure Toyoto Is Coming Out With A Truck With Diesel Motor Soon (no Rumor Hear)

 

[DPKetchum]

Imports! Imports! Unless the IMPORTS have changed a LOT in lots of ways their more UNFORGIVING and LESS FRIENDLY with WARRANTY money then the domistics. Kinda liker their finacing. You never see 0 percent and selling at employee price etc. from the imports. We'll see.

 

[Jaysyl]

Imports! Imports! Unless the IMPORTS have changed a LOT in lots of ways their more UNFORGIVING and LESS FRIENDLY with WARRANTY money then the domistics. Kinda liker their finacing. You never see 0 percent and selling at employee price etc. from the imports. We'll see.

Toyota dose not need 0% or employee pricing. People will pay more for a better product.



IN 02 We got a Tahoe not the Toyota Sequoia, why? NO 0% interest, and the Toyota was 5000 more. I thought I was saving money. Yea right now with the warranty over in 6000 miles on the Tahoe I cant wait to dump this pile of CRAP and get the TOYOTA like I should have done in the first place.



I was hoping to keep the Tahoe for a few more years but with only 54000 miles on it I do not trust the wife to take the kids out of town in the thing. Yea, any car can have problems I just like my chances better in a Toyota or Honda. Thank goodness for AAA towing, It comes in handy for the Tahoe.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Johnathan, your response to me is EXACTLY what I was thinking was going on. I feel for ya man, my 1/2 ton cost me around 1-1100 a month, not including the deductable I was paying every 3 months.



Heres an idea, like stated a few times, it might not be a bad idea to find a aftermarket warranty if Dodge does screw ya sideways on the engine. Reason I would look this direction is for a few reasons...



1. )If you get a good reputable(sp?) warranty company, you shouldnt have these problems getting stuff fixed. Like I stated before, look into a GM extended service plan, I know I know, sounds crazy, but I had ABSOLUTELY no issues getting stuff fixed before it ran out. Just an example, I got a new lift pump, (left the edge comp in the truck when there), trac-bar (have a 5" lift), and some other issues such as front u-joints, all covered and repaired under warranty, no issues, not cancellations, nothing. So, as much as it will kill me to do so, the next Dodge I buy will have the GM extended plan on it, PERIOD!



2. )The after market warranty will be ALOT cheaper than the loss your going to take on trading it.



3. )Again, if its a good warranty company, repairs should be taken care of, not out of your pocket, IF it does break down again.



4. ) nothing to do with the warranty, but, if you havent, CALL THE BBB and I am sure as hell they would LOVE to hear this story, as I am really thinking this is a bunch of BS.

 

[JRG]

This brings up a good question.



Can someone just buy a generic warranty and not worry about it getting voided because of bombing? I'm sure EVERYONE has gotten those letters in the mail "your warranty is running out, extend it today" Just might be an option.



JRG

 

[MMeier]

This brings up a good question.



Can someone just buy a generic warranty and not worry about it getting voided because of bombing? I'm sure EVERYONE has gotten those letters in the mail "your warranty is running out, extend it today" Just might be an option.



JRG

From what I gather those are even worse then a "factory warranty", I know I know, is that even possible. Had an aftermarket warranty on my 87 Toyota p/u way back when, thought the blown head gasket would be covered, turns out the insurance company backing the warranty people went belly up. Guess that lil' 4 popper didn't like towing my race car @14# of boost!!

 

[starkmr]

Do the research on aftermarket warranties, there are good ones and bad ones. Generally you get what you pay for. The cheap ones may go belly up at anytime. There are good sources on the net, you just have to do the research and find what works for your situation.





Mike

 

[GWBourne]

All DC needs to know in order to void a warranty is that something was pluged in to the harness. A simple hose clamp is all it took to viod my warranty on my 03.

they tried this with my 04. 5

"extra wires going into PCM"



those "extra wires" are for the exhaust brake the dealership in oregon installed... yeah, its a Jake... .



Grant

 

[Big MAK]

1) Chrysler Warranties really are total crap. Been there done that; three gassers and five diesels. DC won't ever fix anything if they can fabricate an excuse to avoid it.



2) No more DC or American vehicles for me -- only exception is CTD's. Driving Toyotas and Hondas and I've never had a problem. Night and day service difference between Toyota/Honda and DC. I've done a reasonable bit of "bombing" to Toyota pickups and Honda cars and never had warranty problems. They expect people to personalize their vehicles and don't punish them for it.



3) I love the Cummin's Engine/s



When you can't personalize a vehicle without loosing the warranty... it spells the death of that manufacturer (all of them -- DC, Ford, GM). People don't like driving identical gumdrops -- gumdrops on parade only works in NASCAR.

 

[DPKetchum]

You really belive that? Its been 5 years since I retired. But I worked import and domistic dealers and had friends that crossed over on both sides. Nissan,Isuzu,Mazda,Toyota VOIDED warrantys left and right for PERSONALIZED vehicles also. BIG TIME. They had SLUDGE monsters,vehicles off roaded,engines that had goodies added to ENHANCE performance and 'THEY VOIDED"warrantys left and right. In MANY ways the IMPORTS were tighter on warranty money! You can kid yourself but they ARE NOT ANY DIFFERANT! Not defending the domistics just trying to tell it like it is. The GRASS JUST appears GREENER from a DISTANCE but all cut short can be WEEDS up close.

 

[y-knot]

I have to agree with you, the grass always seems better and brighter from the other side. Just because you had a warranty issue doesn't mean the manufacturer is any harder on warranty issues then any other dealer. It just means you, YOU had a problem.

I'm not sure about all the stuff I read about the imports? Are they better??? and is the warranty issues better with them ?? I have no ideal. I own both domestic and import, and have been treated great by both dealers when ever i had a problem. So where does that leave me? Really no where, It just means I have been treated right by both dealers.

For me, I do think the imports are better built then the domestics, but then again it depends on which cars and or trucks, you are comparing too. Honestly, I do not think there is as better choice right now for a HD diesel truck, then the Dodge/Cummins combination. For me, the 2007 model will be the logical choose for best tow vehicle, chassis cab or not I like the combination of the new 6-speed auto and the new larger displacement cummins. Yes, regaurdless of what the HP and Torque numbers come out to be. I think the week spot has always been the automatic portion of the combination, just my opinion. So, here the domestic would be the best manufacturer. But this does not mean the same holds true for cars or any other vehicle. On average, yes I feel the imports are built better and will last longer with fewer problems. Again just my opinion, but based on the fact that I have had great service with my imports and admire the build quality, fit and finish, and performance the manufacturer offers.

Will Honda or Toyota build a true full size HD truck and offer a diesel engine that is capable of pulling what my Dodge will pull? Who knows? Most assume if they do they will do it right, this based on past performances. I would agree, from what I have sen, they tend to do it right. I also hope they do come out with some competition to Dodge/Ford/Chevy. I think it would force everyone to be more quality and consumer friendly. As for the dealers, I have had great experiences. But it does not supprize me that everyone is tightening there policies these days. Ford for example, spent $500 million dollars OVER the annual warranty budget in just the first 9 months of 2005. Talk about a company looking for ways to save money, they must be going over their trucks with a very fine comb!!

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I think that I have had 11 Chrysler vehicles that were new / new enough when I purchased them to have some manufactuer warranty. I have had 0 problems with warranty issues.



I honestly don't understand why there are so many people out there who think that when they "personalize" their vehicle by adding more power than they came with, the manufactuer should stand behind it. In my mind, if they did, that would be at a sure way to cause the builder to go out of business - wether you are talking about a domestic or foreign company. Keep them stock, and you are unlikely to have problems. If you want to "personalize" go for it. But don't come crying if your vehicle brakes and you are forced to take some PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for what you did.

 

[john3976]

I think that I have had 11 Chrysler vehicles that were new / new enough when I purchased them to have some manufactuer warranty. I have had 0 problems with warranty issues.



I honestly don't understand why there are so many people out there who think that when they "personalize" their vehicle by adding more power than they came with, the manufactuer should stand behind it. In my mind, if they did, that would be at a sure way to cause the builder to go out of business - wether you are talking about a domestic or foreign company. Keep them stock, and you are unlikely to have problems. If you want to "personalize" go for it. But don't come crying if your vehicle brakes and you are forced to take some PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for what you did.

If the aftermarket part is what caused the failure then the manufacture under the law can refuse the repair, this is the problem, something happens to the car or truck, the dealer sees an aftermarket product on the car or truck, no diagnostic service, just sees the product, warranty voided on the spot.



That is what is against the law, most of the problems are not caused by the aftermarket parts, as they are failing at the same rates on stock trucks or cars.



The dealers know 99% of the people will feel powerless to fight them and will just pony up the several thousand dollars to fix a problem that was a defect that was going to happen no matter if the aftermarket part was there or if the vehicle was bone stock.



Why should anyone have to pay for something that should be covered under warranty when it is failing on stock vehicles as well?



Ford just sent my company a memo to only use Motorcraft air filters in our vehicles making the claim that all aftermarket filters will fail.



That is total BS yet Ford is getting away with it as my company has issued a memo to only use Ford air filters.



We are also required by Ford to change the fuel filters every 15,000 miles or Ford will refuse warranty repair on a blown engine, the first thing they do is look to see if the fuel filters were changed at 15,000 miles if not you just bought the engine, no checking to see what caused the blown engine, just void the warranty because a filter was not changed at 15,000 miles.



I have seen no notice to the public that they are required to follow this short filter change cycle as a gas engine should not need fuel filters every 15,000 miles.



One thing that has been revealed by changing the fuel filters every 15,000 miles, is every car when it has the factory filter removed and replaced, the fuel that drains from it is very brown and dirty, the replacement filters all of them when replaced when you drain the fuel from them it drains out nice and clean, that indicates a Ford problem at build time and not a problem after delivery.