Transfer Case Failure x 2

[SCF Truck]

For Sale: 2018 Ram 2500 4x4 6.7 Cummins. Only 1,600 miles.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

You might want to also check on insurance. Going to a 4500 might cause an increase, depending on the type of insurance you currently carry

Not knowing all the details, you’re right, I don’t see how your weight caused the issue. I know folks who are seriously overloaded and have never had an issue

 

[DonFitzwater]

UPDATE. Our Ram dealership called today. Chrysler will NOT cover the replacement of our 2nd txfr case under warranty. Per the service manager FCA said the txfr failed due to "being overloaded".

Our dealer has decided to cover the cost of replacing the txfr case .

I'm baffled by the failure since we were 4,050 lbs BELOW the max towing for our VIN.

Needless to say I dont trust this truck and will be trading in it ASAP.

The dealership is recommending a Ram 4500. Seems over kill to pull an occasional trailer loaded with 13,500 lbs.

Thoughts?

This is troubling................however, there are two sides to every story.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

I see what is wrong! You were driving someone else’s truck!

You do realize, that the two pictures you have there are not of the same truck? One is a four-door, one is a two door.

 

[SCF Truck]

I see what is wrong! You were driving someone else’s truck!

You do realize, that the two pictures you have there are not of the same truck? One is a four-door, one is a two door.

I mistakenly uploaded the loaner photo. My truck is the regular cab two door.

 

[Cummins12V98]

UPDATE. Our Ram dealership called today. Chrysler will NOT cover the replacement of our 2nd txfr case under warranty. Per the service manager FCA said the txfr failed due to "being overloaded".

Our dealer has decided to cover the cost of replacing the txfr case .

I'm baffled by the failure since we were 4,050 lbs BELOW the max towing for our VIN.

Needless to say I dont trust this truck and will be trading in it ASAP.

The dealership is recommending a Ram 4500. Seems over kill to pull an occasional trailer loaded with 13,500 lbs.

Thoughts?

I tow 23-25 within ratings

 

[lpennock]

You might want to also check on insurance. Going to a 4500 might cause an increase, depending on the type of insurance you currently carry

Not knowing all the details, you’re right, I don’t see how your weight caused the issue. I know folks who are seriously overloaded and have never had an issue

I had a 5500 and Geico would only insure it because it had a pickup bed. Had it had a flat or utility bed they wouldn't have insured it. Allstate wouldn't even give me a quote.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I had a 5500 and Geico would only insure it because it had a pickup bed. Had it had a flat or utility bed they wouldn't have insured it. Allstate wouldn't even give me a quote.

State Farm will insure chassis cab trucks for private parties. The "El Cheapo" insurance crooks like Progressive and Geico won't. That's a clue as to how reliable they are.

 

[jgillott]

I've been around this forum for a long time and I believe that this is the first time that someone has had a warranty repair denied for being over loaded. Does anyone remember another time?

 

[DonFitzwater]

I've been around this forum for a long time and I believe that this is the first time that someone has had a warranty repair denied for being over loaded. Does anyone remember another time?

Nope

 

[JR]

I've been around this forum for a long time and I believe that this is the first time that someone has had a warranty repair denied for being over loaded. Does anyone remember another time?

According to the OP he wasn't overloaded. Sounds like FCA is looking for a way out and this is it. How could they possibly know the failure was from running overloaded unless they were there in the flesh when the transfer case blew? I'd really like to know what kind of forensics FCA has to determine this. The fact that the dealership is covering it AFTER FCA denied is even more troubling. Wow.
It sounds really fishy, especially looking at his photos which shows the same trailer and tractor hitched to the loaner truck with no issues. No way that should ever cause a failure of a TC going down the road in 2wd. I've pulled heavier loads out of a sloppy field - in 4wd - many times with my 14 3500.

 

[Newsa]

Unless he had a tuner????? And FCA investigators detected it?

 

[EDankievitch]

I would contest that ruling. Demand to see a factory rep in person. If and When the guy shows up take him for a ride down to the local scale with the loaner truck and the loaded trailer. Let him tell you No better yet show you how you are over weight. The transfer case should not just blow apart towing on a flat road. You are not any where near the max torque they advertise the box is capable of handling. I'd also hire a lawyer in case they don't send a rep out. They boast all the time what these trucks can do and when you try to do it they tell you That you are over loaded!?!?!?!?! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!!!

 

[JR]

I would contest that ruling. Demand to see a factory rep in person. If and When the guy shows up take him for a ride down to the local scale with the loaner truck and the loaded trailer. Let him tell you No better yet show you how you are over weight. The transfer case should not just blow apart towing on a flat road. You are not any where near the max torque they advertise the box is capable of handling. I'd also hire a lawyer in case they don't send a rep out. They boast all the time what these trucks can do and when you try to do it they tell you That you are over loaded!?!?!?!?! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!!!

I really doubt that the TC is the problem. 2 in less than 2000 miles? Im thinking a lack of understanding on the mechanics part is problemo numero uno.

 

[SCF Truck]

View attachment 111269

I really doubt that the TC is the problem. 2 in less than 2000 miles? Im thinking a lack of understanding on the mechanics part is problemo numero uno.

It's good to hear from all of you that this a one off.

I agree FCA didn't do proper analysis. I did aircraft maintenance in the Navy for 25 years. We would have never put an aircraft back into service without a complete Engineering Investigation on a failure like this. I knew there was a high probability of a second txfr case failure when the dealer told me they didn't have an explanation for the first.
I still think the shift linkage maybe a factor.

Regarding this truck I'm not keeping it unless FCA can explain and correct the defect. That will probably never happen. And getting FCA to buy it back is probably too much work. I'll work with the dealer first on a trade in. Either way I'm out a good chunk of money between sales tax registration and diminish trade in value.

The upside of this is I know the 2500 is capable of the job as demonstrated by our loaner truck and I really like the Cummins engine.

Photo: hours before the first failure. Loaded trailer is 13,500 lbs.

 

[Cummins12V98]

It would be nice to see a paper trail on this one!

 

[Learjet]

what are the lemon laws in your state...hate lawyers...but if your story is as you tell it...then this is a good case.

 

[TCDiesel]

These TC cases were reject because they failed pressure testing, their was 1000s of them.

 

[TCDiesel]

............................

 

[Learjet]

pressure testing...as in strength? or leakage?