Jeep dealership won't check mechanical damage until finished with body work

[Higher_Ground]

Without looking I can't recall what your state says defines when a vehicle must be totaled, but I'd almost bet you are already there.

I would've thought so, but the last big ticket items only had me at ~37% (need 70% to total). I know these parts now are probably only a couple thousand (?). Unfortunately I don't think the math adds up yet - BUT (and a huge BUTT) they literally have no idea what the scope is because...

How the hell can they miss those parts being broken?
I've never seen such a cluster-f on a vehicle before.
They absolutely would have seen those things - they are right in front of their bloody noses, obvious - all they are doing is taking things one step at a time, milking it. I have a feeling it could be something more nefarious than just being stupid.
You can't miss those thing! What kind of idiots do they hire that can't see a busted fan, messedu up line and hood insulation.

This was my line of thinking ever since I posted this thread many months ago. They are 1) idiots, 2) bad liars, 3) over booked, 4) content to milk my insurance (and leave me dry with no vehicle) for as long as possible. What else will they have missed - intentionally or not? Never mind that after 6 months they should drain the old gas and the old oil + perform the open recall on it. Still waiting to ask about that I guess, horse before the cart and all.

And have you contacted your insurance COMPANY - I mean DIRECTLY? You could be totally screwed, what the agent says be damned. He sells, that's all he does. He isn't in some office making the decisions on money.
I'd say you need to get a letter off to the head honchos and stop trusting an agent, of all people, in this.

You've been a big help but I did mess up many posts ago - I have been dealing with the ADJUSTER only. I think she is the right person, but as I talk to more people I'm wondering if she's just on contract for them (and many other insurance companies).

I really want to know the magic words to get this totaled. I don't care if it ends up jacking my insurance premiums up later on.

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[Higher_Ground]

Man, something does not seem right with not submitting or saying something about more parts being needed. Most of that would of been picked up months ago on inspections. That dealership does not care or is completly incompetent from the sounds of it and taking you and your insurance for a ride.

I agree and the insurance agency couldn't seem to care less about it. I guess because the adjuster has a function car to drive and hasn't been bumming rides for 6+ months.

 

[Higher_Ground]

Yeah, but that fits, how?
Everything they have mentioned to date should have been seen/revealed in the original inspection. Nothing was hidden.
Fan - you can see it by opening the hood.
Hood insulation - DUH!
Transmission cooler and/or line - same - open hood to let light in, lift vehicle, look at all lines and hoses. No secrets there. The cooler is visible.
My guess - this outfit has never done more than a tune-up or a fender replacement.
It's just beyond comprehension how this poor guy is being taken for a ride by either criminal or stupid dealership staff, and, if the insurance agent isn't a close personal friend or family member, I also question why this isn't ripped from their hands and taken direct to the company.
Has the insurance company in writing informed the insured (the OP) that it's ok, they'll take whatever comes and cover it all? If not, I won't say more there as it would be insulting to certain people.
Further - I would never accept a vehicle back that in all likelihood would now be a vehicle the state considers to be a mandatory total loss. Once it reaches a certain point, it's not a choice - it's totaled. Tell me all of this time, all of these hours, all of these parts have not reached that limit.
If not, I'd be telling both the insurance and the dealer - they need to pay me for the loss and move forward.
I'm also baffled as to why there hasn't been actual communication with the people paying the bills - unless I missed something - it's an agent doing the talking.
I'd call the company's 800 number and speak directly with them. The agent isn't doing anyone any favors.

I gotta ask the OP - why are you putting up with this BS?
Have you not called the insurance COMPANY - skip the agent - call the company, and see if they are REALLY approving this. Could be - they are not. And then guess who owes the bill - YOU do.

Yes, it was my fault many posts ago for using the wrong terminology (please don't sue me) but for the past several months I've corrected it and I am talking with the ADJUSTER.

They are a dealership that has been in business since 1988. Certainly their techs and mechanics could be clueless, but they didn't open the doors yesterday. They've told me that they have done frame replacements on Wranglers every year - the lady at the desk even said she had hers replaced after an accident. They aren't afraid to stretch the truth so who knows if that was a lie.

It's not a total loss according to the numbers they keep presenting but I would LOOOOOVE to reach that number and end this mess. The fact that she admitted to me on the phone that they aren't sending in the supplements has me VERY WORRIED.

I came here first before calling my adjuster. She has been blowing me off whenever I express concern about the repairs or the body shop. If I need to go over her head that my be burning a bridge so I want to be prepared.

 

[Hootbro]

Them finding new items to replace and not getting insurance approval before hand sounds shady. If the insurance pushes back, then the shop is going to be looking at you to pay that out of pocket or hold your vehicle ransom on a mechanics lien.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, it was my fault many posts ago for using the wrong terminology (please don't sue me) but for the past several months I've corrected it and I am talking with the ADJUSTER.

They are a dealership that has been in business since 1988. Certainly their techs and mechanics could be clueless, but they didn't open the doors yesterday. They've told me that they have done frame replacements on Wranglers every year - the lady at the desk even said she had hers replaced after an accident. They aren't afraid to stretch the truth so who knows if that was a lie.
It's not a total loss according to the numbers they keep presenting but I would LOOOOOVE to reach that number and end this mess. The fact that she admitted to me on the phone that they aren't sending in the supplements has me VERY WORRIED.

I came here first before calling my adjuster. She has been blowing me off whenever I express concern about the repairs or the body shop. If I need to go over her head that my be burning a bridge so I want to be prepared.

Whew - thank goodness you are actually talking to an adjuster.........
I had to argue with the headquarters when my father was killed and his Ford truck mashed up - they kept telling me things so far wrong I thought they were part of the Chinese government or something. I ended up with almost 3 times their original offer once I got past their BS about tow package, wheelbase and other junk. The adjuster was an idiot and kept telling their headquarters it was a long truck, no tow package, etc. even though he could SEE the factory tow equipment in it - and just looking it was a short wheelbase - worth about 3K more than the long wheelbase! Then the idiot said my father had 135,000 miles on the truck - I presented them with a service invoice from just prior to his death and asked if an 85 year old man could drive over 100,000 miles in 2 or 3 months?
I sent them the WINDOW STICKER and original purchase papers and photos of the odometer, tow equipment and so on and twice they STILL said I was wrong they were correct.
We went from an offer of a bit over $4,000 to over 11K by the time I was done with them.
So I don't always even trust "adjusters".
On the other hand, my own insurance company has paid me way more than KBB, NADA and other services said my 2003 WJ was worth when I totaled it with just a few months and a few thousand miles on it. He said it was so well equipped, was so clean, all the stuff I put on it, he figured it would bring top dollar. I was ready for a debate with them and they ended up paying thousands more than I expected.
So - it can go in any direction, I guess.

IMO, and it is just that - it would be good to nail down the numbers now. Look up your state's laws for totaled vehicles, get the numbers. If it's close now, it will be over later. They haven't even calculated labor, yet, for the stuff they are still finding. And if they haven't told your company of each change - your company isn't aware so can't possibly know.
Like Hootbro said - the dealership hasn't kept your insurance company up on the latest.
How can the company possibly tell you anything when THEY don't even know the numbers yet?
Insurance company doesn't even know how much has been spent or about the new parts ordered. They can't tell you anything.

 

[Higher_Ground]

Well it's now been 7 months.

They said 2 weeks ago it should be ready last Friday; that didn't happen. When I called on Tuesday she said "We were checking it all over and found out your fog light wasn't working". Mind you, that is one of the first parts they ordered/replaced back in April. It was on the initial damage estimate from the adjustor. "We tried to put another one in there but that one wasn't working either. We think the plastic connection is damaged and we ordered a new wiring harness for the light. It should be here tomorrow." I asked her if they did get it tomorrow, how much longer for them to fix it. She said "maybe by Thursday" so that's where I'm at right now.

I'm hoping they're going to say it's ready. I have no idea what to expect when I go to pick it up though. I am guessing I'll have to pay my deductible at least, hopefully that's all. Do you think they'll have me sign something saying the work is completed to my satisfaction? I haven't had repairs like this before. I know that I'd have to drive it for a while to feel comfortable saying it was totally fixed.

Maybe I am overthinking it. I have had 7 months to stew on it.

 

[IslandFalconer]

You are a very patient person, I would be very reluctant to drive off the lot with that truck. If your state has lost value coverage, you should absolutely get a cheque. Because that Gladiator has lost a lot of value, plus the loss of 7 months of warranty. Beyond that, I would trade it in the day I got it back.

 

[Higher_Ground]

Yeah getting rid of my Jeep was the last thing on my mind 7 months ago. But now? It's only the hassle of finding something else to replace it with (along with selling it) that keeps me from jumping right to that conclusion too.


And then what would I get to replace it? Buying another Jeep means I'm still stuck with the same service department that I've been dealing with for 7 months.

After all this bad luck I would sure like to have it turn around eventually.

 

[Higher_Ground]

Got the call. They say it's finally ready. I'm going to try to pick it up tomorrow. ?

 

[be77solo]

I had a '17 4Runner that was crushed by a tree during a storm. Very similar experience to yours with the local Toyota dealer. Repairs took months and months. And I was clueless at the time of my input to totaled or not (I wanted it totaled). I assumed it was, and insurance said otherwise. I regret accepting that decision to this day. It was a POS upon delivery, nothing worked right. Traded it in as soon as I got it back. And, the best part?! It was put on the lot as "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" with a nice balloon on the antenna ...

Hopefully your Gladiator comes back better! PLEASE CHECK EVERYTHING! Mine didn't need a new frame, but basically everything else including a new firewall and cutting out and replacing the roof. I still to this day don't understand how mine wasn't totaled.

I guess all I'm really saying is Toyota isn't better, so it's just a dealer to dealer thing between brands...... so buy what you want and find a better dealer than you or I did ha

 

[IslandFalconer]

Ok dying for an update, is it alive?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I had a '17 4Runner that was crushed by a tree during a storm. Very similar experience to yours with the local Toyota dealer. Repairs took months and months. And I was clueless at the time of my input to totaled or not (I wanted it totaled). I assumed it was, and insurance said otherwise. I regret accepting that decision to this day. It was a POS upon delivery, nothing worked right. Traded it in as soon as I got it back. And, the best part?! It was put on the lot as "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" with a nice balloon on the antenna ...

Hopefully your Gladiator comes back better! PLEASE CHECK EVERYTHING! Mine didn't need a new frame, but basically everything else including a new firewall and cutting out and replacing the roof. I still to this day don't understand how mine wasn't totaled.

I guess all I'm really saying is Toyota isn't better, so it's just a dealer to dealer thing between brands...... so buy what you want and find a better dealer than you or I did ha

I could never accept back a beast like that. Someone was milking for all they could get.
I've seen cars put back together after that sort of damage - they could never keep glass up front from the stresses.
Awfully hard to see with today's labor rates of 150-200/hour how they can spend that sort of time on something, add in all of the parts, and say that plus the salvage value was less than 75% of ACV just prior to being crushed by a tree.
I've seen classic car restorations where there was less work done than that run into 60K or more.
You've got tons of electric involved to go goofy when you get it back, ill-fitting panels, windshield troubles are a risk, and the cost of paint takes a good 10K or more these days.
So that work, the labor, hundreds of hours, plus parts, plus paint work, wiring/electrical, all of that plus salvage value was less than 75% of ACV?? Really?

 

[be77solo]

I could never accept back a beast like that. Someone was milking for all they could get.
I've seen cars put back together after that sort of damage - they could never keep glass up front from the stresses.
Awfully hard to see with today's labor rates of 150-200/hour how they can spend that sort of time on something, add in all of the parts, and say that plus the salvage value was less than 75% of ACV just prior to being crushed by a tree.
I've seen classic car restorations where there was less work done than that run into 60K or more.
You've got tons of electric involved to go goofy when you get it back, ill-fitting panels, windshield troubles are a risk, and the cost of paint takes a good 10K or more these days.
So that work, the labor, hundreds of hours, plus parts, plus paint work, wiring/electrical, all of that plus salvage value was less than 75% of ACV?? Really?

Yeah, this one still annoys me to this day, and I honestly feel bad for whoever ended up with it. I loved that 4Runner, it wasn't my first, but it should have been totaled from the start. I wanted it totaled. The pressure I was up against was it was very low miles, current body style (still to this day lol) and resale on 4Runners is nuts. The numbers were close at the beginning, and I suspect when it was all said and done should have been totaled, but the adjuster was adamant, and I didn't fight hard enough.

They literally cut the ENTIRE roof off to replace, serious firewall work/replacement, took the top half of the engine apart, gutted the interior as seen in the above pics, etc etc etc. And it took FOREVER, the 30 day rental car from insurance became a joke..... and this was BEFORE COVID! Nationwide Insurance btw, I use them for everything from personal, auto and business so it wasn't a simple drop them situation.... but this is still a big F U in my opinion.

I got it back and the entire overhead console fell out within a mile. Instrument cluster was a dumpster fire of lights. I immediately returned livid. Suddenly they had a smoking deal on a nice Tacoma........... which I bought and drove for a year or so.

Driving by a week or so later and seeing "Certified Pre-Owned" balloon on my 4Runner in the used car lot?! UMMMMMM WHAT????? My wife probably still remembers that shout lol.

BUYER BEWARE on used cars no matter where you find them or the "reports"!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

BUYER BEWARE on used cars no matter where you find them or the "reports"!

Fixed -

BUYER BEWARE on used cars no matter where you find them or the LACK OF "reports"!

Yup. This exactly.

I've been paid to look over used vehicles (guess my attention to detail reputation has gotten around) and some of the stuff I've found.......

 

[Cburd61]

When I worked at a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer body shop in the 70’s, I remember us cutting 2 Chargers in half to make one good one. I swear, that car had so much filler in it, we had to put air shocks on it so the rear end didn’t drag. All paid for by insurance. I remember when the guy picked it up. He was ecstatic!

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