"Certified" Experience, a Bit of a Joke

[Maine Cajun]

I just picked up my first Jeep a few weeks ago from a Jeep dealer. I went to a Jeep dealer because at the time I believed in the "certified" label. To be honest, it was a bit of a joke. Numerous items were checked off as being inspected on the certified checklist but apparently weren't. Engine coolant, low. Power steering fluid, low. Front and rear differentials, low. I'm not talking a little. The engine oil did look clear and bright implying that it had been changed recently. I found all of this because my first task when taking ownership of a vehicle is to baseline the maintenance by double checking the shop's work and resetting periodicities. It really undermines my faith in the dealership if they couldn't get these simple details complete before selling. To be honest, the engine coolant and power steering fluid shouldn't have left the lot like this but that's my mistake for trusting the dealership.

The truck is pretty low mileage and otherwise in great condition. I've driven it a couple hundred miles since with no leaks or low fluids. However, my advice to anyone purchasing a used Jeep from anywhere, don't trust that the maintenance is current.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned but when you say you did something, you're staking your reputation to that. My local Jeep dealership will never regain my trust or patronage. I already have trust issues with the Chrysler brand but I'm willing to keep an open mind because I like Jeeps and always wanted one.

Sponsored

 

[toddarama]

I’ve never checked diff fluid before a purchase.

Salesmen get nervous when you start pulling out wrenches in the parking lot ?

 

[Great Offender]

my advice to anyone purchasing a used Jeep from anywhere, don't trust that the maintenance is current.

Same experience from a Dodge/Jeep/ blah blah blah dealer. I'm going to say there was more time placed into filling out the certified form than there was actually performing any of the checks or maintenance. My second "certified" used vehicle and there was a night and day difference in the use of the term. My only experience with this dealer and will be my last. I wouldn't trust them correctly affix a stamp.

I’m THAT guy that the salesman finds crawling around under the vehicle

I thought I was that guy too but didn't think to check fluid levels ? You live and you learn!

 

[Puch]

Same experience from a Dodge/Jeep/ blah blah blah dealer. I'm going to say there was more time placed into filling out the certified form than there was actually performing any of the checks or maintenance. My second "certified" used vehicle and there was a night and day difference in the use of the term. My only experience with this dealer and will be my last. I wouldn't trust them correctly affix a stamp.

I thought I was that guy too but didn't think to check fluid levels ? You live and you learn!

Couldn’t have said it better. “wouldn't trust them correctly affix a stamp.”

 

[jeepers29]

Certified means they certify that it is used and nothing else.

 

[cranbiz]

Same thing with mine as far as just checking the boxes on the certified preowned form.

The salesman got really nervous when I started pointing out things that were checked or said to be present that were not there to be checked. I told them I wanted everything on the sheet that they said was there, including the things that didn't come originally on the truck. needless to say, I didn't get them but I did get an additional $2500 off on it.

At least all the fluid levels were full and the oil had been changed.

 

[Volt0]

Honestly, I admire the level of ownership the OP has taken. I pop the hood and look things over as well, admittedly maybe not as thorough, but eventually I’ll check everything. I’m more thorough on a used vehicle b/c I want to know what to expect, and I don’t want to be the buyer that picks up a hefty repair bill.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Reminds me of my CPO KIA K900. On the ride home it had a vibration at highway speed that it didn't have at test drive speed (dealership wasn't near any highways, only hit 45).

Took it to another KIA dealership closer to home, and they said my brakes were almost cooked. Original CPO tech signed off that I had at least 60% brake pads left and the car had no vibrations. Well, I had less than 20% all around and definitely had vibrations. Turns out the brand new tires the old dealership put on it were shit too and couldn't be balanced. Even if he didn't drive the car on a highway, he should have known a balance machine couldn't get the tires to balance.

To KIAs credit they had the local dealer put brand new proper tires, brand new brakes and do a complete and thorough reinspection on the vehicle, and paid for it by charging the work back to the original dealer.

I loved that KIA. I miss it a little some days. Insane that my KIA came with a 420hp V8 and Jeep can't be bothered to put any power in the gladiator. But that's another story.

 

[Pakdoc]

Well, haven't bought "Used" from my Jeep dealer but they have been very sloppy like, leaving new 10mm sockets and wrenches in my engine bay (thanks), forgetting to connect battery terminals (that's OK, I've got a wrench for that!), forgetting to put the coolant cap back on all the way creating a bit of steam show in a parking lot.....taking the air filter out and showing me it's dirty and they need to replace it for $80 but Ooops, they don't have any so we'll just "blow it off" and then not replace all the screws for the cover...these are ALL SEPARATE TIMES....not just once. Presently in a situation with BMW dealer with a "Certified Used" (I told her not to buy it) and it has been in the shop more than the driveway over the past 3 months, heck, I even put new break pads on already. I think they have ALL gone to crap except a very few, not close to me at least.

 

[Semtex10]

Too bad we can’t all stick together and force something on these terrible dealerships. I have not had a JEEP in years and bought a certified gladiator. As everyone else stated the certification is terrible. Had an axle leak rear window leak, start/stop didn’t work (still don’t) then a few months later the EGR valve, I guess the EGR hose/metal tube needed replacing along with the wire harness underneath it. I took it to a second dealer because did not like the work and flat out lies at the first one. And they were just as bad service couldn’t even answer the phone for 4 days (20 calls). And yes I called management too. I have never had such poor dealership problems as I do with JEEP. But still like my Diesel. Haha

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just picked up my first Jeep a few weeks ago from a Jeep dealer. I went to a Jeep dealer because at the time I believed in the "certified" label. To be honest, it was a bit of a joke. Numerous items were checked off as being inspected on the certified checklist but apparently weren't. Engine coolant, low. Power steering fluid, low. Front and rear differentials, low. I'm not talking a little. The engine oil did look clear and bright implying that it had been changed recently. I found all of this because my first task when taking ownership of a vehicle is to baseline the maintenance by double checking the shop's work and resetting periodicities. It really undermines my faith in the dealership if they couldn't get these simple details complete before selling. To be honest, the engine coolant and power steering fluid shouldn't have left the lot like this but that's my mistake for trusting the dealership.

The truck is pretty low mileage and otherwise in great condition. I've driven it a couple hundred miles since with no leaks or low fluids. However, my advice to anyone purchasing a used Jeep from anywhere, don't trust that the maintenance is current.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned but when you say you did something, you're staking your reputation to that. My local Jeep dealership will never regain my trust or patronage. I already have trust issues with the Chrysler brand but I'm willing to keep an open mind because I like Jeeps and always wanted one.

How low is low? As long as you can pull the fill plug and reach the diff fluid with your finger to the first joint, there's no danger or risk. Mine would have to be to the point of not touching it with the tip of my pinky bent at the first joint. Then I will add enough to be about 1/8 below the fill hole. But if I can still touch it - without going beyond the first joint, it's not "too" low.

As for the others - you checked those fluids cold and they were below the minimum mark cold??
Some people freak if the fluid level is at the minimum when cold. And it does expand and shrink back so when you check matters greatly. If it's warmed up good and still at the cold minimum mark - that's low for sure.

like, leaving new 10mm sockets and wrenches in my engine bay (thanks)

I don't see that as a problem - I see that as a bonus.

Honestly, I admire the level of ownership the OP has taken. I pop the hood and look things over as well, admittedly maybe not as thorough, but eventually I’ll check everything. I’m more thorough on a used vehicle b/c I want to know what to expect, and I don’t want to be the buyer that picks up a hefty repair bill.

That's what every buyer should do - even those who really don't know what they are looking at. When a sales person sees that it might just make them wonder - how much does this buyer know? They are poking around under the hood............hmmmmm.

 

[KevinC]

Engine Coolant
Power Steering
Front and Rear Differentials

I hate to say it, but if all three of these were critical low, something is wrong. Modern engines have really good sealed units that should not leak or dissipate fluids, especially a low mileage vehicle like you bought.

Did you see signs of leakage?
How low was low?
Did you use Mopar fluids instead of Autozone?

More information would be nice to read about. Inquiring minds want to know.

KevinC

 

[charliez]

My brother bought a used bike in Houston. Only had 700 miles but was about 6 years old. The oil filter was original and rusty. They made him / us come back 2 days later to get it so they could run it through their shop and get it checked and ready. I asked if it included an oil change and he said it did. When we got back, and he did his paperwork, and they brought it around, it still had the same rusty filter so i asked about it and the sales guy got all mad and said some things and walked off. He had plans to change it regardless, which is what I do, but still he said they would do it and they didn't. I wouldn't consider getting my next bike there now at any of their locations due to that.

 

[Outback_Joe]

I'm betting that the low fluids and other issues that were "Certified" were there from the factory and never were caught by the "New" dealer pre delivery inspection. It's only a piece of paper or a computer screen.

Your trusting a person you have never met and most likely never will. My new 2022 had low coolant and low PS fluid too. They were fixed before I drove it off the lot. Then it got a good look see when I got home and found a few other issues but not as many as other "New" cars I have bought.

The dealerships are not going to waste the time of a good mechanic on "New Used" car checks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Engine Coolant
Power Steering
Front and Rear Differentials

I hate to say it, but if all three of these were critical low, something is wrong. Modern engines have really good sealed units that should not leak or dissipate fluids, especially a low mileage vehicle like you bought.

Did you see signs of leakage?
How low was low?
Did you use Mopar fluids instead of Autozone?

More information would be nice to read about. Inquiring minds want to know.

KevinC

Yeah, my point, too. What one person says is low may not even be low at all. And I'm going on a year and a half on mine - still up to the black dots I made a couple of weeks after buying it and letting things settle in with a few drives.
PS hasn't dropped, still at the black mark. Coolant only a little bit but then evaporation can happen over time there- it's still vented at anything over about 16 psi (or maybe that's 18, can't recall on these)
All fluids have remained steady at 16,000 miles.
My 2020 went 27,000 miles and over 2.5 years without needing fluids except 8 ounces of coolant after a couple of years. PS stayed up where it belonged, as did the other fluids.
It doesn't just magically disappear, and we don't know what the OP considers "low". To me, it might not be a big deal.

Sponsored