Going to Arbitration for buy back

[Klutch]

Hey I just had my Jeep bought back from FCA. Mine had engine issues. Was in the shop for 45 days with engine issues. And in total at the dealer for 62 days. i hired an attorney got an offer without arbitration.
I would totally just get a lawyer and have them deal with it.

Good to know. I was under the impression buying a new vehicle required agreeing to arbitration for any issue and didn't allow hiring a lawyer.

Sponsored

 

[Mr._Bill]

Good to know. I was under the impression buying a new vehicle required agreeing to arbitration for any issue and didn't allow hiring a lawyer.

You may have signed an agreement agreeing to arbitration, but you can still hire someone to represent you. Many lawyers will offer a free consultation to determine if they are able to assist you with a particular issue.

 

[Klutch]

Wrong thread...

 

[TheSolarWizard]

Any advice for “YouTube Greg”
He was supposedly doing a buyback 6 months ago but continues to make videos modifying it.

Hmm how curious

 

[Sal]

I imagine a lawyer would be the best path but who pays the lawyer fees? Do you mind sharing the specifics all the details of your buy back? (ie original purchase price, buy back price, lawyer fees etc).

Those details would probably help the OP make a better decision.

Good call i sent him an dm.

and if anyone else needs help shoot me a DM

 

[tampahoosier]

I’m still waiting on mine to be built, and though I don’t anticipate issues (for on I’ll have an auto) this thread is still helpful.

It points out the level of written documentation needed from you and the dealer along with a detailed time line.

I hope things work out for the OP!

 

[Rippersag63]

I’m sure this post is going to stir the pot, which is expected but I do have a legitimate claim that I am dealing with and would like to hear if anyone has been through the process and the results.

History:

Ordered custom JT Rubicon in August 2019 - Manual
Took possession October 2019
December 2019 Started having issues with noise in the transmission and clutch dropping out
February 2020 Noise became more aggressive
March 2020 Trucked was parked bc of noise, clutch recall
April 2020 Truck still parked waiting on W12 resolution
May 9th Truck went into shop for W12 recall, was picked up and had to go back into the shop for rear axle shaft replacement
(This truck is stock, not so much as a sticker was added)
Since the truck has been in the shop, several times I have been told the truck is ready for pick up. Upon picking it up, something different has gone wrong with it prior to even getting to the end of the road. Ring and Pinion in rear diff has been replaced along with the left rear axle shaft. Electronic rear locker stuck engaged and wouldn't disengage, since replacing the rear ring and pinion, the noise has subsided a lot but has not went away. Mechanics did see the issue with the bearings they took out that had what they described medium scaring.

None the less, this truck has been in the shop for about a month, has a lot of issues and now I have an arbitration date set for June 11th. My question to anyone who has been through this process is what is the likelyhood of FCA actually buying back my truck? What was offered to you in your situation and what can I negotiate?

I have a 2020 outlander and they had to replace the front axles with only 3000kms on it!!
Not happy

 

[salvino]

I’m sure this post is going to stir the pot, which is expected but I do have a legitimate claim that I am dealing with and would like to hear if anyone has been through the process and the results.

History:

Ordered custom JT Rubicon in August 2019 - Manual
Took possession October 2019
December 2019 Started having issues with noise in the transmission and clutch dropping out
February 2020 Noise became more aggressive
March 2020 Trucked was parked bc of noise, clutch recall
April 2020 Truck still parked waiting on W12 resolution
May 9th Truck went into shop for W12 recall, was picked up and had to go back into the shop for rear axle shaft replacement
(This truck is stock, not so much as a sticker was added)
Since the truck has been in the shop, several times I have been told the truck is ready for pick up. Upon picking it up, something different has gone wrong with it prior to even getting to the end of the road. Ring and Pinion in rear diff has been replaced along with the left rear axle shaft. Electronic rear locker stuck engaged and wouldn't disengage, since replacing the rear ring and pinion, the noise has subsided a lot but has not went away. Mechanics did see the issue with the bearings they took out that had what they described medium scaring.

None the less, this truck has been in the shop for about a month, has a lot of issues and now I have an arbitration date set for June 11th. My question to anyone who has been through this process is what is the likelyhood of FCA actually buying back my truck? What was offered to you in your situation and what can I negotiate?

Best to get out of it any way you can while staying whole. Although my LE is great and virtually trouble free some vehicles are just lemons. My father-in-law bought an Audi A-8 in 2005. It was a great car when it was working but we suffered through six years one problem after another. Finally traded it in on a 2011 Grand Cherokee, which was one of the best cars we've ever had.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Any advice for “YouTube Greg”
He was supposedly doing a buyback 6 months ago but continues to make videos modifying it.

Hmm how curious

Oh yah, I wonder what the status was. They posted something on here defending their actions, I thought.

 

[Rezurekt1981]

For all who are following this tread.

Update: Truck has been picked up from the shop and bc of work I am traveling but just as soon as I get back home, it will be going right back to the shop. Some of the noises are gone from the replacement of the ring and pinions, but it is still not driving like it did when I drove it off the lot. Its making a whining noise (much like a rusty break caliper) only from the transmission. The rear differential is also leaking fluid, so I really have no other choice but to take it back into the shop. My arbitration is set for this Thursday. I received a response from FCA and I can tell you that their response is by far the most inaccurate account of events. I have kept track of all communications, recorded conversations, emails and maintenance documents. I do not plan on releasing all of the info on here, however, If anyone else ends up having to deal with what I have had to, I can absolutely guide you in the right direction. Depending on the outcome of the arbitration, I will either accept what they have to offer if its reasonable, or I will continue with the attorney for litigation.

 

[Rezurekt1981]

You may have signed an agreement agreeing to arbitration, but you can still hire someone to represent you. Many lawyers will offer a free consultation to determine if they are able to assist you with a particular issue.

I have consulted an attorney and they are going to take my case if FCA doesn't do the right thing. At this point because I have met all of the Lemon Law requirements but I am already in the process of Arbitration, he is advising me on things. I have tried to reach out to FCA several times in hopes that we can just come to an agreement outside of any arbitration/litigation but they refuse to call me.

 

[tampahoosier]

I have consulted an attorney and they are going to take my case if FCA doesn't do the right thing. At this point because I have met all of the Lemon Law requirements but I am already in the process of Arbitration, he is advising me on things. I have tried to reach out to FCA several times in hopes that we can just come to an agreement outside of any arbitration/litigation but they refuse to call me.

Sorry to hear this, please do respond back on Thursday after your arbitration is complete. We will all be interested in seeing what happened.
Side question... lets say they do the right thing for you, will you be buying a new gladiator again or looking elsewhere?

 

[Dainbramaged]

For all who are following this tread.

Update: Truck has been picked up from the shop and bc of work I am traveling but just as soon as I get back home, it will be going right back to the shop. Some of the noises are gone from the replacement of the ring and pinions, but it is still not driving like it did when I drove it off the lot. Its making a whining noise (much like a rusty break caliper) only from the transmission. The rear differential is also leaking fluid, so I really have no other choice but to take it back into the shop. My arbitration is set for this Thursday. I received a response from FCA and I can tell you that their response is by far the most inaccurate account of events. I have kept track of all communications, recorded conversations, emails and maintenance documents. I do not plan on releasing all of the info on here, however, If anyone else ends up having to deal with what I have had to, I can absolutely guide you in the right direction. Depending on the outcome of the arbitration, I will either accept what they have to offer if its reasonable, or I will continue with the attorney for litigation.

Doug - good luck on Thursday. I went through a lemon law complaint in MD with FCA on my Gladiator this past February, resulting in a vehicle swap and a 7 year extended warranty on the new Gladiator at no additional expense. It wasn't fun, but it worked out.

Comments:
1. Did you follow your state's notification requirements completely, including return-receipt confirmation on your letter? In MD, FCA has 30 days to attempt to repair the vehicle following receipt of your written notification.

2. Did you contact your states AG's office to see if they can be of assistance in supporting you? We did get contacted back by our State's Attorney General's (AG) office offering to assist us, but by that time we had negotiated on our own. We dealt directly with the dealer and FCA, we did not have an arbitrater.

3. In MD, the settlement offer from FCA includes your attorney fee reimbursement, BUT that only means that while they're obligated to pay for your attorney if you win, the most likely outcome is that it just comes out of your settlement and you have less money in your pocket. If you can't negotiate a deal that works for you, maybe it's time to get an attorney involved, but know your state's rules about the fees.

4. If sounds to me like you have met NC's criteria for a full buy-back given they've had the vehicle for more than 20 days out of the first 12 months. I don't believe at that point it matters how many times they have tried to fix a component or how many different components have broken - it's a lemon and you can require a buy-back at full value, less a nominal fee per mile driven (again, state law varies slightly, see if the AG can confirm for you). Don't get tricked into taking a low valuation as a trade-in on a new vehicle.

5. Definitely walk in with your timeline and your documentation well structured to state your case. Make it as easy as possible for them to agree with your claim and see how you've met the lemon law requirements. For example, don't make them add up the dates that the vehicle was in the shop, have that already done for them.

6. Know your minimum acceptable offer in advance. If you know that you want another Gladiator, know what you want back from FCA to be willing to trade this one in (which they want). For me, I wanted the extended 7 year warranty with no deductible, which I got.

 

[Rezurekt1981]

Sorry to hear this, please do respond back on Thursday after your arbitration is complete. We will all be interested in seeing what happened.
Side question... lets say they do the right thing for you, will you be buying a new gladiator again or looking elsewhere?

I must say, I really do love this truck and had Jeep been a little bit more cooperative I probably would have got another, but, I am going to pass on the Gladiator for now. It seems like there are a lot of issues and after going through all of the issues I have had, I am a little bitter. I will wait a couple of years before getting another one. In the meantime, I saved about 10k for modifications that I had planned on getting for the truck, I will just dump that into my J10 that I am restoring. Its time to get it back on the road.

 

[tampahoosier]

I must say, I really do love this truck and had Jeep been a little bit more cooperative I probably would have got another, but, I am going to pass on the Gladiator for now. It seems like there are a lot of issues and after going through all of the issues I have had, I am a little bitter. I will wait a couple of years before getting another one. In the meantime, I saved about 10k for modifications that I had planned on getting for the truck, I will just dump that into my J10 that I am restoring. Its time to get it back on the road.

I hear ya, and don't blame you one bit. Good luck and keep us posted!

Sponsored