Manufacturer Buy-back "Approved"... What happens now?

[911brad]

If you look back in my post history you'll see that my 2021 Sport S presented some persistent electrical issues. Although the symptoms seemed to be fairly common the usual fixes didn't to do the trick. After spending nearly 40 days in the shop my Jeep was back on a flatbed after just four days back to me. I sent it away stripped of all my stuff and told Jeep I don't want want that one back again. Side note- Mopar Roadside Assistance was the absolute worst. Please don't ever call them if you actually need a vehicle towed anywhere.

During this whole ordeal I did have a Jeep Cares case opened that was elevated to "Jeep Customer Retention." Although my case manager was responsive and pleasant to deal with, I never really got anything tangible out of the deal yet. Ultimately, because of the uncertainty of electrical issues, and my distrust of the vehicle, I told FCA that I preferred to pursue a manufacturer buy-back of my vehicle or that I'd be going after the Wisconsin Lemon law. This decision was reaffirmed when my vehicle had the same electrical issue for the fourth and final time. During my final communication with my assigned customer retention specialist I was told verbally that my request for replacement was approved, my case with FCA would be closed and that a "Re-Acquisition Specialist" would contact me in 1-3 business days (four business days ago).

Who's been through this process before? Is there any room for negotiation to make me whole again, especially since prices have only gone up? I was verbally told that FCA would cover a loaner while I wait for my new vehicle, but even the email I got back from Jeep didn't put that in writing and I'm nervous I'll be left holding the bag on this cost. I'm supremely nervous that I'm about to get hosed by FCA because this seems too good to be true so far, and I'm looking for some reassurance that anyone else has been through this and came out feeling like Jeep actually cared. Help talk me off the ledge and make me feel as though getting another Gladiator, much less another Jeep ever again, is worthwhile.

Brad

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[arosen1997]

If you look back in my post history you'll see that my 2021 Sport S presented some persistent electrical issues. Although the symptoms seemed to be fairly common the usual fixes didn't to do the trick. After spending nearly 40 days in the shop my Jeep was back on a flatbed after just four days back to me. I sent it away stripped of all my stuff and told Jeep I don't want want that one back again. Side note- Mopar Roadside Assistance was the absolute worst. Please don't ever call them if you actually need a vehicle towed anywhere.

During this whole ordeal I did have a Jeep Cares case opened that was elevated to "Jeep Customer Retention." Although my case manager was responsive and pleasant to deal with, I never really got anything tangible out of the deal yet. Ultimately, because of the uncertainty of electrical issues, and my distrust of the vehicle, I told FCA that I preferred to pursue a manufacturer buy-back of my vehicle or that I'd be going after the Wisconsin Lemon law. This decision was reaffirmed when my vehicle had the same electrical issue for the fourth and final time. During my final communication with my assigned customer retention specialist I was told verbally that my request for replacement was approved, my case with FCA would be closed and that a "Re-Acquisition Specialist" would contact me in 1-3 business days (four business days ago).

Who's been through this process before? Is there any room for negotiation to make me whole again, especially since prices have only gone up? I was verbally told that FCA would cover a loaner while I wait for my new vehicle, but even the email I got back from Jeep didn't put that in writing and I'm nervous I'll be left holding the bag on this cost. I'm supremely nervous that I'm about to get hosed by FCA because this seems too good to be true so far, and I'm looking for some reassurance that anyone else has been through this and came out feeling like Jeep actually cared. Help talk me off the ledge and make me feel as though getting another Gladiator, much less another Jeep ever again, is worthwhile.

Brad

If it's not in writing it can't be trusted.
Tell them to put it in an email and put it in your inbox. I do that with all kinds of things even mundane ones, that way if you need to get a lawyer you may have some leg to stand on.
If they're replacing it then I'd expect the exact same vehicle with exact same options, if they're just giving a refund then try to get them to shell out for the cost of registration and everything as well because you'll have to pay it again when you go buy another vehicle.

 

[cotnballs2000]

They should give you the sticker price, plus taxes you paid, and possible registration cost. I would get everything in writing!

 

[Mac]

I did a buy back a few years ago, they reimbursed everything minus a charge per mile of use.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

You will get what you got in the Jeep back minus a mileage fee but it's better than keeping a lemon. As far as getting a loaner, I wouldn't put any faith in that. We didn't get a loaner when they buy back of our 2013 Grand Cherokee. I was pleased with the process though and still bought a 2013 Jeep Wrangler and another 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2004 Jeep Liberty and now a 2020 Jeep Gladiator since that happened. Was also looking at a Jeep Grand Cherokee L yesterday.

With that said the dealership I was dealing with, Hendricks in Concord NC, were awesome all the way around with handling the process and even gave me a nice amount of incentives off my 2013 JKU and the 2014 Grand Cherokee that even though I didn't qualify for half of them they pushed them through somehow and saved me a lot of money on each of them. It made me feel good about doing business with them and the brand FCA, Daimler-Chrysler at the time I think, kept my trust with how they handled the process as well. All brands are going to have issues like this, it's how it's handled that will keep you a customer or not. If you got this far then they are probably doing right by you.

 

[Troybilt]

They tried that pay for milage s#@t with me so I called the lemon law lawyers. They dealt with jeep after that and I got a new vehicle. All I had to pay was the taxes on the $400 dollar difference in the price of the 2012 motor over the 2011.

Granted my jeep was still drivable so I had the luxury of not being left without a vehicle while the lawyers beat the crap out of Jeep.

I would tell them to take there milage fees and shove them up there chocolate starfish. Good luck.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

They tried that pay for milage s#@t with me so I called the lemon law lawyers. They dealt with jeep after that and I got a new vehicle. All I had to pay was the taxes on the $400 dollar difference in the price of the 2012 motor over the 2011.

Granted my jeep was still drivable so I had the luxury of not being left without a vehicle while the lawyers beat the crap out of Jeep.

I would tell them to take there milage fees and shove them up there chocolate starfish. Good luck.

It was only like $170 I figured I'd live with it. Plus I got like almost $10,000 off a 2013 Jeep Wrangler and only qualified for about $3,000 worth of incentives,.I figured that was a nice trade off

 

[Troybilt]

It was only like $170 I figured I'd live with it. Plus I got like almost $10,000 off a 2013 Jeep Wrangler and only qualified for about $3,000 worth of incentives,.I figured that was a nice trade off

I would of perhaps agreed to that but they wanted me to pay $1,200. Hell I only paid like $23,000 for the Jeep and the hardtop leaked very bad from day one.

I believe I used 1-800-LemonLaw. They where awesome.

 

[Mac]

I would of perhaps agreed to that but they wanted me to pay $1,200. Hell I only paid like $23,000 for the Jeep and the hardtop leaked very bad from day one.

I believe I used 1-800-LemonLaw. They where awesome.

Was 1-800-LemonLaw free?

 

[Troybilt]

Was 1-800-LemonLaw free?

It was 100% free. Jeep ended up having to pay them something like $2,500. They told me that as long as I did not talk to Jeep about the matter again I would not be charged. Of course when the lawyers filed suit they called me wanting to work out a deal. I did just as I was told and told them I was unable to speak to them any longer and to refer all questions to my lawyer.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I would of perhaps agreed to that but they wanted me to pay $1,200. Hell I only paid like $23,000 for the Jeep and the hardtop leaked very bad from day one.

I believe I used 1-800-LemonLaw. They where awesome.

I only had like 1500 miles on the Grand Cherokee and the dealership pretty much handled the whole process. They were the ones that suggested the buy back. I never even had to hire a lawyer. It was a pretty decent process start to finished and the service manager and I formed a friendship that has lasted.

 

[911brad]

Thanks for the info and feedback so far. I'm still waiting to get anything in writing from Jeep, but it sounds as though most people have gotten through their buy-back situations okay.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Always remember a buy-back and a lemon law claim are 2 completely different processes. Make sure you don't confuse one with the other when discussing it.

Key things to remember about lemon law:
Mnfr has to pay you back every penny you spent buying the car. This includes accessories wrapped up in the original purchase, taxes, dealer fees, everything. Mnfr also has to pay the lawyers who represent you. There is no mileage or usage fees. if your state's lemon law is good for 2 years and you're ready to file at 23 months, you get back all that money you spent 2 years ago. Every penny.

Key things to remember about mnfr buy-back:
This is a private agreement between the mnfr and the customer. It can come with whatever stipulations or fees the mnfr can get you to sign for. Mnfrs want to buy-back your car, they do NOT want lemon law because they don't want to have to pay your lawyers but that doesn't mean they aren't going to try and get away with some BS while they still can. If they have reason to believe you'll have a successful lemon law claim, most mnfrs will make a BS first offer, then when you counter they'll just offer the lemon law terms without paying the lawyers. It's not in their interest to prolong negotiations.

How buy-back and lemon law are similar:
Mnfr has to give you money for a broke car that then becomes a salvage title. They are obligated to fix the issue that caused the BB/LL in the first place before offering the vehicle for sale again. This "fixing the issue" could be a proper fix, or it could be just like one of the many repairs that didn't work before. Remember: if diagnosing a car was always easy, there would be no need to make laws about what to do with unrepairable cars. NEVER buy a lemon or buy-back if you're not a mechanic. There is an entire growing industry of dealers specializing in "fixed" buy-backs

 

[HorneyBadger]

It usually takes a couple of weeks before finance contacts you on the deal. You will get a specific value and can buy whatever you want. If you get another Gladiator then thats when things go a little sideways. Typically you have to make up the price differential between the 2 vehicles.

I had that happen on a Dodge Dakota. I wanted another Dakota and there was a 2k price difference. It had a different engine. The 4 cyl line was shut down so not making anymore at the time. I told FInance to just order me the same truck with the exact same options. They called me back 30 mins later and asked if I would take the truck with the bigger engine as an even trade..... Well, if I have to. We were already negotiating on that truck.

 

[Dryfly24]

It was 100% free. Jeep ended up having to pay them something like $2,500. They told me that as long as I did not talk to Jeep about the matter again I would not be charged. Of course when the lawyers filed suit they called me wanting to work out a deal. I did just as I was told and told them I was unable to speak to them any longer and to refer all questions to my lawyer.

Sounds like the way to go!! ???

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