Frame damage directly off the delivery truck

[chsapeak]

Got another call from the dealer. They offered to let me bring it to a shop of my choice and have them repair it. Personally I think it sucks that I paid 65K for a new vehicle with frame damage.. No matter how some cut it, the frame is damaged and I paid the same price as if it had been a mint condition truck. Looks like I won't be buying from this dealership in the future.

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[KX L]

Got another call from the dealer. They offered to let me bring it to a shop of my choice and have them repair it. Personally I think it sucks that I paid 65K for a new vehicle with frame damage.. No matter how some cut it, the frame is damaged and I paid the same price as if it had been a mint condition truck. Looks like I won't be buying from this dealership in the future.

It sucks but you're pretty much stuck.

Too make you have to deal with it yourself is them doing the absolute minimum---yet they're probably telling themselves you should feel lucky because you accepted it and drove off the lot without noticing.

If this is the worst thing that happens I'm pretty sure you'll be really happy with having exactly what you ordered.

 

[Mac]

Got another call from the dealer. They offered to let me bring it to a shop of my choice and have them repair it. Personally I think it sucks that I paid 65K for a new vehicle with frame damage.. No matter how some cut it, the frame is damaged and I paid the same price as if it had been a mint condition truck. Looks like I won't be buying from this dealership in the future.

What could the dealer have done that you would be pleased with? Their offer IMO seems like a pretty good solution.

 

[chsapeak]

Not sure what I was expecting.. But I do wonder if just maybe while doing their post delivery inspection or even while they were swapping wheels and tires off my 2020 that they may have noticed the damage staring them in the face. I mean it is right there in both wheel wells and a trained employee was looking for it. Can't rule out the wait and see if the customer ever notices it approach. Now I'm not saying a dealership may be dishonest and try to hide something, just saying maybe, just maybe they knew it was damaged and figured I'd never notice. And while I'm ranting...lol... Let me ask, would you rather own the vehicle that the factory welded the frame sections together and treated with rust inhibitors prior to paint or the truck that crackhead bob's auto repair welded together? (My first offer from them was to have "their guy" do it). I suggested if anything my shop would repair it. Also I'm gonna guarantee that if two identical trucks sat side by side, one with repaired frame damage and one without, that there's a single person here that would take the repaired one for the same price as the undamaged unit. My truck should be discounted is the bottom line and the answer to "what could the dealer have done" That at the very least is what I would do if I owned the dealership and had a loyal customer in this situation.. Oh and I should mention this is my third brand new truck in the past five years I’ve bought from them....Just saying....

 

[Hootbro]

Not sure what I was expecting.. But I do wonder if just maybe while doing their post delivery inspection or even while they were swapping wheels and tires off my 2020 that they may have noticed the damage staring them in the face. I mean it is right there in both wheel wells and a trained employee was looking for it. Can't rule out the wait and see if the customer ever notices it approach. Now I'm not saying a dealership may be dishonest and try to hide something, just saying maybe, just maybe they knew it was damaged and figured I'd never notice. And while I'm ranting...lol... Let me ask, would you rather own the vehicle that the factory welded the frame sections together and treated with rust inhibitors prior to paint or the truck that crackhead bob's auto repair welded together? (My first offer from them was to have "their guy" do it). I suggested if anything my shop would repair it. Also I'm gonna guarantee that if two identical trucks sat side by side, one with repaired frame damage and one without, that there's a single person here that would take the repaired one for the same price as the undamaged unit. My truck should be discounted is the bottom line and the answer to "what could the dealer have done" That at the very least is what I would do if I owned the dealership and had a loyal customer in this situation.. Oh and I should mention this is my third brand new truck in the past five years I’ve bought from them....Just saying....

You are entitled to your disappointment, but just about with any dealership, the guy doing the PDI is maybe one step above a lube tech monkey in skill set if not the same. The billion point inspection sheet is like the certified billion point preowned inspections, they get pencil whipped 99% of the time and thrown out on the lot and the customer is the end final quality control. Not right, but is the reality and any other dealership you decide to go to will probably be the same.

Now you are at the point of managing your expectations of what will be an acceptable repair to you? To me, the only true repair would be the replace the whole section that attaches to the frame. A good body shop can do that but I do not know if new OEM parts for that are available. I suspect they may try to cold work the dents and either scab slap some plates on it or try to build up with weld and dress it with a couple of coat of black paint. You may want to ask detailed questions on how they are going to fix it and go from there.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You are entitled to your disappointment, but just about with any dealership, the guy doing the PDI is maybe one step above a lube tech monkey in skill set if not the same. The billion point inspection sheet is like the certified billion point preowned inspections, they get pencil whipped 99% of the time and thrown out on the lot and the customer is the end final quality control. Not right, but is the reality and any other dealership you decide to go to will probably be the same.

Now you are at the point of managing your expectations of what will be an acceptable repair to you? To me, the only true repair would be the replace the whole section that attaches to the frame. A good body shop can do that but I do not know if new OEM parts for that are available. I suspect they may try to cold work the dents and either scab slap some plates on it or try to build up with weld and dress it with a couple of coat of black paint. You may want to ask detailed questions on how they are going to fix it and go from there.

Good reply/summation.
Part of it can be boiled down to one of Einstein's equations he isn't well known for - and that is the T=M equation.

If it was me, I'd accept it being worked back into place, and properly, expertly, welded, cleaned up, prepped and painted. If a person does it who is good at their job, it would be fine.
It would still eat at my OCD and need for perfection in all things, but I'd eventually get over it, especially if it was done properly.

 

[Hootbro]

Looks like the whole front frame rail is sold as one section for each side.

https://www.carid.com/jeep-oe/front-right-frame-rail-end-mpn-68467572aa.html

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