Advice on Lemoning my Gladiator

[dspingelt]

Some basics, love the truck, might buy another one. Issue is it has been in the shop now for 42 days now and no actual resolution in sight, although I am told they are targeting return next week. (No loaner, which is irritating because I bought a pickup because I need a pick up) short recap of issue is electronic and they can't fix it; stuck in 1st gear, wipers, fans, dash lights, etc. all going actually crazy. virtually every code a car can throw is logged in the computer. They have replaced the computer and a host of things and still isn't right. (their words) 21K miles and about 20 months sInce delivery new.

I would like the truck back as we planned to keep it for a long time, but I worry I can't afford to do that (This one in particular) without a factory warrantee now. I have concerns that the dealer is still not able to tell me what is wrong and what will fix it and if I can't get that I don't think I can keep the car in fear of it happening again out of warrantee. We are strangely lucky this happened at home as were travel around to remote places frequently. This isn't a daily driver but the fun weekend one.

My options are to request a lemon procedure, buy back or exchange, or take it back and trade it in or sell it to an unsuspecting person? That doesn't seem fair for a factory malfunction. Also I get stuck with taxes and relicensing.

Anyone with experience with this process or advice for what I should do? I don't want to get mad and blame, or demanding, as I know they are doing their best, I also would rather not hire an attorney as they are lots of those advertised. I should't have to. I really just want my jeep back trustworthy and working and not have constant fear of the electronics. But I am not going to settle for a an imperfect solution either. (This is our third Jeep and favorite)

Thanks for comments.

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[texanjeeper]

The Carfax is likely going to show the plethora of issues you're having and trying to get repaired, so I doubt you would be able to sell it. The only thing I can tell you is, document, document, document. Start getting things in writing from the dealership, save any texts that they are sending you, and start working through the procedure on how to get out of the vehicle via the Lemon Law program. Again, document everything you do to meet their requirements. Good luck.

 

[Bobchadwickga]

Here's the Washington Lemon Law. Seems you have met the first threshold in that you have a vehicle that has been out of service for 30 or more days.

https://www.atg.wa.gov/general-lemon-law

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

If you trade in, you'll only pay Sales Tax on the price difference.

If it gets Lemon Law treatment, your Sales Tax will be refunded.

For your plates, you should be able to transfer your old plate.

 

[dspingelt]

Correct and thank you. I would be on the hook if I sell it privately. WA does not allow for a private sales tax credit. Dealer lobbyist won that one. So prefer an in-house solution that shields me from those costs. Not sure how receptive JEEP/Chrysler will be to lemon it. I have heard horror stories. I don't think the dealer is the one who does it. (We bought it from a different dealer that it is at for repair.) I think I need the dealer on my side to advocate for me with Jeep corporate. seeking to understand before I dive in. thanks for your response.

 

[wchevron]

If you can't lemon, I'd trade it in and buy another.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The Carfax is likely going to show the plethora of issues you're having and trying to get repaired,

ONLY if the dealership reports it.
Carcrap, sorry, carfax is over-rated as far as their accuracy and what they actually end up showing. Even consumer advocacy groups have found that it isn't all-inclusive and is often lacking things done, or reports things as being massive problems when it was in fact a minor repair due to a simple scrape in the owner's own garage.
Nothing is automatic - although with a dealership it's a lot more likely.
And most dealers don't report any details - just "owner reports problem, diagnosed, replaced xyz" and that's that. There's almost never any detail.

I'd bet that the dealership only tells "customer reports troubles, fixed it".
They don't detail squat and are even worse reporting to carfax as that involves time and effort and typing.

 

[LiftedrubiconJT]

I feel your pain. I actually had the same issue with mine 9 months into ownership and right around 22k miles. Dash lit up like an Xmas tree. Wipers going crazy every code on. Sat at 1 dealership for a month with no resolution. Took it to another one and it was there 2 months. Started to threaten lemon law and they fixed it within a week. The lemon law thing can be tricky tho from what I researched and jeep is very tough. But my issue turned out to be an issue in the wire harness about passenger wheel. Apparently there are a few grounds in there and some pins where coming out. I love my jeep but this will be my first and last. Too many issues, I’m currently waiting on parts to get my passenger side rocker arms and cams replaced

 

[Rahkmalla]

I also would rather not hire an attorney

Just so you know, by law part of a lemon lawsuit is covering attorney's fees. As such, pretty much every lemon law lawyer you'll find works strictly on contingency and won't cost you a penny either up front, or in the end.

If you talk to Jeep's buyback department and do not like their offer, absolutely talk to a lemon law lawyer. Your truck is old enough they will hit you for usage charges or diminished value claims. Don't just let them just get away with lowballing you, you will almost certainly get more money with a lawyer.

 

[Hootbro]

The dealership does not care if you Lemon Law it, they are just the go between you and FCA. If anything, they would probably be glad to wash their hands of it.

As to FCA, they have a whole department that deals with people lemon lawing their vehicle and it is just treated as part of doing business sometimes and is not a personal thing with them and you. More than likely they will have a third party company contracted to them that will handle the process between them and you and whatever your applicable state lemon laws are.

It is not a overnight or even a couple of week process and may stretch out a month or more depending how smoothly it gets handled. Not unexpected for people in the process to forget you, get side tracked or hand you off between various other processing personnel with having to start over or give duplicate info to different people. Patience is a virtue here.

Keep in mind that whatever is motion with the dealership for the repair will come to a screeching halt the second a Lemon Law claim is started ,so do not expect to play which one gets to the finish line first, a repair and return vehicle or a lemon law claim.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The dealership does not care if you Lemon Law it, they are just the go between you and FCA. If anything, they would probably be glad to wash their hands of it.

As to FCA, they have a whole department that deals with people lemon lawing their vehicle and it is just treated as part of doing business sometimes and is not a personal thing with them and you. More than likely they will have a third party company contracted to them that will handle the process between them and you and whatever your applicable state lemon laws are.

It is not a overnight or even a couple of week process and may stretch out a month or more depending how smoothly it gets handled. Not unexpected for people in the process to forget you, get side tracked or hand you off between various other processing personnel with having to start over or give duplicate info to different people. Patience is a virtue here.

Keep in mind that whatever is motion with the dealership for the repair will come to a screeching halt the second a Lemon Law claim is started ,so do not expect to play which one gets to the finish line first, a repair and return vehicle or a lemon law claim.

Well said.
The owner has to write to the manufacturer - and request a buy-back or a repalcement.
The company has 40 days in the case of WA.
If they have not responded or responded to your satisfaction, that's when I'd get an attorney involved if necessary.
They have, by LAW, every right to deduct for the use you did get out of it. Nothing is free. If you have a 2020 you can't demand and expect a 2022 free and clear and you owe nothing. No free upgrades or people would be doing that all the time.
The law protects the company from thieving, unscrupulous consumers as well (and frankly, from things I've seen, they exist as much as unscrupulous sellers or manufacturers)
You should expect to pay for the use you did get.
The dealer is going to drop everything once you flip that switch. Why should they continue?
Lemon laws also don't cover any mods you or anyone else has made - so if it's been regeared, has different bumpers, a lift, whatever - sorry, that's on you. Some here will kick and scream abut losing because of their mods. Tough, that was your choice. Take 'em back off and put the stock stuff on.
Be fair. No one owes anyone anything other than the loss of the remaining life of the vehicle. No free rides.

 

[dspingelt]

Thanks of the information. I am pretty savvy mechanically and have no issue buying and selling cars, I go through them fast but this was the one planned long term vehicle and that's why we ordered it new. -I am not sure what the best course (From reading everything it feels like I t clearly qualifies) is here so the advice and info is appreciated in this process. I would really just like it fixed but for the first time ever am not sure its a good idea if they don't even know what is wrong after 42 days. Would rather not lemon it and will cost some money no matter what, I.e upgrade to a new one, rebuy a used one, etc. We like the one we already own. We ordered it just right and hard to find this options all together. I am inclined to see if it really feels fixed when I get it back and watch it like a hawk until warrantee is up.

interested in the "what would you do?" question now. Feels like I have a short time to make a big decision. thanks again all!

 

[Rahkmalla]

Interested in the "what would you do?" question now. Feels like I have a short time to make a big decision. thanks again all!

Lemon law is 24 months, 24k miles. "Watch it like a hawk" won't do you much good if the truck gets repaired and then 5 months from now does this again. Personally, that level of worry wouldn't be tolerable for me. Let's say it gets fixed and everything is seemingly fine, are you really going to trust this truck 100% two years from now?

Regarding Hootbro's comment about filling out paperwork multiple times and getting passed off between people at random... this is one of the reasons i'd let a lawyer handle this. The other being you'll almost certainly get more money back going with a lawyer.

 

[alyn]

Some basics, love the truck, might buy another one. Issue is it has been in the shop now for 42 days now and no actual resolution in sight, although I am told they are targeting return next week. (No loaner, which is irritating because I bought a pickup because I need a pick up) short recap of issue is electronic and they can't fix it; stuck in 1st gear, wipers, fans, dash lights, etc. all going actually crazy. virtually every code a car can throw is logged in the computer. They have replaced the computer and a host of things and still isn't right. (their words) 21K miles and about 20 months sInce delivery new.

I would like the truck back as we planned to keep it for a long time, but I worry I can't afford to do that (This one in particular) without a factory warrantee now. I have concerns that the dealer is still not able to tell me what is wrong and what will fix it and if I can't get that I don't think I can keep the car in fear of it happening again out of warrantee. We are strangely lucky this happened at home as were travel around to remote places frequently. This isn't a daily driver but the fun weekend one.

My options are to request a lemon procedure, buy back or exchange, or take it back and trade it in or sell it to an unsuspecting person? That doesn't seem fair for a factory malfunction. Also I get stuck with taxes and relicensing.

Anyone with experience with this process or advice for what I should do? I don't want to get mad and blame, or demanding, as I know they are doing their best, I also would rather not hire an attorney as they are lots of those advertised. I should't have to. I really just want my jeep back trustworthy and working and not have constant fear of the electronics. But I am not going to settle for a an imperfect solution either. (This is our third Jeep and favorite)

Thanks for comments.

In your owners packet is a booklet outlining your rights under Good Will Buyback. The Manufacturers hate Lemon Law. Review your State's requirements and proceed. Contact the Dealer Principle, General Manager, the Service Director and your local Attorney General and put forward your complaints. Don't quit. The manufacturers will push this back to the dealer. They don't want Lemon Law Buybacks at the Auctions.

 

[dspingelt]

Thanks for all of the advice! They are getting a long awaited part on the 6th (Aug) and think this will finally resolve the issue. I did a count of the work performed and the time spent waiting for different parts and we made the decision not to pursue the Lemon process, at least not now. We like the truck and just want it to work, but more than that, if you count the time waiting for parts it isn't as bad as the now 50-ish days in the shop. Good news is that the truck is hot in the market and if we decide not to keep it we will just sell it or trade it in. We have a Rivian on order which should be here in September and we could trade it in with that too, although we are hoping to have both. When we get it back or have more information, I'll post to close the loop.

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