Dealer finally fixed my water leak!

[punk'n]

After 7 weeks, I finally got my hardtop's minor water leak fixed by the dealership. How did they do it? They left my Gladiator parked in their lot as the dealership got flooded. So, it's no longer a leaking issue, its just plain totaled. I guess that's one way to take care of the problem.

(View from my dashcam)

So, the back story...

2020 Gladiator Overland with 5K miles and full warranty. Hardtop had minor leak. I reset panels numerous times. Still leaked. I try to get appointment at my dealer. They tell me to pound salt as they won't fix a water leak. I have to call Jeep Cares to find a dealership that will fix it under warranty. The first appointment (3 weeks later) at the new dealer is wasted when I'm told they have to keep my truck for up to 5 days for the "leak specialist" to diagnose and they have no loaner or rental for me (they told me when I made the appointment I could wait). I give them photos and video of exactly where it leaks from the top and I'm told it wouldn't help. It will still take up to 5 days to find. I reschedule for when they have a rental but they can't take me for another 4 weeks.

So, a week ago I drop off the truck. The new dealer gives me a rental that Jeep pays for (thanks Jeep Cares!). The next night, all hell breaks loose and the dealership goes under from tropical storm Ida... literally. For over a week, I try to get my truck. No one answers the phone or they give you the run around if they do. Go there in person four times to be refused access due to "unsafe and contaminated conditions". (Even though they were cleaning their facility, I couldn't get my truck to clean.) My service advisor calls me a few days in to tell me all the vehicles on the lot are a total loss. But she can't help getting my car released. Yeah, thanks for letting me know.

Today, I brought the police with me to get my truck out of Jeep Jail. All of a sudden the dealership says "it was just a misunderstanding". Off it goes on a flatbed. Its been sitting fully closed up with stank water inside for over a week. Water poured out of the doors when it was being winched up. And I mean poured. Insurance will surely total it. (I had it towed to private property so I can swap wheels, etc before its gone for good.)

Turns out my dash cam fired up during the flooding as things shorted out. I also have previous coverage from when they moved it in the lot. It shows that the dealership removed their cars as a precautionary measure but not customers. Hell, I didn't even get a call asking me to come get it. And I live 3 minutes away from them. (I should point out that I never used this dealer before due to bad reviews. I do not live in a flood zone, have never had a vehicle or property damaged by water. So, I never even thought about it being an issue. I only realized it may be an issue when seeing the news later that night. By then the dealer gates were locked tight.)

I know shit happens and nature can be nasty. I feel for the people who lost their homes and even lives in this storm. I completely realize this pales in comparison. But, the dealership could have done a lot more to protect our vehicles instead of just their vehicles. Turns out they were flooded a few years ago and 13 cars floated AWAY.

(Unfortunately, this is all I can post about it for now. I just had to get it off my chest.)

Rest In Peace Punk'n. Rest In Peace.. I'm gonna miss you my good friend.

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[ACAD_Cowboy]

Holy'chit 'mang!

Bless the little dash cam that fought to the end.

Where about was the truck drowned?

That Thursday I had to go to the bronx in a truck and there were perhaps 200 cars drowned between the cross island at LIE and the throgs neck bridge. Shin deep mud flats and rocks the size of tennis balls washed all over.

Saw mill parkway

Major Deegan

LIE

Laguardia got 7 inches of rain.

I am sad to hear your leaking top was finally solved. To be fair, I don't think anyone was truely prepared for the biblical rain that some areas got. And speaking of Biblical, I would be on their carrier with a furious vengeance.

 

[Chance575]

Find a local news outlet and give them your footage and story.

 

[Challenger85]

They left your car and other customer cars because the only ones they’re liable for are their own. That’s why all dealers have signs saying, “no responsibility for what happens on our lot blah blah.” I saw a story recently that someone’s 60K Ford truck was stolen from a Colorado Springs dealership while there for repairs. Dealer told them they had to claim it on their insurance as they weren’t liable for it. They were nice and offered to cover any insurance hikes for a year and offered to replace the truck with the exact same model for exactly what they owed on their old one.

It is shady but they were probably told to leave everything and get out. They’ll just make it your problem.

 

[punk'n]

Holy'chit 'mang!

Bless the little dash cam that fought to the end.

Where about was the truck drowned? .........

Best $80 I spent so far was that dash cam

It was in NJ.

 

[cdyoung9799]

Man that truly sucks. Sorry you're having to deal with that. Hope you get it settled as easily as possible. Good luck.

 

[punk'n]

Man that truly sucks. Sorry you're having to deal with that. Hope you get it settled as easily as possible. Good luck.

Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts.

Knowing that several thousand of vehicles were damaged, as well as the chip shortage and severe lack of dealer stock, I was already looking for a replacement before I could even get my Jeep out of the dealer's claws.

I was able to pick up a new Rubicon, although the dealers have you by the nuts right now if you have to buy off a lot.

 

[cdyoung9799]

Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts.

Knowing that several thousand of vehicles were damaged, as well as the chip shortage and severe lack of dealer stock, I was already looking for a replacement before I could even get my Jeep out of the dealer's claws.

I was able to pick up a new Rubicon, although the dealers have you by the nuts right now if you have to buy off a lot.

Very nice. Congrats.

 

[Jaxmax]

But, but, but it ain’t punk’n!!!
Really sucks for you, saving their cars not customers is really bad business.....Jack

 

[punk'n]

But, but, but it ain’t punk’n!!! ....

Yeah, I know. Orange is my favorite color. I will miss it for sure. I drove out of state just to get a Punk'n.

Here's a side by side after salvaging what I could. Now it awaits pickup for its final journey.

 

[am1978]

After 7 weeks, I finally got my hardtop's minor water leak fixed by the dealership. How did they do it? They left my Gladiator parked in their lot as the dealership got flooded. So, it's no longer a leaking issue, its just plain totaled. I guess that's one way to take care of the problem.

(View from my dashcam)

So, the back story...

2020 Gladiator Overland with 5K miles and full warranty. Hardtop had minor leak. I reset panels numerous times. Still leaked. I try to get appointment at my dealer. They tell me to pound salt as they won't fix a water leak. I have to call Jeep Cares to find a dealership that will fix it under warranty. The first appointment (3 weeks later) at the new dealer is wasted when I'm told they have to keep my truck for up to 5 days for the "leak specialist" to diagnose and they have no loaner or rental for me (they told me when I made the appointment I could wait). I give them photos and video of exactly where it leaks from the top and I'm told it wouldn't help. It will still take up to 5 days to find. I reschedule for when they have a rental but they can't take me for another 4 weeks.

So, a week ago I drop off the truck. The new dealer gives me a rental that Jeep pays for (thanks Jeep Cares!). The next night, all hell breaks loose and the dealership goes under from tropical storm Ida... literally. For over a week, I try to get my truck. No one answers the phone or they give you the run around if they do. Go there in person four times to be refused access due to "unsafe and contaminated conditions". (Even though they were cleaning their facility, I couldn't get my truck to clean.) My service advisor calls me a few days in to tell me all the vehicles on the lot are a total loss. But she can't help getting my car released. Yeah, thanks for letting me know.

Today, I brought the police with me to get my truck out of Jeep Jail. All of a sudden the dealership says "it was just a misunderstanding". Off it goes on a flatbed. Its been sitting fully closed up with stank water inside for over a week. Water poured out of the doors when it was being winched up. And I mean poured. Insurance will surely total it. (I had it towed to private property so I can swap wheels, etc before its gone for good.)

Turns out my dash cam fired up during the flooding as things shorted out. I also have previous coverage from when they moved it in the lot. It shows that the dealership removed their cars as a precautionary measure but not customers. Hell, I didn't even get a call asking me to come get it. And I live 3 minutes away from them. (I should point out that I never used this dealer before due to bad reviews. I do not live in a flood zone, have never had a vehicle or property damaged by water. So, I never even thought about it being an issue. I only realized it may be an issue when seeing the news later that night. By then the dealer gates were locked tight.)

I know shit happens and nature can be nasty. I feel for the people who lost their homes and even lives in this storm. I completely realize this pales in comparison. But, the dealership could have done a lot more to protect our vehicles instead of just their vehicles. Turns out they were flooded a few years ago and 13 cars floated AWAY.

(Unfortunately, this is all I can post about it for now. I just had to get it off my chest.)

Rest In Peace Punk'n. Rest In Peace.. I'm gonna miss you my good friend.

If it’s totaled and you get a new one, can you keep the totaled one as a project vehicle?

 

[Mr._Bill]

If it’s totaled and you get a new one, can you keep the totaled one as a project vehicle?

The insurance company usually takes it and gets as much money as possible out of it to help cover their losses from replacing it.

 

[JAVIERGONZO]

That's fucked. I'm sorry to hear that. But thankfully cars are material, and family wasn't hurt from flooding

 

[punk'n]

I already bought the Rubicon pictured above as the replacement.

I'm waiting on my insurance to pick the Overland up and appraise it. Once insurance takes it and decides payout, I can buy it back from the insurance if I want. I'm not sure if I want to go through the hassle of trying to save it though.

 

[punk'n]

That's fucked. I'm sorry to hear that. But thankfully cars are material, and family wasn't hurt from flooding

You are 100% right. I've told myself that many times already.

This was the second deadliest storm our state has ever seen. A relative of my nephew's girlfriend (her aunt) was swept away in the water in the next town over from me. Her car got stuck and she got out. She still has not been recovered. There is also one additional person still unaccounted for.

As you say, I was very fortunate no one in my immediate family was harmed. I feel sorry for those who were.

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