Dealership Service Questionable?

[bill61]

Wow! That is messed up.
I mentioned the two Jeep dealerships by me that are owned by the same group. The one I presently use treats a person much better and I trust them more.
The reason I trust them more is because they have made two minor mistakes over the years. They owned their mistakes and corrected them. I can’t ask for more.
Neglect or lying about performing a service is totally unacceptable.

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[Lost1wing]

I had a sparkplug depart the cylinderhead on my Ford 5.4l while on vacation. I drove it to the nearest dealer ( just a few miles). I was expecting a large bill but I wanted to get going on my trip. Thinking Ford had a quick fix since it is very common on the 5.4l, I decided the dealer was my best option. I called them early the next morning and gave them the door code and that I dropped the truck off the night before. Three hours later, I got a call saying the repair was done and they replaced the sprkplug and the damaged coilpack. $168 They covered the repair and I bought the parts (way out of warranty).

Skip forward 4 months, the same thing happens on another cylinder. My son was using the truck and he was about 300 miles away. Since the last dealership repair was so reasonable, I told my son to take it to the Ford dealer near him. He told them the issue and told them he unplugged the fuel injector for that cylinder. They documented what he had told them. The next day, they called and said it was finish and that the bill was $1200. I thought maybe it was not as easy to access as the other that had failed last time. When I look looked under the hood, it was the easiest access of any of them. They charged a $250 diagnostic fee, list price for the coulpack and sparkplug, 6 hours of labor. I refused to pay the diagnostic fee. They responded to that saying that after the repair the check engine light was on and the engine was running rough. No mention of how they corrected that on the bill so I asked them to read rhe notes. Still they were not budging. That was my last Ford even though it was a dealer problem. I did report them to bbb and my state.

 

[RK Racing]

Yeah it's a shame I really trusted them and I don't want to drive to the next dealership which is also owned by the same persons. Next time I will definitely come up with a way to confirm the service. And no I'm not sure of the oil change because I didn't witness it.

Pull your dipstick out and make sure it has fresh oil in it. You know, it should be light in color cause it’s new oil.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

I’m not sure this was a “bribe”. Sounds more like service recovery with the hopes of a better survey. The manager acknowledges the problem, corrected it, offered some goodies as service recovery, and asked for a kind survey. He didn’t say, here fill this out and give me 5 stars and here’s your goodies. A survey can be kind and honest. You can be appreciative of the service recovery and suggest areas for improvement.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

I have had pretty dismal results at Tallahassee Jeep too. Was rejected after a month long appointment for my first oil change (Jeep Wave). I do miss Lexus customer service. lol.

I wrote a detailed letter to the Service manager and GM but I’m positive it will go nowhere.

oh well

 

[2024 NIGHTHAWK]

So I purchased an oil and tire rotation service package when I bought my Gladiator. Took it in yesterday for the described service and having been done wrong with another vehicle service in the past I am suspicious so I purposely set my tire pressure at different psi and made a notation on a slip of paper and also noted the dust on wheels. When service was completed and I signed the service receipt the person said they performed the oil change and tire rotation. Said that I needed an alignment? I checked the tires and psi and confirmed that the tires were not rotated and I spoke with the service rep. He returned and said the tech didn't rotate the tires and was sorry and he would get it done and offered to get me a free set of wipers and free tire yif I would be kind with the survey that would be coming. What would you guys do?

I really have a problem when someone tells me how to fill out a survey. If I don't feel I was treated right I tell them. I think that's the only way things will change.

 

[Vtur]

Doesn't really matter about which dealerships, it's all about the tech who works on your vehicle. The best service is DIY. As a teenager witnessed my mother getting rip off by a supposedly mechanic friend, i picked up a service manual for my first car and has been wrenching on my own since.

When buying a used vehicle, i'd rather purchase from someone who performs their own maintenance than one with a long list of dealers or quick lube services.

 

[Stingray 5517]

I’m not sure this was a “bribe”. Sounds more like service recovery with the hopes of a better survey. The manager acknowledges the problem, corrected it, offered some goodies as service recovery, and asked for a kind survey. He didn’t say, here fill this out and give me 5 stars and here’s your goodies. A survey can be kind and honest. You can be appreciative of the service recovery and suggest areas for improvement.

I agree with everything that you said and that is my take on it. My survey reflects on your statement.

 

[Mr Miami]

I guess I am not as paranoid as I thought. When taking my vehicle in for service, I always made a small mark or scratches on the oil filter (of so equipped) or a smudge or something on the canister that would be obvious to me if the filter was not taken off. I don't actually test the oil, but at least I know if the filter has been removed.

If having tires rotated, I keep a piece of chalk in the glove compartment of every vehicle I own. I put a very small "1" on the left front, "2" on right front, "3" on left rear and "4" on the right rear. Barely noticeable. I then can immediately look at the tires when they give me back the keys and see what was done.

 

[Stingray 5517]

I guess I am not as paranoid as I thought. When taking my vehicle in for service, I always made a small mark or scratches on the oil filter (of so equipped) or a smudge or something on the canister that would be obvious to me if the filter was not taken off. I don't actually test the oil, but at least I know if the filter has been removed.

If having tires rotated, I keep a piece of chalk in the glove compartment of every vehicle I own. I put a very small "1" on the left front, "2" on right front, "3" on left rear and "4" on the right rear. Barely noticeable. I then can immediately look at the tires when they give me back the keys and see what was done.

Great idea and Yes it's something we all need to be doing.

 

[punk'n]

Don't forget to take multiple pictures of your vehicle from all angles, as well as of each wheel, when you take it to a dealership. It saved me twice when they damaged my trucks and denied that they did it.

After arguing with me, I proceeded to show them my photos, taken at their dealership (can see name in background) the morning of drop off with a damage free truck. It takes the wind right out of their sails .

(The one time I showed them my rear dashcam footage of when their employee backed into a wall and crushed my hitch step. They blamed it on my truck being hit by a garbage truck that drove through their lot. I literally laughed in the Service Manager's face from the shocked look he had when I produced the video.)

 

[bill61]

I won’t argue with a dealership if they deny something. I have at least 5 Jeep dealerships within 15 miles of my home so I will just scratch them off the list and go to another dealership.
One has been scratched from my list of available businesses over the past 20 years.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

I won’t argue with a dealership if they deny something. I have at least 5 Jeep dealerships within 15 miles of my home so I will just scratch them off the list and go to another dealership.
One has been scratched from my list of available businesses over the past 20 years.

Your lucky. I have to go north into Georgia as an alternative. 4k on mine. I’m not bitter. Just disappointed. I’ll likely sell it and get a Lexus if this persists… I’ll getting too old for this drama.

 

[Lost1wing]

Your lucky. I have to go north into Georgia as an alternative. 4k on mine. I’m not bitter. Just disappointed. I’ll likely sell it and get a Lexus if this persists… I’ll getting too old for this drama.

not running from Lake City cdjr are you? They are the worst CDJR dealer that I have dealt with. Never again!

 

[Chris A]

This is way too common IMO. I have been in the service industry for 30+ years and this is a management issue. They need to know what their employees are doing or not. I have had a fuel line mysteriously come off the fuel pump . Fuel leaks at filter. Lower radiator hose clamp mysteriously loose and leaking after service, this vehicle had 30k and hadn’t leaked until the morning I drove a few miles after service. High center light leaked and flooded rear carpet and storage. After 4 visits to repair and demanded drying of insulation pad all seat bolts and washers had their marks aligned from the assembly line. Not to mention multiple missed diagnoses and repeated trips back. This is over 3 dealer in the North DFW area. FCA has a serious issue that is negatively impacting their image. They have ridiculous labor rates for substandard and dishonest work. As an HVAC professional I see this crap daily in my own industry. Makes me sad to see what has happened in our country over my 60+ years.

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