Driveshaft failure after recall

[bmount]

It's been a while since I've posted, but I thought maybe someone here could help. I have a 2020 Rubi with the manual transmission and finally took it in for the clutch/pressure plate recall at Scoggin Dickey in Levelland, TX. After a couple weeks of around town driving, I took a trip to Dallas and as soon as I got into the city my driveshaft came off of the rear differential going 75 down the freeway. Luckily I got to an exit and got out of the middle of the road. I had it towed to a dealership (since it's still under warranty) and they said the bolts were completely gone and none were sheared off, meaning they had become loose and fell out. The dealership that did the recall work is refusing to take any responsibility and it's not covered by warranty since the bolts weren't installed correctly. I'm considering taking legal action but would rather just get the repairs covered. Anyone have a similar issue that you were able to have fixed?

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[jac04]

This is where @JeepCares should be able to step in and sort things out.

 

[ZeeJay]

Might be good time to at least threaten legal action, and stress yes they are very much responsible. I would as another step reach out to Jeep. They are correct that that is not a warrantable issue from the OEM, but absolutely is warrantable through the dealership. Without question a driveline has to be removed for t case removal and ultimately trans removal. They don’t want to own it because it is an internal job, they eat it.
You know as tech, not automotive, but a tech stories like this really piss me off. I once for free stripped down the front end of X15 Cummins because I didn’t set mess correctly between idler and cam gear after having entire engine apart for cutting counter bores in block. Soon as I started it I knew it. All day I was there and never claimed any time, not even internal. It’s called eating your own shit sandwich and I owned up to also. The ass hat who drop that ball owns it and the service manager should own it. They obviously can’t claim the bolts were installed correctly, had the bolts been installed correctly they wouldn’t have failed.

 

[rharr]

get it fixed (at a different shop) with your own money, have it documented in writing what was observed and include photos by the repairing shop and then file a claim in small claims court against the dealership that did the work for the cost of the repair plus legal costs.

basically build a paper trail of the string of events so a judge can develop a cause and effect that effected you.

 

[jac04]

Also note that if the rear driveshaft was removed, per the Factory service Manual, NEW fasteners must be installed. If the new fasteners are not shown on your invoice for the repairs, then that is another strike against the dealership that performed the repair, and by itself a reason to have your repairs covered.

 

[rdnck]

I had the rear driveshaft replaced, under warranty, on my old Wrangler Rubicon. Seems to be an issue with the Gladiator as well. If it fails on the Gladiator I have, I might just go aftermarket.

 

[Minty JL]

Also note that if the rear driveshaft was removed, per the Factory service Manual, NEW fasteners must be installed. If the new fasteners are not shown on your invoice for the repairs, then that is another strike against the dealership that performed the repair, and by itself a reason to have your repairs covered.

Well this is good to know. New hardware did not come with my new driveshaft

 

[RobbertCole]

theres your smoking gun. do you have photos that new hardware was not used?
If so take pictures, show them that, let them know the next course is legal action.

make.a.stink.

This could have cause a *serious* accident and is negligence on the dealerships side.

 

[bmount]

Thanks, I'll reach out to JeepCares and see.
I didn't check after the recall and didn't even realize that the driveshaft had been taken off as part of it until the dealership in Dallas told me what had happened, and by then the bolts had already been scattered along the highway. That's exactly what the service guy in Dallas said, that they probably tried to reuse the old bolts that wouldn't have the loctite. Since I was stranded in Dallas I just had them fix it so I could get back home (about 300 mi). I did notice that the bolts on the new shaft are marked to indicate if they loosen at all and have a unique head, making it unlikely some kids with wrenches loosened them (actually is what the service manager told me likely happened).

 

[Minty JL]

Thanks, I'll reach out to JeepCares and see.
I didn't check after the recall and didn't even realize that the driveshaft had been taken off as part of it until the dealership in Dallas told me what had happened, and by then the bolts had already been scattered along the highway. That's exactly what the service guy in Dallas said, that they probably tried to reuse the old bolts that wouldn't have the loctite. Since I was stranded in Dallas I just had them fix it so I could get back home (about 300 mi). I did notice that the bolts on the new shaft are marked to indicate if they loosen at all and have a unique head, making it unlikely some kids with wrenches loosened them (actually is what the service manager told me likely happened).

The invoice of the recall should list all part with part numbers that were replaced during the service.

REF these numbers on your invoice: Mopar part numbers 5191037AD, 6506497AA, 68400272AA

 

[bmount]

Here is a copy of the invoice. I don't see those part numbers on there, and not sure what the bolt lock patch is..?

 

[Minty JL]

Here is a copy of the invoice. I don't see those part numbers on there, and not sure what the bolt lock patch is..?

The little metal piece in the middle???? I will have to look that part number up

 

[jac04]

Well this is good to know. New hardware did not come with my new driveshaft

If it was a factory replacement driveshaft, they come with new hardware. Same with the Dana Spicer driveshaft. Not sure about other aftermarket driveshafts.

 

[jac04]

Check out the recall :
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCRIT-23V116-5818.pdf

It calls for new driveshaft hardware to be used. I appears that the "campaign kits" include the new hardware required.

 

[Rahkmalla]

some kids with wrenches loosened them (actually is what the service manager told me likely happened).

You know kids these days, always sneaking under cars and loosening random bolts.

I spent years working at car dealerships, and the kind of mental gymnastics these assholes put themselves through to never admit fault for anything is INSANE.

I had an old GSM tell a salesman to complete an entire new car delivery with the minivan sliding door open to cover up the damage from when the detail guy parked the minivan wrong and the boom arm of the car wash crunched in the rear quarter panel of the van. Brand new minivan. Dealership clearly at fault. Damage happened while they were in the finance box signing the paperwork.

Manager laughed and said "by the time they get it home and notice we can say someone hit them and it's not our fault". Really wish i was a more secure person back then i should have told the customers and quit on the spot, but i was an impressionable 20 year old kid who needed a job badly. After the customers left every single other salesman at the dealership that day was laughing with the GSM except me, i was just disgusted and felt like i needed a shower.

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