Just got out of dealership hell, how's your local affiliate?

[tabrods]

We have a good dealer. We usually talk with the sales manager directly and are treated really well. When my wife traded in her Wrangler one of the salespeople asked for her keys to check it out, he said "It's OK - I know the jeep and they take good care of it". When we need service they usually get us in within a couple of days and the service manager knows his stuff. I had them do an oil change, waited around, and when I got the Glad back he said "the oil change guy noticed you had a leaking front shock and I ordered one - should be here in a week or so". I don't think I would have seen it normally so nice catch. Of course this is in smalltown MT and we know everybody so there's that....

Sponsored

 

[ReverendZ]

My experiences have been similar. Service department at my dealer sucks, bad, beyond bad. Sales side was great.

 

[tncola69]

Funny story... It took me 4 months to simply get the paperwork to my DMV so I could get tgs and title. Bought the truck remote in Tacoma WA, as it was perfect for me. Never expected this BS.
Salesman said about a two-week process. Three weeks later, I got a FedEx package. (Two things here... antiquated FedEx Vs. online DocuSign? and second is three weeks to put together a bill of sale?)
4 weeks into this my check cleared the bank... Cash Deal. 3 weeks later they finally got yht truck to the port for shipping. Arrived Empty tank, Salty dirty and had over 50 extra miles on it?
Dealership wont up for a simple tank of gas and cleaning card.
I spent several hours driving to the DMV 3 times to find they had nothing correct.

Timeline - Contacted online for sale on August 25th, 2022, finally have Tags and title with Jeep in possession on Jan 25th, 2023.

What should have been a three-hour tour?

Piss Pour Customer Service - Be cautious with Auto Nation Tacoma!

 

[D10S86]

My dealership told me to take my jeep back for death wobble and they would let me know when the steering damper was in so I could bring it back to fix. I said sure, when are we thinking, a few days? They said no, try one month, at least. After telling them my car was undriveable on the freeway and questioning how they could expect me to drive it like that for a month, they called me back after 10 minutes and fixed me up on a rental. Not bad but also not great. The rental is a sedan, which severely limits what I can do for work on the weekends. I asked to keep me in mind when a truck is available and still no word from them. They are doing the bare minimum to stay out of trouble in my opinion.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

This is all why I DIY, I don’t trust these morons. I didn’t even take advantage of the free oil changes.

 

[Jimko71]

My dealership told me to take my jeep back for death wobble and they would let me know when the steering damper was in so I could bring it back to fix. I said sure, when are we thinking, a few days? They said no, try one month, at least. After telling them my car was undriveable on the freeway and questioning how they could expect me to drive it like that for a month, they called me back after 10 minutes and fixed me up on a rental. Not bad but also not great. The rental is a sedan, which severely limits what I can do for work on the weekends. I asked to keep me in mind when a truck is available and still no word from them. They are doing the bare minimum to stay out of trouble in my opinion.

My truck has been at the dealership since 2/8/2023 for this same exact reason. Dealership has been pretty good to me so far. Gave a loaner since the beginning. They have since escalated and gotten "Engineering" involved because the all the repair attempts they have done so far (replaced steering stabilizer, rebalanced tires, replaced tie rods, loosen and re torqued everything, etc) have not fixed it. I have a 6 month old 2022 High Altitude. I also had the leaking rear window that they replaced under warranty.

 

[Lunentucker]

My truck has been at the dealership since 2/8/2023 for this same exact reason. Dealership has been pretty good to me so far. Put me in a loaner since the beginning. They have since escalated and gotten "Engineering" involved because the all the repair attempts they have done so far (replaced steering stabilizer, rebalanced tires, replaced tie rods, loosen and re torqued everything, etc) have not fixed it. I have a 6 month old 2022 High Altitude. I also had the leaking rear window that they replaced under warranty.

That's insane. You'd be better off taking it to a reputable 4x4 shop and just paying for good parts and good work.

 

[Jimko71]

That's insane. You'd be better off taking it to a reputable 4x4 shop and just paying for good parts and good work.

I don't disagree, but it's 6 months old - they need to make it right. Like I said - they have been very good to me so far. But there are only so many components that can impact steering and they told me now that "engineering" is involved they are tied to what ever they are told to do.

 

[Lunentucker]

It's 6 months old - they need to make it right.

I hear you, but they're not really instilling confidence.
I think we could fix it in my home garage in an afternoon with a Falcon stabilizer and a few other simple tools.
I'm 1.5 hours from you. LOL

 

[Jimko71]

I hear you, but they're not really instilling confidence.
I think we could fix it in my home garage in an afternoon with a Falcon stabilizer and a few other simple tools.
I'm 1.5 hours from you. LOL

Lol I hear you. I agree with not instilling confidence, but at this point they have it and they may as well keep it until it is right. I'd feel a bit differently if they weren't keeping my updated with what they are doing and weren't providing a loaner, which they don't have to do.

 

[D10S86]

My truck has been at the dealership since 2/8/2023 for this same exact reason. Dealership has been pretty good to me so far. Put me in a loaner since the beginning. They have since escalated and gotten "Engineering" involved because the all the repair attempts they have done so far (replaced steering stabilizer, rebalanced tires, replaced tie rods, loosen and re torqued everything, etc) have not fixed it. I have a 6 month old 2022 High Altitude. I also had the leaking rear window that they replaced under warranty.

That’s wild, sorry to hear. I’ll probably be checking back in with you to see what the outcome was. Hoping I don’t go through the same.

 

[Jimko71]

That’s wild, sorry to hear. I’ll probably be checking back in with you to see what the outcome was. Hoping I don’t go through the same.

Not a problem. Soon as I have an update I will post.

 

[Jimko71]

Not a problem. Soon as I have an update I will post.

So just got a phone call. Jeep has authorized the dealership to replace all four of the tires with a different make. They now think it is the tires causing the steering wheel shaking at highway speeds. It has Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza tires on it. They are putting on Falken Wildpeaks. I am cautiously optimistic.

 

[Jimko71]

Got the truck back. Spoke with shop foreman. He came out to introduce himself and brought me back into the service bay and showed me the OEM tires that were on the truck they they removed. All four of the Bridgestone's sidewalls were flimsy as hell. You could take your fingers and literally flex them with little to no force. The Wildpeaks they put on do not do that. He told me that they (the dealership) believe my issue was a domino effect. Tires caused the dampener to fail and steering components to loosen. So at the end of the day, here's what I got for my 44 day wait - two front end alignments, new tie rod and tie rod ends, new steering dampener, complete re-torque of all front suspension components, 4 new Falken Wildpeak AT3 tires. Drove it home the same route that gave me the problems and she was smooth as silk. The service manger did tell me that the length of time was due to them opening a STAR case and getting engineering involved. Once that happens the dealership has to wait for engineering to tell them what to do next.

Moral of the story - check your tires (as many have said on this forum) if you get bad steering wheel shaking at highway speeds. Especially if you have the 20 inch factory Bridgestone Duellers. They suck.

Semper Fi.

 

[Labswine]

My dealership, David CDJR in Glen Mills, PA has been really good. I bought both my Gladiator Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 19 July, 19) and my '19 Grand Cherokee Ltd. from them.

Only ever had two issues with either vehicles. The GC, one day wouldn't start and you couldn't even shift it outta park to roll it onto a flat bed they sent to retrieve it. Pulled the little hidden lever and was able to get it onto the flat bed. Two days later, it was fixed...ESS battery issue...and returned. No issues since.

My Gladiator...yes the dreaded leaking rear window. They replaced the rear window...dropped off in the morning and picked up the next day (my choice as I wanted that sealant to really set before subjecting to any stresses while driving). In addition, I was told that they couldn't get all the water out from inside the roof. I insisted that they replace the whole roof because when that water would freeze, it could potentially crack the roof making things worse. This was November of '20. They told me that the roof 'should' be in right after the first of the year. Well, finally in March, I received a call that my roof was in and to set up a date to do the work. They did have to order a new rear window as the roof didn't come with one so roughly a week later, the window was in and I took it in to get everything done. Again, I told them to keep it overnight to allow the sealant to really set...non issues.

The only caveat was that they didn't replace that piece of trim over the rear window on the inside and I noticed it driving home when I looked in the rear view. Turned around went back, told them and received profuse apologies. They ordered the part and a week later, it was in. Went in and it was done in an hour.

Other routine service things like oil changes were done in an hour of dropping off and waiting for it.

They've been there for over 35 years. Originally they were just a Dodge dealer as my Dad had bought his '88 Dakota from them.

I'd recommend them. Service people drive Jeeps themselves, in fact, the one I always work with has a '21 Sport S and has had to have the rear axle seals replaced and also the dreaded rear window leak so she knows. I'd buy from them again and their service department seems quite competent.

Other than those two issues, <knocks on wood> I've not had any other problems with my Jeeps, except for the oil filter assembly in my Grand Cherokee needed to be replace because it cracked and was leaking oil. I had my independent garage do the replacement because labor costs are lower than the dealerships.

Sponsored