Simple warranty, made difficult by the dealer/Chrysler

[sharpsicle]

My problem is that the warranty work, for a very basic item, became more trouble than it's worth. It's very easy for the time spent dropping a vehicle off, waiting for it to be done, and then picking it up, to eclipse the worth of the warranty. I'm upset because there are alternatives which don't take as long, there are customer service opportunities not explored, and ultimately, I'm left with choosing the lesser of two evils. This isn't rocket science. It's a tail lamp. if the engine is knocking, sure-- have it as long as you need.

Edit-- I'll say also I need to give credit where credit is due. When I brought in my Jeep for the TSB for the steering box, they did that with lightning speed. I forgot about that, and I have to applaud that. They didn't even question my reporting of wandering-- they just ordered a part and put it in, no questions asked.

Here... much different experience. And to be clear, I didn't bring it in disassembled; I offered to do that to save them time. It's as easy as plugging in a new light and tightening a few bolts. But it wasn't meant to be.

Long story short, as the title states, this should have been much simpler and faster than it turned out to be.

I think you're still missing the key point that they cannot trust the customer to do diagnosis or disassembly work for them. TSB's are different animals as they clearly state a known issue and exactly what to do.

For an issue like this, they need to verify the issue is where you claim it is. They don't really have an option, and honestly that's a good thing. Having worked in a variety of shops I can say with confidence that what the owner thinks it is usually is just a symptom of a different problem, and giving them the chance to find that problem is necessary. That's why it's built into procedure. You may be intelligent and capable of your own diagnostics, but to get warranty work done you must allow the warrantor to do their prescribed procedure.

You don't get to take a part of a vehicle in to any dealership, say it's bad, and walk away with a new one under the vehicle warranty. It's kind of absurd to suggest anything like that, or even a discount on buying parts yourself because “warranty”, should be an 'alternative'. You aren’t using the warranty process, so you can’t use the warranty as a talking point any more.

And to suggest that “because it’s simple” they should put you in before other work they already have on the books is a bit entitled. It might be simple, or it might not, but either way that doesn't mean you get to cut in line in front of me or anyone else that's already waiting.

I'm truly with you on the small cost of the taillight not being worth the time to get warranty work done, but that by no means makes you entitled to that part for free. You pick one, or the other, there's no free lunch here. You did the math, found that buying it yourself was cheaper than the value of you wait time, and did it. What's so wrong about that?

The longer you wrench on your own stuff, the more you'll come to realize that this is just a choice you get to make, it's a opportunity cost problem that you solve for yourself. That doesn't make anything evil or bad about the process, and surely isn't worth trying to drag anyone through the mud about. Those of us that have wrenched for decades have come to know and understand this, and it is what it is. In fact, it's a nice alternative to have available, that I can buy it and fix it myself instead. I sure won't be arguing with Jeep over work I choose do myself.

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[Jimko71]

You won't get any negative thoughts from this direction on that one.
Your choice, vote with your wallet.
Ironically, I have started going back to a dealer I bought from, but generally haven't been thrilled with historically, because they offer shuttle, loaners (if you get there EARLY - be in line before the doors open and tell the service writer when you call - I NEED A LOANER)

I also get that not all people have more than one vehicle.
Maybe we're lucky, but my wife has a nice 2021 Jeep that I could use if she was home and not out and about with her gang of quilting friends. In good weather, my SX4 can be used. Winter - it's put away. I can usually schedule around things - usually.
Those who need to commute to work every day and maybe have 1 vehicle, or two but both work outside the home - it could be more of a problem.
I'm also lucky there - my neighbors would take me to Illinois if need be. In fact one time I had to work and my son had car trouble over there - Larry hooked onto my car hauler and drove several hours to IL, loaded up my son's car, and brought it back to my shop. He refused so much as gas money. Again, maybe I'm lucky..............

I get the frustration.
And doing business with dealers that are more helpful is a way to vote for their survival vs. the others.

But I get the rental and loaner thing in SOME areas. My son and his family travel a lot. Him for work/business, and then his wife for their foreign businesses. He's been complaining for the last couple of years that it's really hard to line up rentals in some places. If a rental company has issues- think of the dealers.

That's all I'm suggesting.





For the others -
No one, anywhere, at any time, on any paper, any PDF file, any book, or any website promised anyone a loaner.
There should be no expectation of a loaner. No one ever said it would happen. It's a nice perk and dealers who do it should be rewarded with business - but it should not be an expectation in these days of "everyone owes me".
Yet everyone says "they won't give me a loaner!" So who said they would?
Go in with the expectation you need your own ride outta there, do your homework - ask if they offer loaners or shuttle rides.
Sometimes I wonder if some have ever bought new vehicles before. This is how it is and how I've seen it for many years.

A semi-serious question after seeing a certain types of complaints - how old are some of those out here and how many new vehicles other than luxury brands have been bought?
Some seem to act as if this is all new -but it's how I've seen the auto world for many years. Nothing has changed. Is this a first-time new vehicle? First time dealing with shops?
I've owned my own - first time I was 16 and went into business. I've worked at 4 shops otherwise (and turned down the offer of job as service manager at our largest Jeep dealership) and I guess I don't see anything new or unusual.
Have some of you come from Lexus (the Toyota luxury line) or Mercedes or BMW or Infinity vehicle and believe that's the way of the world with all others?

I though one of the "perks" of the Jeep Wave program was a same day no charge rental/loaner? I am dropping off my truck on the 29th for the leaking rear window and the service advisor told me they will have a loaner waiting for me because of the program.