Took my Jeep to dealer today for loose steering

[JeepCares]

I have taken my Overland back to the dealership 6 times over the course of 2 months. My Gladiator has 847 miles on it now I am still concerned for my safety when driving the truck. It sure as heck doesn't drive like my JL Wrangler.It is as if no one cares about customer satisfaction anymore.

Are you planning on going back to the dealer? If yes, we would be happy to escalate a case on your behalf so a case manager can help resolve your concerns. Send us a private message if you'd like to discuss further.

Kaitlin
Jeep Cares

Sponsored

 

[jpnieves]

Are you planning on going back to the dealer? If yes, we would be happy to escalate a case on your behalf so a case manager can help resolve your concerns. Send us a private message if you'd like to discuss further.

Kaitlin
Jeep Cares

Kaitlin thank you for your response, but I don't think I will be going back there, I had to file a complaint with the BBB in order to get the slightest attention from the dealership, once I did then I was the bad guy, (how dare you complain Mr. Nieves) why didn't you give us a 5 star rating..... ?
The focus has gone from providing 5 star service to demanding a 5 star rating. If workmanship merited 5 stars people would not be complaining. I have been a MOPAR customer for over 30 years. I think I am done with MOPAR perhaps one of the others would appreciate brand loyalty.

 

[JeepCares]

Kaitlin thank you for your response, but I don't think I will be going back there, I had to file a complaint with the BBB in order to get the slightest attention from the dealership, once I did then I was the bad guy, (how dare you complain Mr. Nieves) why didn't you give us a 5 star rating..... ?
The focus has gone from providing 5 star service to demanding a 5 star rating. If workmanship merited 5 stars people would not be complaining. I have been a MOPAR customer for over 30 years. I think I am done with MOPAR perhaps one of the others would appreciate brand loyalty.

Have you considered working with another dealer? We are happy to find one for you if you'd like.

Kaitlin
Jeep Cares

 

[jrf]

This is going to be an issue that's going to plague the Gladiator. I'm seeing more and more truck reviews online commenting on how bad the steering is. The dealers are obviously taking the route of least resistance and saying "That's just how it's supposed to be". I'm really hoping they just step up and fix it. It IS fixable. There ARE aftermarket parts that resolve it....so NO it's not because it's a Jeep with a solid axle and a recirculating ball steering box. If that was the case they would all do it, including every jeep CJ, YJ, TJ, ZJ, etc. Heck my ZJ from 98 had the some steering setup and drove like a dream.

 

[jpnieves]

Have you considered working with another dealer? We are happy to find one for you if you'd like.

Kaitlin
Jeep Cares

Yes I have, and I pretty much get the same BS excuse it is a jeep and that is how they drive/ride, I might believe them if my JL Wrangler drove in the same fashion but it doesn't (perhaps my JL is the defective one and not the Gladiator) I know there is something off with this Gladiator, I drove 4 different ones all different models this is the only one that dives like this..... I told dealership the same thing, and I suggested they swap out my Gladiator for another, they laughed at me and said that was impossible. So why am I paying 75k for a vehicle that really isn't safe, because I value my credit score and no one cares about the individual, when this vehicle losses control on the road and loss of limb (or worse life) FCA will then care. Sorry but I bought this on 8/30/19 for myself as a birthday gift to myself, try to imagine how disenchanted I am.

 

[Rollcast]

Yes I have, and I pretty much get the same BS excuse it is a jeep and that is how they drive/ride, I might believe them if my JL Wrangler drove in the same fashion but it doesn't (perhaps my JL is the defective one and not the Gladiator) I know there is something off with this Gladiator, I drove 4 different ones all different models this is the only one that dives like this..... I told dealership the same thing, and I suggested they swap out my Gladiator for another, they laughed at me and said that was impossible. So why am I paying 75k for a vehicle that really isn't safe, because I value my credit score and no one cares about the individual, when this vehicle losses control on the road and loss of limb (or worse life) FCA will then care. Sorry but I bought this on 8/30/19 for myself as a birthday gift to myself, try to imagine how disenchanted I am.

What does your alignment look like? Have you asked them put it on the rack and give you the printout? Sorry if this has been done but it's hard to keep up with who has done what.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What does your alignment look like? Have you asked them put it on the rack and give you the printout? Sorry if this has been done but it's hard to keep up with who has done what.

That's my thought - and like I posted, alignment CAN and WILL impact the steering to give it a "loose steering" feel. Caster will do that. That's one of the first angles I'd check. SAI, caster, toe, TooT, several other things can impact this. There can be a stackup of tolerances - several parts all within tolerances, but together, the assembly is out. Easiest example is a crankshaft that is in specs, but at the small side of the spec, the bearing on that crankpin is in spec, but the large side of spec. So now you have a looser assembly while your neighbor has the opposite - his engine goes 200,000 miles with great oil pressure while your oil pressure drops at less than 100,000 miles.
So saying "it's in specs" can be deceiving - and any college trained tech knows this.
Left camber is in spec, right is in spec, but together, there's a difference between the sides that causes a pull to one side on roads that are not crowned. I hope these people TROUBLESHOOT and don't just go through a scripted check list. I hope they know how to diagnose, think beyond the book. It's a skill too few have these days, but what won me awards and setting records years ago.
Sorry, it's not on my laminated sheet/list, so I don't know what else to do, it's all in specs.
I hate those words!

 

[Pat2Alaska]

Kaitlin thank you for your response, but I don't think I will be going back there, I had to file a complaint with the BBB in order to get the slightest attention from the dealership, once I did then I was the bad guy, (how dare you complain Mr. Nieves) why didn't you give us a 5 star rating..... ?
The focus has gone from providing 5 star service to demanding a 5 star rating. If workmanship merited 5 stars people would not be complaining. I have been a MOPAR customer for over 30 years. I think I am done with MOPAR perhaps one of the others would appreciate brand loyalty.

It isn't ALL dealers........ I'm sure the goal is for 5 star ratings but some dealers actually know if they give 5 star service, the rating comes naturally. I have personally dealt with both types of dealers........

 

[jpnieves]

That's my thought - and like I posted, alignment CAN and WILL impact the steering to give it a "loose steering" feel. Caster will do that. That's one of the first angles I'd check. SAI, caster, toe, TooT, several other things can impact this. There can be a stackup of tolerances - several parts all within tolerances, but together, the assembly is out. Easiest example is a crankshaft that is in specs, but at the small side of the spec, the bearing on that crankpin is in spec, but the large side of spec. So now you have a looser assembly while your neighbor has the opposite - his engine goes 200,000 miles with great oil pressure while your oil pressure drops at less than 100,000 miles.
So saying "it's in specs" can be deceiving - and any college trained tech knows this.
Left camber is in spec, right is in spec, but together, there's a difference between the sides that causes a pull to one side on roads that are not crowned. I hope these people TROUBLESHOOT and don't just go through a scripted check list. I hope they know how to diagnose, think beyond the book. It's a skill too few have these days, but what won me awards and setting records years ago.
Sorry, it's not on my laminated sheet/list, so I don't know what else to do, it's all in specs.
I hate those words!

Thank you for your input, The dealer has had it "on" the alignment rack 5 times since I have purchased it, each time I am told "it was adjusted to specs" (once in spec why would it not stay in spec) this last time a corporate engineer came in to examine, he too did an alignment, there was improvement after this time, however steering wheel has never been straight since day one. Each time I asked for a reading print out of before and after, not once was it ever given to me....

 

[jpnieves]

It isn't ALL dealers........ I'm sure the goal is for 5 star ratings but some dealers actually know if they give 5 star service, the rating comes naturally. I have personally dealt with both types of dealers........

Perhaps you are correct, however I am not going to travel more than an hour to get to the next dealership. There are 6 dealerships within 45mins travel time I have been to 5, all 5 have the same excuse "IT'S A JEEP", I am sure in Iowa things are very different than here in south Florida.

 

[Pat2Alaska]

Perhaps you are correct, however I am not going to travel more than an hour to get to the next dealership. There are 6 dealerships within 45mins travel time I have been to 5, all 5 have the same excuse "IT'S A JEEP", I am sure in Iowa things are very different than here in south Florida.

Fair enough! Good luck!

 

[Rollcast]

Thank you for your input, The dealer has had it "on" the alignment rack 5 times since I have purchased it, each time I am told "it was adjusted to specs" (once in spec why would it not stay in spec) this last time a corporate engineer came in to examine, he too did an alignment, there was improvement after this time, however steering wheel has never been straight since day one. Each time I asked for a reading print out of before and after, not once was it ever given to me....

1. Your dealer sucks.
2. I have no doubt it can be easily fixed, but it wont ever get fixed by a dealer that wont even give you the current alignment specs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Perhaps you are correct, however I am not going to travel more than an hour to get to the next dealership. There are 6 dealerships within 45mins travel time I have been to 5, all 5 have the same excuse "IT'S A JEEP", I am sure in Iowa things are very different than here in south Florida.

LOL - don't count on it!

 

[Pat2Alaska]

LOL - don't count on it!

Correct, not ALL dealers in Iowa are different but I have found one that is!! Maybe just lucky!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Like any business, chain or not, it's up to the individual ownership, management team, employees, whatever. Attitudes can be contagious. Some don't realize that taking the time, caring, being picky, it can actually MAKE you money. I'm more swamped now than I care to be........can't keep up with the work coming in and I don't take out ads - it's all reputation, word of mouth, and my standing behind my work, even if the problem isn't truly my fault.

Sponsored