Appalled But Not Surprised - Dealership Service Department Shenanigans

[LukeDagny]

I think the service rep was at least partially correct about having to try the different sensors to find which of the six is the correct one. Tech might get lucky and grab the right one first time but if unlucky it will be #6. Hell just be glad the service writer was willing to talk to you. Mine won’t even make eye contact when the only thing he tells you is could not reproduce the problem…..

I haven't read all the replies in this thread, but I just replaced a rear locker sensor. My dealer told me a replacement wasn't covered under my Mopar CPO warranty.

I bought the 5, not 6 sensors, that come in a kit. I had to test two different sensors before I found one that worked. I didn't even replace the differential cover while testing. To prevent this problem from happening again, I epoxied the sensors using the process provided in this thread;

My cost was ~$135 for the 5 sensors, and differential fluid, which was due for a change anyway..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/locker-position-sensor-potting-dana-44.59581/

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[Heimkehr]

These sorts of stories are diabolical to me. I often wonder if you guys who have issues like this are in small town dealerships?

A few years ago, I had to pay for the replacement of several wheel studs. My truck was on the lift for the annual state safety inspection, meaning one front and one rear wheel had to be removed so that the brakes could be examined. The "tech" used an air impact to gorilla off the lug nuts, apparently in some manner sufficient to break off said studs.

When presented with the invoice and despite my protestations, the Svc Dept disclaimed responsibility. They impotently suggested that I could've subsequently removed and then installed the lug nuts in such a way to set the studs up for damage the next time wheel removal occurred. I truthfully replied that the wheels weren't touched since last year's state inspection appt...meaning, they were the ones who last laid hands on the lug nuts. I even had a copy of the related receipt in the glovebox. No Joy, though, and of course the repair had to be done now, so I took one for the team.

Oddly, or not, that was the first visit where I didn't receive a follow-up email that baldly solicited a five star review. I wrote a terse and not impolite letter to the Svc Mgr, and he did call me. After a bit of waffling on his part, and as I heroically bit my tongue, I thanked him for the follow-up and ended the call.

I later learned that the related employee was no longer employed by the dealership. I can't say if my episode was contributory. I didn't ask for or suggest job termination.

The foregoing occurred at a dealership in Harrisburg. Our capital city, not a small town.

 

[Kyanche]

These sorts of stories are diabolical to me. I often wonder if you guys who have issues like this are in small town dealerships? The hubs and I have bought more than our fair share of new vehicles, and I have never had an issue where the dealership service department has ‘cheated’ me, nor have we had issues where the cars don’t get fixed properly. Is this really as common as this forum makes it seem?

My first experience with shady dealers was where my mom bought our 'family' Chrysler 300c way back in 2006. The car was a factory order and I helped negotiate the price thanks to a dealer advertising rather aggressive prices on the internet. When the car arrived they 'forgot' the negotiated price for a bit lol. The dealer included "free oil changes for the life of the car" but as it turned out, every time we took the car in for a free oil change they always had some other expensive recommended fix.

The final straw was when they told me about 3-4 years in? The car needed an entirely new steering rack. They claimed the boots were all torn up and it was dangerous to drive like that. Of course they couldn't show me on the lift for safety reasons. I declined and took it to a shop where I had just had the tires replaced... they were like wtf? Put it on the lift, and showed me how everything still looked new.

I've experienced a couple other WTFisms from other chrysler dealers but that one always stuck with me.

The dealer I bought my first Jeep at in 2015 offered a "free lifetime powertrain warranty" but AFAIK it wasn't an ACTUAL warranty, just a handwavey promise if you did ALL of their "recommended" maintenance there. But when i was negotiating for that jeep I told them I didn't care about their "warranty" so they never gave it to me lol :D

 

[CybrSlydr]

Took my brand new 2025 Rubicon in less than a month after getting it (bought end of March) because the drivers seat got stuck in the full-forward position.

Still waiting for them to get the tiny part that goes on the rail to unlock the seat to come in...

As of Wednesday, they're checking with the parts department for an order update.

 

[jxb]

I had my own dealer experience this week, absolutely amazing... I won't walk on your post by sharing all the details but suffices to say it wasn't as bad as yours but it certainly raised the Spock eyebrow a few times.

 

[Ratbert]

Took my brand new 2025 Rubicon in less than a month after getting it (April) because the drivers seat got stuck in the full-forward position.

Still waiting for them to get the tiny part that goes on the rail to unlock the seat to come in...

As of Wednesday, they're checking with the parts department for an order update.

Are you saying it's been in the shop since then? Due to a seat issue?

 

[CybrSlydr]

Are you saying it's been in the shop since then? Due to a seat issue?

No, they got the seat unlocked after about 3hrs of work. I've been driving it since, but can't move the seat because waiting for the part.

 

[Wabujitsu]

I had my own dealer experience this week, absolutely amazing... I won't walk on your post by sharing all the details but suffices to say it wasn't as bad as yours but it certainly raised the Spock eyebrow a few times.

Jeff, by all means, share your experience here! Doing so will not “walk on” my post at all!

 

[linux_guy]

No, they got the seat unlocked after about 3hrs of work. I've been driving it since, but can't move the seat because waiting for the part.

This needs to be a class action. Pants on the head crazy issue. I have a socket extension for the workaround, but it's still nuts that a seat can be unusable for such an issue.

 

[R3TRO]

What's going on here?! Lol

 

[Terrymo]

What's going on here?! Lol

Seems like a Linux operating system issue

 

[CybrSlydr]

What's going on here?! Lol

My guess is he submitted the post during or just before the site error I got and the software freaked out and we got a bunch of duplicate posts.

 

[TPadden]

...the site error I got and the software freaked out and we got a bunch of duplicate posts.

You think this might need a class action?

 

[Dusty Dude]

You think this might need a class action?

We are Jeep owners, so according to most, we have no class

 

[Wabujitsu]

They blamed mine on bent door pins at the dealer in Breaux Bridge, La so don't bet on it. It ALL depends on the dealer. Some will take care of it no problem and others will do their best to break it off in ya. I second the earlier comment about folks paying for extra helpings of the nonsense some Jeep dealers dish out. NEVER pay for an extended warranty until you've had warranty work done by the service department you intend to use.

Ray, how the HELL did they justify blaming your failed locker position sensor on bent door pins???

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