Car dealership is a crook.

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Maybe it made him feel better. It does me!!!! Lots of other things getting slammed on the forum and no ones complaining.

 

[turnkey4099]

"Car dealership is a crook" should have been Used Car dealership is a crook. But that's like saying fish live in water.

Are you sure the transfer case leaks? Perhaps they forgot to put oil in it.
Take it to a local TV station consumer reporter.
And ask the dealer how often one is supposed to check the fluid level.

That's my suspicion. Took a rototiller in for some engine work, brought home, fired up and an hour later 'rod through case'. No oil in evidence.

 

[LD1]

Putting the dealership situation aside for a moment, I hate the notion that someone feels their perpetually owed something and if the chips don't fall there way... then Slamming on social media is the appropriate response. That sounds like a high school girl response to not getting her way. The professional way would be to ask for a meeting with the service manager and general manager and make your case. You​ might be surprised.

Back to the transfer case. Who knows what happened to the fluid. The dealer will only source new, as that's their only part source. It's a used car, get a used case and install it...Not all that hard.

Turn this into a learning experience for your cousin. Revist the fact it's a used car and there are inherent risks.

They already had a meeting, that was yesterday. Not sure who all it was with bu I assume managers. And have called corporate.

She feels she was wronged. I feel the same way and would be pi$$ed if I was in her shoes. If no one every says anything negative about bad businesses because its a "high school girl" response then how would we know where to go and where to avoid?

 

[square1]

Something sure does not add up. 2 qts of gear lube doesn't disappear without a trace. There should have been at least one routine oil change done in the 7k miles she drove the jeep. Were fluid level checked? Was evidence of a leak noted?

Unless jeep changed the t-case inspection method, it's not a pull the stick visual inspection, it's an under the vehicle, pull the plug and feel for fluid inspection. Not something the average owner, at least non TBN owner is expected to do as regular PM.

I'm with the "dealership didn't properly R&R the case" crowd. Although proving it might be a hard row to hoe. I'd ask for the work order on the t-case replacement which should have a parts and materials list. Are there 2 qts of lube listed?

 

[LD1]

Dealer never removed and replaced the t-case. All they did was replace the rear seal. The one that the rear driveshaft yoke comes out of.

And it was surprisingly clean. Typically the oil level don't come up to the output seal level. And therefore only leaks when in motion. There was a little oily grimey residue around the output seal, evidence of a slow leak, but nothing that looks like it should have lost two qts in 7k miles.

Weather or not she can get anywhere with them or not, it's just a crappy situation. A rather large freaking authorized Dodge dealer (not a fly by night used car lot) just replaced a seal 3 months and 7k ago. Now the very t-case they did that seal in is toast and the dealer they just paid $20k to for this Jeep 3mos again is saying tough...Your problem not mine.

I am pretty sure I would have had quite a few choice words.

 

[Sigarms]

It's a crappy situation, but the buyer needs to beware.

Did your cousin have anyone look at the vehicle before or right after they purchased it? If not, no offense, they don't sound like the brightest bulb in the factory if they spent 20k on a used vehicle and never had it checked out inside and out, top to bottom by a second party. IF anything, at least have someone look at it top to bottom BEFORE the buyers warranty runs out.

I've never owned a new vehicle in my life. ANYTIME BEFORE I buy a vehicle, I take it to two mechanics I trust to go over it (if the seller does not agree to this, I don't buy the vehicle, easy). Long story short on my last car purchase, the dealership replaced the old transmission with a brand spanking new one and they were very embarrased that they didn't think the car had a problem (this was after they assured me nothing was wrong with the vehicle even though my one mechanic told me this year/model was prone to a particular issue). Best preventative $100 I ever spent.

I don't think this dealership is necessarily a crook. What if this problem would of occured a year down the road? Exactly how long is the dealership responsible for the vehicle if it doesn't have a warranty and the buyer didn't buy the extended warranty?

Sometimes bad luck happens and it sounds like your cousin didn't do their due diligence to minimize that bad luck.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I bought my first Chrysler last month. A 2015 Chrysler 300 with 6K miles on it. I've always driven Fords and Chevy products with great results. Hope this is not a window into the future. I can say that I have never had this type of failure in any of my vehicles. I trust they get it worked out. I still think whether they could have handled this in a much more proactive way.

 

[LD1]

If it had been 2 years and 40k miles later, I would agree that she wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

And agree she "could" have got it inspected by a second party. But a 83k mile Jeep from a certified Chrysler dealer? And being so unwilling to help make it right.

Even the dealer is feeding her BS because when she inquired about the 100k factory warranty, they told her "its non transferable and besides, the seal is considered a normal wear item and wouldn't be covered even if warranty did transfer." Then the next day they told her she should have gotten the extended warranty. So they contradict themselves.

And never mind the fact that she has been trying to get this Jeep back to the service dept since before the 30 day warranty was up because it was making a "noise". I have no idea what that noise was or if it's even related. But the dealer kept pushing it off and making excuses as to why they couldn't get it in until it was past 30 days.

But all of that aside, the dealer put a seal in in 3 months ago and has failed again. Warranty or not....Isn't there some kind of implied warranty on a repair they just did 3 months prior on a part that according to Chrysler corporate should last 100k miles?

If you bought a vehicle and several years down the road it had a seal leaking so you take it to the dealer for repair. They fix it and 3 months later it failed again only this time you didn't catch it in time and toasted the t-case. Would you still maintain that it's not the dealers problem?

 

[Sigarms]

If you bought a vehicle and several years down the road it had a seal leaking so you take it to the dealer for repair. They fix it and 3 months later it failed again only this time you didn't catch it in time and toasted the t-case. Would you still maintain that it's not the dealers problem?

I would inquire about the warranty on the service work before I had it performed, and then make my decision if they should do the work.

Your cousin had the option to buy an extended warranty, but they didn't. The warranty used was 1 month 3k miles, correct?

I'm sorry, but your cousin REALLY isn't the brightest bulb in the factory. If the vehicle was making a noise prior the warranty expiring, but she couldn't get the car in for them to look at it because they were "blowing her off", she should have documented that fact, have the dealership sign off that they couldn't get the car in, and THEN your cousin should have had someone else look at it to determine what the issue was. If the dealership wouldn't sign off on it, take the car back. I know if I was in the exact situation, come heck or high water, car is going back within 30 days.

Does your cousin have any documentation on the fact that they couldn't get the vehicle in due to the vehicle making a noise? What I'm not understanding is why you're looking at it 3 months later when it was making the noise within the first month?

I have no doubt your a pretty bright guy, but I don't think your cousin has any of your genes.

Could the dealership of handled it better? Yes. However, from what you've stated, I don't they're crooks.

Buyer beware, which means cover your arse. The easiest way to cover your butt is documentation. There are 3 sides to every story.

However, the car dealership did offer a concession on their labor which you found unacceptable.

 

[Looking4new]

I have never had any problem with any Chrysler dealership. That being said, I buy the vehicle and the only time that vehicle sees a dealership again is when I drive passed to my mechanics' place.

As for your cousin, she got screwed and not kissed. I think her best bet is to replace the T-case herself and move on. NEVER deal with that dealership again.

I am a firm believer in 'let the buyer beware'.