Dodge Durango Forum II Archive

Another 5 Star Dealer Service Debacle (long)

MikeV [NY] [2002 Black 5.9 RT-FT4WD-Fastman TB-IP Stage III]
mikev@virtechsolutions.com

I just got my '02 R/T back from it's 7K service. While it was in, I had them check out a couple of things, the AWD indicator light no longer lighting up and a light grinding rubbing sound heard under heavy braking. When I pulled into the service center, I saw one of the techs I met on my last trip. He commented then about my "lack" of any kind of mods to the intake and promptly gave me an aftermarket catalog and pointed out some cold air intakes and superchargers I should consider.

Well, when I brought it in on Friday, I showed him my IP Stage III and Fastman TB. He was impressed and asked me where to get those parts.

Forward to Saturday morning and I pick up the vehicle. First I check the AWD indicator and alas it's still dark. A quick check on the invoice tells me the part is on order. They also said that the "UNDER EXTREME BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE PADS DIP IN THE CALIPER AND RUN ON THE HUB - NORMAL CONDITION" I then notice this note on the work order:

NOTE: DUE TO THE AFTERMARKET THROTTLE BODY AND INTAKE BEING NON MOPAR APPROVED PARTS, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE COVERED FOR POWERTRAIN REPAIRS IN THE FURURE IF DETERMINED THAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO ANY FAULURE.

OK, I understand that, but it was nice of them to make sure it was logged into the computer and now on record, especially after I went out of my way to share the info with them. The service tech handed me an aftermarket parts catalog himself for crying out loud!

But that was not the worst of it. When I went to get in the car, I noticed a nice paint chip missing on the door edge, obviously where someone carelessly opened the door and smacked it against a wall or something. Then I noticed that my hitch port cover was broken where someone backed it up against something and cracked it in half. Then I noticed a 2-inch long ball point pen mark on the driver's side suede in the door! I called over the financing manager to point these out to him and he said there was no way to know if these conditions existed when I brought the car in. The D is in pristine condition and these were the first blemishes on the vehicle and I made sure to him that they were not there. He said, "what do you want me to paint the door?" and handed me some touch up paint. Nice attitude.

To add insult to injury, when I drive away (angrily) I notice that the steering wheel has a slight but pronounced shake at speeds over 65 MPH. I guess this is due to the tire rotation. Could they be out of balance?

I will be taking this up with the service manager in the morning. I don't even know what he can do to fix the chip and if the pen marks will come out of the suede. At least an acknowledgement and apology would make me feel better. I'll keep you all posted.

Mike V.

[ This message was edited on Sun Jun 30 at 9:01pm by the author ]

Sun Jun 30