Jeep dealership denying warranty

dog_party · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:14 pm

My brother took his CRD in to a dealership in Raleigh, NC and had the oil changed. That was about 2k miles ago. He has since moved and noticed an oil leak soiling the driveway of his brand new house outside Atlanta, GA. So he takes the truck in to the closest Atl dealer and they tell him that the oil plug was way overtightened the last time the oil was changed. The oil pan has to be replaced because the internal threads are stripped. The Atl dealer won't warranty the work of parts because it's not a defective part that caused the problem. Est = $1200.

My brother called up the dealership in Raleigh that had changed his oil and they tell him, "It's been too long since the oil change, we're not warrantying anything."

My brother calls Chrysler and they say, "Sorry, the problem didn't come from a defective part, so it's not warranty."

So, now my question(s):

Couldn't an oil pan that strips it's threads before the $.02 oil pan plug strips it's threads be considered a "defective" part?

What would you do next?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:21 pm

It should not matter...it was dealer installed so that dealer (service department) has to pay for the repair. That is like saying a wheel fell off because the lugs were not tight, but the lugs didn't fail so they are not at fault.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:47 pm

BETTER BUISNESS BUREAU.......and you can file online. :wink:

Ron

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:42 pm

Dont let him pay for that. Its the dealers fault and no one else's.

BBB.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:06 pm

He needs to talk to the owner of the dealer that did the oil change, and let him/her know about the intent to go to the BBB about it.

If Jiffy lube will repair stuff they screw up, the same should go for a dealer.

Could also contact the local news, many have "call to action" segments, that allow the media to ask questions and find out more info, often the bad press is enough to get the problem resolved.

stick · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:07 pm

x2 on what he said ^

Talk to the owner of the dealership and let them know you're unhappy and that you're going to contact the BBB. If the dealership owner/manager has an sense about them, they'll replace the part.

Why is an new oil pan $1200? :shock:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:58 pm

Call the dlrship owner, ask for the name/contact info for the regional rep and contact info for DC HQ. That should spur him on.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

Check and see if they are a member of the BBB, or better yet an arbitrating member. They will have to take care of it to stay in good standing. If not, file a complaint with DC and sue the snot out of the stealership. You can also have the manager of the "good" service department contact Chrysler about it.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:28 pm

Help me with this idea but can't you retap the threads in the pan?

I agree with the others.

Talk to Dealer owner
Talk to BBB
Talk to TV news station. They usually have a consumer complaint section that does TV news segments and the bad press will hurt the dealer.
Tell the dealer owner that you will put flyers on every Jeep/Chrysler you see and tell them about his business practice.
Tell them about LOST and how we will put out the bad practice on all Jeep forums.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:46 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Help me with this idea but can't you retap the threads in the pan?

I agree with the others.

Talk to Dealer owner
Talk to BBB
Talk to TV news station. They usually have a consumer complaint section that does TV news segments and the bad press will hurt the dealer.
Tell the dealer owner that you will put flyers on every Jeep/Chrysler you see and tell them about his business practice.
Tell them about LOST and how we will put out the bad practice on all Jeep forums.

They do make oversized self tapping drain plugs......but only a temperary fix.Where I work we can't "Walk on Water" yet,so if "We" mess up the threads,we buy and install you a pan at no cost.As a returning satisfied customer,we have a chance to recover our losses,but if you don't come back,we will eventually work ourselves right out of buisness.Having said that....if you go to the top of the ladder at the dealership that messed it up and you don't get any resolve,then you know the next step. :wink:

Ron

wildrussian · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:38 am

I wish your shop was around where I live at Ron, I would definetly take my Jeep to your shop.

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:39 am

I have suggested that he contact the BBB. I agree with the idea of a local campaign, but it would be very difficult because he has moved to Atl (about 6 or 7 hours away).

But keep the feedback coming because I'm using it to fuel his fire...and talk him into finally joining and participating in LOST (he's had his CRD almost as long as me!!)

Thanks for the tech info Ron. I was wondering what the potential was to tap it out and put something bigger in there.

I think the oil-pan replacment job, as a whole, is $1200. Not just the pan itself. At least I HOPE the pan isn't $1200. If it is, we need to find an aftermarket oil pan for the CRD!!!

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:24 pm

Quote:

Tell the dealer owner that you will put flyers on every Jeep/Chrysler you see and tell them about his business practice.

Be careful with anything like that. Someone out here did that and were sued by the dealership for slander. Knowing Californians, the dealer probably won. :roll:

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:28 pm

wildrussian wrote:

I wish your shop was around where I live at Ron, I would definetly take my Jeep to your shop.

Thanks for the vote of confidence wildrussian,I also wished we had the chance to have you as a customer.

And no problem dogparty on the info.I would guess that 1200.00 is parts and labor,and the most of that being labor to maybe have to R&R the engine to change it?Do tell your brother that he needs to get L.O.S.T. with us,the more the merrier.

Ron

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:37 pm

Nanette,

Just put your story on the flyer and let the people make their decision. No lies or name calling. Just the true story. They can't win a lawsuit on the truth........or can they?

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:46 pm

You're right Nanette, you have to be really careful when talking negatively about someone anymore in an open manner (escpecially a business). There was a lady that got sued for slandering some day-care in an online-forum. I don't think the day-care won, but it's not too far off. The lawyers won't give up until they win. And when they win, it will set precedence and we'll be hosed.

But I also agree with Tokyojoe. It's all in the wording. But to really CYA, you'd have to say something like:

"I allege that (so-and-so) Jeep dealership overtightened my oil pan drain bolt, causing $1200 worth of damage, which they now refuse to pay for."

That doesn't sound as good as "So-And-So Jeep is full of a bunch of lying, theiving scum bags who aren't good enough to change your oil without stealing from you while they do it!!!"

LimitedLurker · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:18 pm **Posts:** 114

Contact your insurance company and file a claim for vandalism.

A GF took her car in for work and the shop put the wrong fluid in and they wouldn't stand up to it. She called her insurance company and they opened an investigation. Wasn't long before she got a call filled with apologies and an invitation to bring the car in for repairs.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:24 pm

Find out what the maximum you can sue in small claims court is in your area. In NY i believe it is $1000. Go pay the $10 or whatever it is for the filing fee and then the dlr has to show up in court, so do you, but if they don't you win a default judgement. Once the dlr gets the notice that he has to show up in court he may well be inclined to just settle the matter.

wildrussian · **Posted:** Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:00 am

This really has been an educaitonal thread for everybody and especially me on how to handle crooked dealers. Thanks guys

dog_party · **Posted:** Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:40 am

LimitedLurker wrote:

Contact your insurance company and file a claim for vandalism.

A GF took her car in for work and the shop put the wrong fluid in and they wouldn't stand up to it. She called her insurance company and they opened an investigation. Wasn't long before she got a call filled with apologies and an invitation to bring the car in for repairs.

Oooh, I like this one. I'll make sure my brother tries this route too.

The small claims court idea is the best one to pursue in most cases where this happens, but my brother lives 8 hours away from where it happened (and where he would have to show up in court). So it's not the best option in this case (unfortunately).

My bro's full write-up is coming soon....

Jeep dealership denying warranty

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