As far as I know, it went like this:
1. VP44 died
2. Consumer takes truck to dealer and asks for warranty repair
3. Dealer looks it up in "the computer" and says it's no longer covered
4. Consumer pays for repair
5. Consumer contacts DC and is stonewalled ("the computer" again)
6. Consumer sends demand letter to dealer
7. Consumer meets with owner of dealership, and shows him his warranty booklet and Federal law. Owner agrees with Thomas' plain-English interpretation of the warranty terms.
8. Dealer later contacts consumer, saying DC will pay if supplied with maintenance records
9. Consumer supplies dealer with maintenance records
10. DC sends consumer a check reimbursing him for the repair

If DC really believed that the warranties ran concurrently (that is, the Cummins Diesel Engine Limited Warranty began at delivery), why on Earth would they ask for maintenance records? Wouldn't such things be completely irrelevant? It sure seems that DC knew the service was covered, knew that the CDELW really started at the end of the BLW, and was trying to find a reason (e.g. no record of fuel filter replacement) to deny coverage. Eventually, when they couldn't come up with any more excuses, and when it became clear that the consumer wasn't going to give up, they finally met their warranty obligation.

 

It is not uncommon to ask for maintenance records. Mainly because most people dont keep them believe it or not. So without the records they say to bad so sad we cant help you. Thomas had those and he made it far enough up the ladder of command and they paid him off. I still wont agree that they feel there was this 8/136,000. I only say what i know with 31 years of dealership experience.

 

Unless they "felt" they were obligated to pay for the VP44 replacement, why would they do so? Not only is it a ~$3000 expense, but it opens a big can of worms for other customers (those who actually read their 2000-2002 warranty information booklets).

Had DC really felt that the Cummins Diesel Engine Limited Warranty's period started at delivery, surely they would've fought Thomas until a judge finally sided with them (DC). Even with the legal expenses, that would be far cheaper than paying for VP44s, 53 blocks, or KDPs for a few hundred thousand affected consumers.

Unless, of course, we want to take the position that nobody at DaimlerChrysler has any rational business sense.

EDIT: In any event, what DC "feels" is totally irrelevant. All that matters is the text of the warranty booklet. Any judge is obligated to agree with that text, no matter what DC might say or "feel".

 

Actually, the warranty interpretation was everything. At my first meeting with the dealership owner I gave him a copy of the model year 2000 Warranty Information booklet. After reading it a few times he said that he would have to call DaimlerChrysler. Shortly after returning home, the dealer called me and told me of his call to D/C. The dealer stated that he had to read the "when it starts" part to the person on the other end of the line four times. That's when D/C started to try to wiggle out of it—D/C wanted me to bring maintenance records to the dealer.

Did the dealer go to bat for me? Perhaps, but only because he conceded that I was right.

Did Daimler/Chrysler make an exception? I probably was an exception because I knew what the warranties were on my truck. From what I've read on various Cummins/Ram boards, most owners seem willing to believe whatever dealerships, service writers, or the D/C 800 number tells them regarding the warranties.

 

If that was true we should have documented cases to use for reference. If you can state them let us know.

 

That certainly seems to be true.
I find that quite amazing. It's like trusting the fox to tell you that everything's A-OK in the henhouse.

 

If what was true? Surely you don't doubt that the text of the warranty booklet is the final word on any warranty disputes.

As far as documented cases... I don't know of any consumer who has been wise enough to actually sue DC and have a judge side with them. I do know of "Thomas", who was smart enough to read his warranty booklet, read the applicable Federal law, and demand reimbursement from his dealer. That seems to have worked (since it was DC, not the dealer, who eventually reimbursed him). Unfortunately for us (but fortunately for Thomas), it didn't get as far as a judge.

EDIT: we may not yet have "documented cases" (i.e. court cases) because the affected vehicles are only recently more than 5 years old. I fully expect, especially given Thomas' posts on various forums, some cases to soon come before a judge. I expect most, if not all, of these to be in a small claims forum, though a class-action suit would be far better.

 

Nitrousn: Dodge told me I had 30 days as a new owner (3rd) to register with
DC, which I did over the phone.....

I than went to the Dodge dealer and got a printout of warrenty coverage
remaining, The printout is in my name as owner and states remaining coverage on each warranty ( by date of any remaining )
There is no mention of a cummins warranty, but does ref a 5/100000
warranty which expires in Feb 2007, I believe this to be the Cummins engine
warranty referenced in the Red Book,

I am trying to contact DC to determine there take on the start of this warranty. Maybe if everyone requested a printout from the dealer, and wrote a letter to DC on the warranty period, there would be some movement
on this.....

Also if you read the warranty book, Non Dealer warranty repairs are reimbursable on an emergency basis,

I had this occur with another Makers truck IP, Was re imbursed
with no hassle, less hassle than dealing with a dealer

I will pursue the warranty issue with DC after the 1st of the year and post
results..

 

I will get a copy of mine to compare. You should have a inservice date shown. From what you have told me the truck must of been put in service on or in feb. of 2002. All warranties start from the inservice date.

You can get warranty repairs made in an emergency. You are supposed to contact a chrysler dealer first for warranty repairs first.

The 5/100,000 could be outer panel perforation or the cummins coverage. Being you are the third owner and beyond the 3/36 i would say it is the cummins warranty.

 

Correct, In service date of Feb 2002...

Thought: ( HMMMM, Not good sometimes ) anyway here goes..

When IP fails, just go to a Diesel shop, get IP replaced, Submit to Dodge,

No Stealers to BS you, No in tank LP..... and probably a better IP....

 

You just cant go to a diesel shop and get repairs done and expect reimbursement. You might not get anything back. The only time i see them expect to pay is if there is no local dodge servicing dealer or you are broke down on a weekend or some lone deserted area miles from a local servicing dealer. Just words of advice. They also wont pay for certain repairs that they dont consider the norm. Example could be installing a non-intank pump. Like i said be carefull doing that because you could get burned. Plus it goes into your warranty record.So you might get away with it once but the next time you wont.

 

Probably right about re imbursement,

Maybe GM has better customer service; They sent me a refund for my
IP replace, no questions asked...

 

I think a lot depends on the situation, location, history, and the claim handler. Like i prevously said be carefull just so you dont get burned.