My truck took a big giant dump last week.

I first encountered a problem two weeks ago when my transmission locked up in drive. It would start out in drive and that was it, no manual shifting could be done. So I took it to the dealer. I hate dealers by the way. They sell you a truck and thats it. They're done with you. "Next custumer please." And as soon as you have a problem they don't know you and don't care. Anyway so I took it to the dealer and to my luck they couldn't duplicate the problem. "What the hell." I got the truck back the next day and two days later it happens again. So I take it back to the dealer and they send me on my way. Another two days go by and they call and say my truck is ready. I get to the dealer and they said the valve body needed replacement. I said so it's fixed right? They said you should have no problem from here on out. Don't ever believe them when they say that! I get to my office do some work and start to leave after 3 hours of being at the office and the truck wouldn't go in reverse. "I thought I wouldn't have any problems!" It works fine in drive but wouldn't go in reverse. It was slipping big time and if i was on any incline it wouldn't pull itself up. So I take it back to the dealer (3rd.) time mind you. It has been 6days since they have had my truck. They said reverse is burnt up and DC won't replace the tranny with a new one. So what they are having to do is tow my truck to a specialist 3 hours away in Cartersville, Ga. to fix the transmission. I thought a specialist was a doctor in a specific field of study.

Are they friggin with me? I want a new transmission! Whatever is messing up with this one is sucking the life I'm suppose to get out of it. The thing is I don't even pull anything with it. The truck is bone stock except for some catch all floor mats and a line-x bedliner.

What options do I have and has anyone had this problem?

 

I'd find a new dealer or press the current one harder, and get the new parts you deserve. Maybe you can call DC.

 

You bought a new truck, with a new transmission. Not a used truck! They had several chances to fix it and didn't, press them for a new one. work your way up the management chain. I have even yelled at the salesmen when they had a customer with them, gets attention real fast from upper management.

 

Yelling at a saleman won't get you anywhere.All manufactures have a 70% rule.Upon teardown and inspection if the cost to repair is 70% or less it gets repaired.What bothers me is the truck being sent down the road which means the dealer does not have a trans tech. In small towns thats not unusal.But I think it needed to be towed to a dealer with a good trans tech and repaired there.Call 1-800-992-1997 and start the ball rolling.If the trans was replaced it could or should be done in house.Not down the road.Just my opinion.

 

Interesting situation...you have a low mileage bone stock Dodge truck with a Dodge transmission and the Dodge dealer, that you bought it from, already worked on it, can't seem to fix the transmission in-house, and isn't allowed by Daimler Chrysler to replace it?

I would start putting things in writing. With the profit these trucks generate to DC there should be no question in this situation about putting in a new or "factory rebuilt" transmission since the Dealer does not have any local resources to fix the problem and they already made several repair attempts and told you that you should not have any futher problems with your transmission. Sending a customer's vehicle out of town 3 hours away to another shop (independent transmission shop or was it another DC Dealer?) is just not good customer service DC!

If all else fails, I would be taking that 3 hour drive to check out their specialist to make sure it will be repaired right. Maybe you could slip in some "better components"!

In comparison, I once purchased a new Audi where the Center Differential locked up several hundred miles later (very rare problem). Audi flatbedded my car to Dealership, my original Salesman drove out to my house and provided me with a new model Audi loaner with a full tank of gas. There were no questions asked, Audi air-freighted in a new center differential and had me back on the road in less than 3 days! My Audi cost less than my Dodge RAM!!!

Given your circumstances I would be pretty steamed at both the Dealer and DC. Just not good customer service any way you look at it.

Keep us posted on the outcome! We 48RE guys want to hear how DC responds!

 

You think you're mad now, wait 'til they tell you your Warranty was voided when you installed those non-factory floor mats!

 

That just kills me, but please don't get him started

 

Hey, you'all are but it could be true! The extra weight of the mats may have put excess pressure on the floorboards, which then in turn, caused undue stress on the chassis, which then stressed the frame, causing the transmission to overheat and be just generally unhappy. No, I must say, Mudd is now his own warrantee station. DC SHOULD deny his claim.

 

Sad...but so true!

 

Mudd, Is it me or do you hate dealers? It sounds to me they're fixing the tranny and you just want a brand new one? The tranny may come back better than new. Why not wait and see? and if there's still a problem don't abuse it, just take it back to the dealer and tell them it's still giving trubl and ask for the Regional VP address and phone. You'll need all receipts and service records. If you're switching between more than one dealership and either dealership claims abuse or neglect or aftermarket add-on equipment you could be in for a long battle though.
Nat

 

The 48re's have not given much problems.Ton more Torqueshifts and Allisons posting problems then the 48RE.Crap happens.The Dealer WILL NOT give out Reps phone number.They will have him call you.

 

Yeah I realize that, just giving advise to get their attention.
Nat

 

Funny Guys!

Haven't had a good experience with this Dodge Dealer. My company owns a ford work truck and i have had much respect for the ford dealer in the way they take care of me. They give me a truck comparable to the one I have in service at no charge. This Dodge Dealer gives me a Chrysler Concord to work out of. I own a land surveying company and it's hard to work out of a car. I would understand if the warranty had run out but there is only 20,000 miles on this truck and to me I'm not getting the custumer satisfaction I should get. The truck has not been abused nor have there been aftermarket parts or modules installed (other than the floor mats lol). I know stuff happens, but in my opinion they're not taking care of their customers.

In this case bad business.

 

I just called the dealership in cartersville and they informed me that reverse was burnt up and are in the process of repairing it. they got the truck in yesterday and they will have it out this afternoon.

Should've taken it to them in the beginning.