When they charge what they do for trucks it kinda makes you wonder why they don't loan you a truck whether you have a business or not.

Many years ago, I was often was lent a new truck by a dealer who I had done consistent business with. Especially, in circumstances like this. Of course, "customer assistance" these days is usually only words.

OneTon, what's your dealer confidence level? Do you have an alternative a little further away? In driveability cases like this, if they fool with it much longer I would insist they replace the truck.

 

Ok, answer me this. What are we as a dealer supposed to do with all the brand new trucks that people want us to loan out after they have been taken out and used and now have miles and wear and tear on them? As picky as everybody on this site is none of you would ever buy one of them.

 

Why would the dealer need to take money out of his pocket by loaning you anything? Anything he loans will depreciate by having more miles on it, needing cleaned up again, and fuel put back in it! He didn't make the truck that broke, nor did he design the parts that broke, or engineer the software that is causing problems. I know there are a lot of dealers that have loaners. The dealer I worked for had 3 or 4 minivans to loan out, and they offered a shuttle if someone needed it. As for loaning out a 30-50k truck!!!--- didn't happen! Put yourself in the dealers shoes.

 

Well, my GTO needs to be exercised anyway. Like I said, I'm military, so I don't use this truck for my livelihood. However, when you buy a piece of mechanical equipment that's advertised as being "Heavy Duty" and spend close to 50k on it...well, I expect a little more in terms of development testing. I do operational test and evaluation for the Navy, I never really thought I'd get to do it for DC as well.

VZdude, I understand your point, and for an older used car I completely agree. However, on a truck with less than 1k on it...well, I'd expect a loaner or a rental car to be offered to me...just as Surroz Dodge in Visalia did. As for the dealer not being the one who built the truck or designed the software...well, tough nuggies. They made the decision to sell that product, they should stand behind it. It's quite obvious to me that the tech is a phone actuated mechanic that supplies the hands to do the work that the STAR line is telling him. When one calls in the big guns, I'd generally expect things to be fixed correctly the first time. That is, unless the product is still too immature...which I'm beginning to think is the case with these new trucks.

I also own a '06 MazdaSpeed 6. It was a brand new engine design...in the first model year. It's had no problems. Heck, it's even an early build. Runs like a scalded cat.

Apache1, like I said above, I don't have confidence really in any of the techs that I've seen so far to diagnose anything on their own. They all immediately call DC, so whether it's here in my small town dealer or off at a larger one I don't really think it matters.

My plan is this: Later this month I have to go on travel for roughly two weeks. If this problem isn't resolved by then, I'm going to take the truck to the dealer in Vegas that I bought it from and let them have it while I'm gone. When I get back, I'll be in Vegas for about a week for an exercise. I'm going to pick the truck up...REALLY put it through it's paces, and if there are any problems I'm going to take it back to the dealer and start the Lemon process. I think that's more than fair.

 

I think you have a great attitude towards getting the truck fixed. I wish you luck! I think it will all get sorted out before you know it.

 

THATS THE TRUTH

 

My first comment, in the age of electronic controls, you have experienced a "bathtub failure curve" failure. With electronics you have a "burn-in" time of about 20-30 hours durring which the possibilities for failure are a bit higher. After that you will probably see a long period without problems. This isn't sounding like a mechanical failure, rather an electronic failure. So your failure with less than 1000 miles isn't that supprising. It also can happen to any make/model. Don't you just love computers and IC's?
I returned a car (Ford mustang) on the lemon law in california. The problem I had became a recall later. The thing is your car must be in the shop more than 30 days durring the first six months to qualify for the law in California to begin with. This is a bunch of time. Depending on the state you would need to check on requirements. If you can get the problem fixed you will be MUCH better off. My case took a year to finish. It was more a matter of principle at the end. I agree it can be tough to find a technician you can trust. Most aren't really bad though, just indifferent, which can be just as bad!

 

OneTon,

When did you take delivery of the truck? If it was within the last 30 days.....

My suggestion would be to simply determine which states lemon law your truck falls under, check that particular states return statute, and get your money back!!! Most states lemon laws allow you to return the vehicle within 30 days and a certain mileage provided there is adequate documentation. Which, if you have had the truck to the dealer in Visalia twice and then once to the dealer close to home you have met the requirement and are entitled to a replacement or a refund of the full purchase price!

While your patient and understanding attitude is to be commended consider where that will get you if you end up outside of the statute for a refund and the problem has not be resolved. It will be much easier if you move quickly now rather than later.

Of course this is just my opinion. There will be others and ultimately you need to choose the best course of action for yourself.

 

If you go on googlem type in Lemon Laws.. Many sites will ocme up where you can contact an attorney for free. But be carefull. They also have lots of info and you can plug in your state and it will give you a synopsis of that states laws. If unsure, give them a call and ask which state you need to Lemon Law from... Lemon Law can be a long process... hoping for the best for you... Maybe call around and find a better dealer that knows the new trucks better.... Might even call cummins and see what they say!

 

Does it have to be a new truck? Why not just have an old '97 - '99 truck sitting around (one from a trade) to be a loaner in a dealership that does a lot of trucks.

There's a thought .... Dah!

 

If you're worried about loaning trucks out and the depreciation of them can't you sell them as demo's and pass the loss off onto Dodge somehow?

 

Because by law in our state you can not give out a used vehicle with a dealer plate on it to be a loaner. And besides, if you knew how people around here used trucks you would NEVER loan them one to use as they would destroy it. Right now I am getting signed up with the DRAC program (Dealer Rent a Car) and Chrysler is going to provide me with brand new vehicles to give out as loaners. It is gonna cast me between $330-$390 a month per unit for depriciation, and 1 point over prime on the interest, and I get to pay the insurance yet to, but at the end of siz months I give them all back to Chrysler and they send me all new ones again. I am going to get a truck or two but they won't be HD diesels as the interest on those would kill me.

 

Nope, losses on demo's comes right out of my pocket.

 

Settle down.

I was merely saying that "in the old days" (I'm old) for cases like this I used to get a demo truck as a loaner. In today's world that is no longer the case.

My opinion is he should get a full size rental truck free of charge until they fix it or, get him a new truck.

Good Luck OneTon. Let us know how it goes.

 

Smokin' Dog-I've read the CA and NV lemon laws. I think I'd probably fall under NV since that was where the truck was purchased. Basically they have 4 interations to fix the same problem...or the truck has to be at the dealer for longer than 30 days within the first year of ownership. I'll research more tonight.

What would you guys do in my situation if, for sake of argument, they can't get it fixed and it is in fact a lemon? Would you get a refund and buy something else or would you demand an identical truck? I special ordered this one from the factory, so I'd think to get me an identical truck they would have to order me an '08.

Honestly I'd looked at the new Tundra Crewmax before I went with the Dodge. I heaviest I'll be hauling will be my 4200lb GTO and trailer...and after driving both trucks I decided to go with a diesel and a factory exhaust brake to help with the mountains.

I don't like the stance or the looks of the Chevy/GMC, nor the Ford. If Toyota had a diesel out right now I'd probably go for it.

Two guys in my squadron bought diesels at the same time I did...one a new '08 Ford 250 and the other a new body style '07 GMC 2500. Of course now I'm catching quite a bit of crap at work.

Oh, and don't have much faith in DC roadside assistance. The dealer told me this morning that they'd have to call DC RA and set up a tow. This was at 8 am. I finally got a call from the tow truck driver at 1245 wondering where my truck was and if I had the keys. Of course I'd given them to the dealer. 4.5 hours to get a tow truck on scene in a urban area is pretty **** poor.