I purchased my truck used, 12/09, with about 30K miles on it.

They offerred me a bumper to bumper aftermarket warrenty - along with paint protection, upholstery protection, and a clear bra. It was only another $200 a month. $12,000? I better get another truck for $12,000! So, we haggled a bit, dropped the dealer prep items, and settled on $1,300. I now have a contract with an aftermarket warrenty company for 5 years, 100K miles, and $100 deductable.

6 months later, I had a transmission problem. Took it to the dealer, and they overhauled it. Did a great job, did it fast, no problem at all. Didn't even charge me the deductable.

Last month, the left rear brake caliper jammed. Brakes were smoking, and rotor temp was >850*. Right rotor was a bit hot, too, but not smoking.

I had it towed to the dealership, estimate was abut $950. Included new calipers and hardware, resurface rotors. Pads were not covered. So it should have cost me about $150 or so.

This is when the problem starts. Now they tell me the warrenty is drive train only , and expires at 60K miles - about 500 miles ago. But I have a written contract that says otherwise. We're fighting it out right now. They're trying to sell me an upgrade, which I refuse to pay for.

After two weeks of haggeling, I took the truck home and fixed it myself in a couple of hours. Rebuilt calipers, all new hardware, new pads, new rotors. Cost me about $375 in parts. The brake pads were free, as they had a life time warrenty at Autozone. The new calipers and rotors came from Autozone, and they now have a lifetime warrenty.

Hopefully, this will not end up in court. Depending on how they handle this, I may never step foot in that dealership again. If it gets to a fight, I'm going to start a new website called coloradospringsdodgecheatedme.com, and then advertise that web site on the side of my truck.

Depending on how they handle this, I may never step foot in that dealership again.

 

if you have signed copies of the contract with the appropriate boxes checked then you are good to go and they don't have a leg to stand on.

BUT

There is NO such thing as a "bumper to bumper" aftermarket warranty. its a term used by sales dept to suck people in and when they bring it to service they start yelling "i bought a bumper to bumper warranty!"

Read over the paperwork with a fine toothed comb and make sure of the level of protection you bought and its not just a powertrain level.

 

I hope everything works out for you.
Looks like you are already ahead since you had a tranny rebuild and only paid $1300 for the warranty.

 

That's a good theory, and the one I'm going on for now. But they're trying to tell me TS.

BUT


That's true, there's always some exlusions. There's exclusions in every insurance policy, no matter what it's for. That's why I said the brake pads are not covered. But, it's supposed to cover every major assembly between the front bumper and the rear bumper.

The paperwork is pretty clear. I have a single page signed contract, with the right boxes checked: 5 years/100,000 miles, Platinum, $100 deductable.

Fidelity has had some consumer complaints. What insurance company doesn't? Sometimes the company is being a schmuck, and sometimes the policy holder is an idiot. In this case, the dealer is the problem.

 

I feel for ya... automobile dealerships are losing so much credibility with consumers these days.. its not just Dodge, Ford dealership service departments have their heads stuck in the sand...
I have resorted to not purchasing ANY extended warranties, I keep the money for myself... Don't really have that much faith in dealership service departments to do the work right anyway...

 

Normally, I don't buy an extended warrenty on anything. But, with all the troubles I read about the auto trans, ball joints, and Ujoints, I thought it was a good idea for the money.

I usually do all my own work. But I don't have the tools or knowledge to do anything major on a diesel. I guess I'll be buying new tools (never a bad thing), and reading the manual more.

 

The saga continues. After multiple attempts to contact by phone, I drove over to the dealerhips this afternoon. I spoke with the finance manager. As it turns out, he was the one who completed all our paperwork and sold me the contract 2.5 years ago.

He offerred to return the money I originally paid for the contract, $1,300. That could be in the form of a check to me, or could be applied to a new platinum contract. The contract cost is $3,300. The previous repair would not be covered.

So, if I pay another $2,000, I can have what I paid for in the past. If the first contract isn't worth the paper it's written on, why would I buy another one?

I asked what would happen if I came to him 2.5 years later and told him the truck really wasn't worth what I paid for it, and I would like to decrease the price by $5,000? Guess what he said? Pretty much the same thing I said.

I only want what I agreed to with him in that very office. I expect two things to happen:

1. An extended warrenty, exactly what's on my contract - no more, and no less.

2. Reimbursement for the cost of the repair - app $800.

 

take the 1300 and call it done

 

Dodge has not changed at all. Your going to fight a uphill battle with them.
If your extended warrenty was included in your truck payment and you take a payment from them make sure they redo your truck finance otherwise you will loose out on more then $1300.

If you have a contract signed with them for a bumper to bumper and it does not have all the fine print that says nothing is covered then take them to court if you have the time and money.
Take you local Dodge dealership to court with the name of the guy who sold you the false warrenty as the main culprit. See what they do then.

One problem with sueing Dodge is they will send their big lawyers out to sort the issue out. Usually means years in court and on and on.

Make sure that the warrenty you have is what you thought you had before doing anything else.

Good luck and keep us posted as to what happens.

 

I have an aftermarket warranty on mine for 25 more months. I haven't had to use it yet (knock on wood) but I hate hearing things like this. I purchased mine through the credit union who did the financing.

On our Jetta TDI I recently purchased the 7 yr 105K warranty from VW directly. It was $2300, but is factory coverage. I don't want to deal with paying for a DSG transmission or something else for that car. We will likely sell it before the warranty is exceeded, about 3-4 more years. Any reamining warranty can be refunded.

 

Hold them to what the paper work states for the type of warranty coverage they sold you.

 

I have an after market warranty on my 03 3500 drw twd . They paid for a rear axle seal. Then the clutch slave cyclinder went bad and they said no , nothing to do with the clutch.They will however buy capilers and wheel cyclinders,I said kinda the same thing they said no.
Then the power steering pump started leaking. Dodge had updated the pump ,they would buy the pump,but not the resevoir or the new bracket required to install it. had to argue with them. Same thing with the sway bar pin kits. They would only pay if they were broke not worn out. All of a sudden they were broken so they were covered.
Paid $2500 for this warranty.I will get my purchase price back in repairs be for it expires.

 

Small Claims court is your friend and the amount you are looking to get is well within that courts limits. They won't bring big time attorneys into such a small thing and it all comes down to a judge looking at your paperwork and ordering them to pay you. Then, explain to them that you will be doing exactly this procedure on every single repair that is within the limits of your legal and binding contract. DO NOT LET THEM BUY YOU OFF THE CONTRACT. It's legal. You have rights. Small claims is cheap to file and needs no attorney. Stand up for yourself.

Chances are really good that when the owner of the business gets a summons to appear in court on such a small claim...he's just going to write you a check. Following that he will tell his service manager to keep you happy so that you don't screw up his tee time again.

 

Update:

After weeks of calling and dropping by the dealership, I finally spoke with finance manager again. The only thing they would offer me was return of the original $1300 that I paid for the warrenty. That was it, not a penny more. No other offer.

And, he wanted me to write a statement saying I requested cancellation of the contract and return of the money.

Once they send out the check, I'll send out some letters to the dealership, Dodge customer service, and the local BBB.

I also need to learn how to start my own web site. How does this sound ww.CSDodgeCheatedMe.com? I have a friend who owns a sign shop that can put that on the side of my truck.

I don't want to own the dealership or get rich on their back. I want the repairs to be paid for, the contract to be honored, and I never want to step foot in that dealership again.

 

Not the prudent way to go. Small claims court is MADE for consumers. The filing fee is usually $25 and you get that back if you win! What you want is the judge to issue a ruling that you can use to smack the snot out of them everytime you drop the truck off for repair. Hey, they may even "comp" you a new truck just to get out from under their own paper!