In August of 2012 I brought my 2002 Jeep Liberty in because all panel and electrical items failed, including speedometer, radio, interior lights, door locks, power windows, A/C. Shop claimed they needed to replace Body Control Module (BCM). They replaced the BCM and it failed. They ordered another BCM and it failed. After being there two weeks they said they had a short in the visor and a powertrain control issue and talked in circles when I asked questions. My final bill was $1461.
It was later that I realized that when they were talking about the visor they were talking about the actual sun visors that flip down with a mirror in the interior of the car. Basically, there was a connection issue with the ground from the visors. All they had to do was ask if I was okay with unhooking the power that goes to the visor mirrors. Surely, no reasonable and ethical repair shop would think that I am interested in spending $550 for a light in a visor mirror! The car is 10 years old with 120K miles on it and I have never used those mirrors. Of course this wasn't given as an option. When I asked about it I received the run around. When I asked why my back mirrors won't go down anymore I was given the run around. I was so frustrated with not having a car for 3 weeks I let it go.
In July of 2013 my speedometer stopped working and I called because I knew the previous work done had a 1 year warranty. They warrantied another BCM, but charged me $220 for the labor. After 12 days I picked up my car and drove a few miles and the speedometer stopped working. When I initially brought it in I had mentioned that the speedometer works for a few minutes and then stops working when the car is warm. That day my car stalled 3 times while I was driving as well. Did they not check their work? I complained to the general manager and service manager and they told me to come back in and they would check something else.
I brought the car back in and it was there for 20 minutes. They gave it back to me and the speedometer was working again. Also, the back power windows were miraculously working again after a year of not doing so. My response is what?! The car was there for 12 days and not fixed and given to me to stall and be a danger to my children and I bring it back in and everything is fixed within 20 minutes? Including the back windows which they had quoted my hundreds of dollars to fix a few days back?
Something is very dubious with my experience at this shop. What did they take the car back for 20 minutes and hook up a wire or fuse they knew was the REAL PROBLEM all along? When I asked them in person and via email why I still incur the $220 labor charge for installing the BCM when that wasn't the problem they just stonewalled me and did not answer.
These people are criminals.
Nate
Malibu,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, January 05, 2014
I can tell you exactly what caused your electrical issues. I have personally repaired several Jeep Liberty vehicles with your same symptoms. There is a wire harness that runs along the floor under the carpet on the driver side of the Jeep. Under the driver seat there is a point where the wires are very prone to breakage. This causes them to short to each other and also to the floor of the car. This causes symptoms that seem to indicate a faulty BCM (no speedometer operation, no rear window operation etc). I believe the technician working on your car simply did not properly troubleshoot your problem and instead elected to throw parts at the problem. After several failed attmpts, they actually diagnosed it and repaired it. Probably better to use an independant mechanic to service your car in the future, as they most likely would have found the real cause the first time.