T
Cheyenne,#2Author of original report
Wed, June 27, 2007
Thanks for the information on Ford, as we are probably going to trade our Dodge in for one soon. We have a 98 1500 Dodge Ram and never had a problem with it, but we also bought it in Colorado. We have the extended warranty on this truck and also had it on our 98. My wife was told that on "basic" warranties, Cowboy doesn't have to give a loaner vehicle. I guess they didn't have all the information they needed. Here is the update since I called. My wife was issued a refund for the rental. The service manager was back from vacation and informed my wife that a loaner vehicle would and should have been found for her. This guy really knows about customer service and the regs on manufacture defects that cause the customer discontent. Like I said before, we will never go back to Cowboy Dodge. They call themselves Cowboy Dodge. Redneck Hell is more like it! Again, thank you all for your suggestions and opinions. They have all helped us.
Robert
Buffalo,#3Consumer Comment
Sat, June 23, 2007
I checked the warranty at dodge.com for a 2005 Ram 1500 and the warranty specifically says Dodge will not pay for a rental vehicle or gas or telephone when the truck is in for repairs. So much for them being required to do that. FORD (my 2002 F-150) on the other hand DOES provide a loaner or rental vehicle for any warranty repairs that are going to take 2 days or more. As to shuttle service. Most dealers have a shuttle service, but the shuttle service is to get you home or to work and back to the dealer when you drop off your vehicle or come to pick it up. The shuttle service is NOT to a personal taxi service for anyone to run errands and such. According to Dodge, Cowboy is a 5 star dealership, which means in part, that they give you a questionaire after EVERY service. If they didn't do this, I would start talking to Dodge's Corporate Offices about this. Lemmon Laws - most lemmon laws (for new vehicles) require that you give the dealer/manufacturer 3 attempts to fix the SAME problem. After that, you can give the vehicle back for a complete refund. Unfortunately, from what you write here, you've had DIFFERENT problems. I'm not sure what you can do, other than to sell the thing and get an F series truck from Ford. I bought a new F-150 in 2002 and like it so much I still have it. Perhaps you should consult an attorney.
Thomas
Anderson,#4Consumer Suggestion
Sat, June 23, 2007
Consumer Reports provides reliability data on motor vehicles based on owner repair histories that are collected every year as annual updates- they are up to 1,300,000 vehicles / year now. The April issue is the auto issue. Your public library probably has it. Ask at the reference desk. The problem is that only 1/2 ton P/U's are included- there probably is not enough data on 3/4 ton and 1-ton P/U's. BUT... you can look at a manufacturer's 1/2 ton P/U's and the heavier trucks will probably be similar in reliability... not the exact same reliability, but similar. I have never seen someone loyal to their state before.........
T
Cheyenne,#5Author of original report
Fri, June 22, 2007
I KNOW, I STATED THAT WE KNEW ABOUT COWBOY DODGE, BUT WE DIDN'T THINK THAT A BRAND NEW TRUCK WOULD GIVE US THIS MANY PROBLEMS. YES, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER DEALER IF THE BREAKS WERE WORKING. ALL OTHER REPAIRS ARE GOING TO BE IN COLORADO. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT COWBOY DODGE IS VERY POOR. THEY TOLD US AGAIN TODAY THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE US A VEHICLE WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP UNDER A BASIC WARRANTY. WE HAVE THE FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL AND MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD NOT GET A REFUND FOR IT, BUT NOT TO OUR SURPRISE, WHEN I CALLED THEM, THEY GAVE MY WIFE A REFUND. I AM IN THE NAVY AND STATIONED IN A DIFFERENT STATE SO I CAN NOT TAKE IT IN. THANKS FOR YOUR OPINIONS.
Sam
Victoria,#6Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 22, 2007
"We always knew not to buy from Cowboy Dodge, as they are labeled as crooks..." Let me get this straight: You knew these guys had a bad reputation. You knew these guys were bad news, but you bought from them anyway and are now complaining because they are behaving exactly as you knew they would? Wow. Anyhoo I agree with Robert. Take it to another dealer.
Robert
Buffalo,#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 22, 2007
Why don't you simply take the truck to a different dealer? Why give them business if they're so terrible?