I read this site a lot and like it. I seldom post but decided to share some of my experiences for your consideration.
Having problems with a new car can be really frustrating---I have been there many time over my long life. Many times that frustration causes us to behave in strange ways, often disrespectful, threating, and combative. I assure you that if we let our frustration get the best of us and start getting ugly, threating lawyers, lemon law, etc. right off the bat it will likely result in less cooperation not more. However, in my experience, a person that is calm, courteous, patient, and respectful with a dealer will often get service with equal respect and maybe even see the dealer go the extra mile. If satisfaction can not be achieved through respectful dialogue and enough time then there are certainly other remedies to pursue down the road--but even that can be done in a respectful way.
As far as TSB's are concerned--- they are bulletins containing technical information to assist a dealer in diagnosing a problem raised by a customer. TSB's are supposed to be proprietary information. A TSB is not an ENTITLEMENT of action-- it is a tool to assist a dealer in providing a good diagnosis and appropriate repair-- the decision to act on a TSB is the dealers to make.
In fact if I were in the auto business and a customer came in waiving a handful of TSB's demanding that I install them whether I needed them or not I think I would be less interested in going the extra mile with that customer. The way it should work is for a customer to experience a problem with their car and discuss it with the dealer, the dealer tries to diagnose the problem with the aid of their scan tools, other tools, their experience, conferring with the manufacture, TSB's, and whatever else they deem helpful.
If the problem is confirmed then they perform the appropriate action. If no problem is found they probably will probably not tie up technicians and do work at a reduced warranty rate for no reason. This is not a game--it is a very appropriate business process that any manufacture of durable goods would follow in any industry.
Plus if we try to get a dealer to make our vehicle do something it was never designed to do I don't think they will do it. We can request that the manufacture consider make the change we would like or there are dozens of small shops that specialize in doing unique software or hardware changes not engineered or approved by the manufacturer. We can certainly pay them to do it at our own risk.
A manufacturer recall, on the other hand, is something that all owners with vehicles described in the notice are fully ENTITLED to--no questions asked!!
Plus don't forget, those of us with a 2014 wkII,-- we are in the early years of a lot of newer technology and it may take a while for the manufacture to get it all worked out. So far I have found Jeep and my dealer to be very responsive and committed to work through all of the issues. I am pleased with the attention Jeep is giving to problems and personally feel that most of the issues are behind us. It seems that later build dates are doing quit well.
Currently I have a Ram 3500, Jeep Liberty diesel and fortunately my 2014 Summit (July build date) which I have had very few issues with.
I have too many years of experience (old) with many automobiles and dealers, I have experienced countless problems and frustrations with every manufacture I have owned--American, European, and Asian. I just wanted to share my views resulting from this experience and hope it helps someone.
Having problems with a new car can be really frustrating---I have been there many time over my long life. Many times that frustration causes us to behave in strange ways, often disrespectful, threating, and combative. I assure you that if we let our frustration get the best of us and start getting ugly, threating lawyers, lemon law, etc. right off the bat it will likely result in less cooperation not more. However, in my experience, a person that is calm, courteous, patient, and respectful with a dealer will often get service with equal respect and maybe even see the dealer go the extra mile. If satisfaction can not be achieved through respectful dialogue and enough time then there are certainly other remedies to pursue down the road--but even that can be done in a respectful way.
As far as TSB's are concerned--- they are bulletins containing technical information to assist a dealer in diagnosing a problem raised by a customer. TSB's are supposed to be proprietary information. A TSB is not an ENTITLEMENT of action-- it is a tool to assist a dealer in providing a good diagnosis and appropriate repair-- the decision to act on a TSB is the dealers to make.
In fact if I were in the auto business and a customer came in waiving a handful of TSB's demanding that I install them whether I needed them or not I think I would be less interested in going the extra mile with that customer. The way it should work is for a customer to experience a problem with their car and discuss it with the dealer, the dealer tries to diagnose the problem with the aid of their scan tools, other tools, their experience, conferring with the manufacture, TSB's, and whatever else they deem helpful.
If the problem is confirmed then they perform the appropriate action. If no problem is found they probably will probably not tie up technicians and do work at a reduced warranty rate for no reason. This is not a game--it is a very appropriate business process that any manufacture of durable goods would follow in any industry.
Plus if we try to get a dealer to make our vehicle do something it was never designed to do I don't think they will do it. We can request that the manufacture consider make the change we would like or there are dozens of small shops that specialize in doing unique software or hardware changes not engineered or approved by the manufacturer. We can certainly pay them to do it at our own risk.
A manufacturer recall, on the other hand, is something that all owners with vehicles described in the notice are fully ENTITLED to--no questions asked!!
Plus don't forget, those of us with a 2014 wkII,-- we are in the early years of a lot of newer technology and it may take a while for the manufacture to get it all worked out. So far I have found Jeep and my dealer to be very responsive and committed to work through all of the issues. I am pleased with the attention Jeep is giving to problems and personally feel that most of the issues are behind us. It seems that later build dates are doing quit well.
Currently I have a Ram 3500, Jeep Liberty diesel and fortunately my 2014 Summit (July build date) which I have had very few issues with.
I have too many years of experience (old) with many automobiles and dealers, I have experienced countless problems and frustrations with every manufacture I have owned--American, European, and Asian. I just wanted to share my views resulting from this experience and hope it helps someone.