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SOL... yup, I am SOL.

10K views 78 replies 21 participants last post by  SW03ES 
#1 ·
Well.... I am new to the forum and am already bummed about my Jeep.

I picked up a 2011 Overland Summit with only 4k on it Tuesday night. Previous owner was Chrysler and then the owner of the dealership drove it for a while before he got an SRT-8. I test drove it and spent about 4 hours on working the deal. Ended up leaving the dealership at 8pm to start my drive home (3hrs). As it got darker, I felt like I was having a really hard time seeing. So I played with the lights a little and without the fog lights on I could not see a thing. Turns our the HIDs would light but not produce enough light to light the road. Got the car to our local dealer Wed. morning first thing and turns out I have a bad power modular or something along those lines. Here is the kicker, it is on back order until June 7th. And we all know if it come by June 7th it will be a miracle. Chrysler opened a case for me and provided me with a rental but all they had was a Compass. I really can't say that I am happy with the fact that I am paying for one of Jeeps most expensive models they make and I am driving a Compass. The local dealership would not give me a loaner since I didn't buy from them.

This really sucks.
 
#4 ·
Agreed, get the General Manager of the dealership in person and let him know that you bought a vehicle equally as expensive as a luxury car, and you expect to be treated decently. I would let him know that you are in close contact with Chrysler Corporate, and that they assured you that the dealer would take care of you.

If Jeep wants to be taken seriously with upper level vehicles, they need to fix their dealers ASAP. This "you didn't buy your car here so we don't want to help you" stuff is BS, and simply isn't going to cut it with premium buyers.
 
#5 ·
I had a phaser something or other go out and I was given a JGC Limited when I drive a Laredo. I would go back and tell the this is unacceptable.


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#6 ·
I think it's a stretch to assume that a Chrysler/dodge/Jeep dealer is going to treat you "special" because you bought an expensive Jeep.

They sell everything from mom & pop minivans to Calibers and patriots. If you wanted to feel special ,maybe you should have bought a Mercedes or Audi.
 
#10 ·
I wasn't looking for special treatment. Im not even going to bitch about it, besides to you guys. Yes, I bought a slightly used Jeep, yes, shit happens. I am well aware that is was just luck of the draw. I have been nothing but polite and respectful to the dealership (both the one I bought from and the one who is working on my jeep). You will get things done a lot faster if you don't raise hell. My local dealership is working very hard on this issue. The part is on back order and there are about 250 jeeps in line. Mine is one of the top 38 as it is noted as being VOR (Vehicle off road) which gives me a very high priority listing. Not it is just a waiting game. The dealer I bought it from even went out of their way to search down 2 dealers in the country that actually had one on their shelf but were denied as they were for current jeeps they were working on. There really is nothing anyone can do and It really not worth getting pist off about when all I would do is make the dealership not want to deal with me in the future. I would rather them like me and want to take care of me and my jeep.

As for feeling special and buying an Audi or Mercedes that has nothing to do with it. I have owned a Mercedes E55 AMG, Mercedes C63 AMG, BMWs X5, BMW M-Coupe... besides BMW since the have the all inclusive care package on their cars, no one will feel special when their car is in the shop. You don't even want to know how you feel when you have an AMG being worked on, all you think about is "what kidney am I going to sell".... hahah
I bought this Jeep because I wanted to go with something a little cheaper but still had all the luxuries of the BMWs, Audi's, and Benz's... I know what I was getting into as it is an American car and can sometimes be a gamble. Needless to say it was the best bang for the buck by far. You can't even get an 09 high end for what I paid for a 2011 Jeep.

An equal loaner car or rental car would be nice but if they don't have them, they don't have them, What are you going to do?
 
#8 ·
When the brand new vehicle completely fails and they can't fix it in a day or two, you don't think they should give you an equal vehice to drive, especially if you're making payments but either way. Chrysler or the dealer needs to step up.
he said it was a used jeep, shit happens and they are fixing it. if it is on back order there is nothing they can do.
 
#9 ·
Unfortunately, with American car manufacturers dealers don't really have loaners like higher end luxury imports do. With my Acura TL I regularly left in brand new high end loaners, but when going with the Jeep I knew what I was getting into. They don't even have loaners.

As for your new Summit I'm not sure what it is your explaining. So the HID's turned on, but they are dim? That doesn't make sense I have never seen an HID bulb ignite, but be dim?!? Are you sure they aren't full bright, but the auto level system failed and they are aimed way to low making them unusable? Hope it gets resolved soon, and enjoy your Compass lol ;-)
So far my Jeep is good, but I wonder sometime if I'm gonna regret leaving Acura. Service was amazing!
 
#13 · (Edited)
As for your new Summit I'm not sure what it is your explaining. So the HID's turned on, but they are dim? That doesn't make sense I have never seen an HID bulb ignite, but be dim?!? Are you sure they aren't full bright, but the auto level system failed and they are aimed way to low making them unusable? Hope it gets resolved soon, and enjoy your Compass lol ;-)
So far my Jeep is good, but I wonder sometime if I'm gonna regret leaving Acura. Service was amazing!
Yeah, so basically if you are looking at the car when the sun is up it will look like the HIDs are on since there will be a blue/white glow coming from the projectors. Come night time you will still have the glow but not enough to light the road. Only light I was getting was from the fog lights. If you send me you email I can email you a video I took that night showing the diff in light output from low, high, low with fogs, ect.

I guess this modular controls a lot of the electronics on board and if one thing has issues the entire unit need to be replaced. I was told it basically is a newer version of the old school fuse box. There is an issue where the unit is not allowing adequate power to reach the ballasts on the HIDs where they are basically just glowing or at time flickering, and even not on at all. At first I thought it has to do with the adaptive head light system also and tried to research the issue but nothing was coming up like this.

The Compass it great.... no not really, but it is what it is. It will just make me appreciate the Summit once I get it back. My wife blames it on the black cloud that follows us everywhere. haha
 
#18 ·
Dude sorry to hear. At least you have a set of wheel for the moment.

Because it was "used" by the dealer makes it worse in my opinion. This guy has been driving this jeep and then went into a srt8. He must have known of the issue. They pawned it off on you. Terrible business.

Thats capitalist America for you though. Doesnt it seem as if so many folks are just out to conquer the deal no matter what lie or ommision.

Just saying. Very poor.

For those who are sqwaking " but its used but its used"...

pff dont even know what to say...
 
#19 ·
I wasn't trying to flame on you. I'm sorry about your issue and hopefully you get it back soon. I'm suprised there are over 250 GC's in a waiting line with the same issue.

I never had good service with a new 325i I had bought brand new. Always got 1 series loaners and I was sick and tired of going in for new issues all the time
 
#20 ·
There is something to be said about buying the most expensive vehicle a manufacturer makes....I prefer the opposite. Sh#t happens on all cars, it's how you handle the problem that matters. In my case, my dealer and corporate we're horrible. Their inability to diagnose or fix my car over a 4 week period was pathetic. But, the department that eventually handled the lemon law buyout was efficient and very fair. If you get a good wk2, for my needs, it's the best buy out there. LR4 like qualities for 10k less, I don't regret my purchase. But the service department and corporate were substandard, especially in re to supporting QL.

If you haven't called yet, I would call the Chrysler support line. Be polite and professional, but absolutely nothing happened in my case until I repeatedly escalated.

One last thing, know what your options are. I have the extended service contracts, but was unaware I had a rental options. When I asked for a loaner, they told me Chrysler doesn't offer one. They never mentioned the rental . I foind out about it several weeks later. My fault, but it didn't help my opinion of the dealer.

Good luck!

Btw, unlike my dealer and corporate , this forum is awesome. Better than anything I have run into for other vehicles.
 
#21 ·
a) You haven't seen the Reatta forum or the AACA in general - whole service manuals and parts books online. It is nice to be able to just refer prople with a problem to a page or chart in the FSM.
b) I drove several other Jeeps before the GC, a couple of miles is all it took.
c) Is really a lot of information on the web even if not released by C-J-F, have over 100 MB so far. You do need a OBD-II device ($30). Now have an index to the option codes.
 
#24 ·
Yeah, some of the American companies have grasped this consent. Cadillac had a great warranty plan and offers loaners (I looked at CTS-Vs in the past) as well. I don't mind the whole rental thing but at least have something close. The only other issue is the lag time between it all. I sat at the dealer for 3 hours, then got a ride home in their shuttle, they then called me and said I should call Chrysler to set up a clam for a rental.... 4 more hours and got it approved, couldn't get the rental until the next day, no car for that night.... get shuttle to pick me up the next morning and take me to rental place, sat there and got the only Chrysler on the lot (Compass).... and by all means does this car not have all the options. haha... cloth seat package.... haha which comes with the rental small of old smoke and McDonald's. haha.

I agree, They really need to change in their ways if they are planning on making high end competitors. This right here would probably make me change my mind if I was in the running to drop 70k on an SRT-8. Id rather get a 1 year used BMW X5 M for 70 k.
 
#26 ·
To me the most irritating point here is that if this GC was previously owned be Chrysler and then the dealer, then there's no way that someone didnt know that it was being sold with faulty headlights.

I hope it gets fixed soon!
 
#29 ·
It is tough to say. I give them the benefit of the doubt. The dealer is in a city are where there is a lot of street lights so with out being on a dark road you would never know the headlights were not producing enough light. They stilled glowed like they were on but just didn't light anything up.
 
#36 ·
You really are an understanding person, aren't you? :)

They damn well better "Allow" you to swing buy to get your own car! I would be so bitter if I was in your shoes. Hopefully your positive attitude will be rewarded! Mine wasn't, so I escalated, and it eventually turned out ok. The 'surrender" documents (what a name!) should be signed tomorrow and then i can stop the car payments on a vehicle I haven't had possession of since 4/4.....
 
#33 ·
I would be more concerned that you are having to pay for a rental than what type of vehicle you have to suffer with. As long as the vehicle is still under factory warranty (or extended warranty), my dealer provides loaners whether you purchased yours from them or not, no matter if it's new or used. Sounds like you need to look for a new dealer.

I hear ya about the luxury brands - whole different experience than what you get from your typical "American" auto companies. But I guess as they always say, "you get what you pay for", because you definitely pay for it - I sure don't miss those $100 oil changes!
 
#35 ·
Ok, glad to hear they are paying for it.

See, no wonder they treated you like royalty! :)


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#38 ·
Yeah, it was! I have already whined about it in another thread:
http://www.jeepgarage.org/showthread.php?t=41569

bottom line, a list of problems, but the final one was the quadra lift. they couldn't find the leak, so they are buying it back. It takes a long time for the process to be completed, but tomorrow seems to be the end. The buy back was very very fair. In fact, if my dealer and corporate had the same level of professionalism and competency, I wouldn't be in this mess. I will probably post the details about the buy back once its finalized. It might be helpful, but hopefully for only a few!
 
#39 ·
It's a Jeep guys, not a Mercedes. You're never going to get the same dealer experience as you get with an upper end car, because the dealers service lower end models as well. Whether it cost $50k or not is meaningless. What about the owner of a $70k Toyota Land Cruiser? Same service as someone who has a Corolla.
 
#46 ·
I don't think anyone is expecting the treatment you get from a Lexus dealer, but a little better than sticking someone who has a $50k truck into a $20k POS is to be expected. And the reality of it is, if Jeep wants to attract higher end clients, they need to get that.

And honestly, Toyota dealers would never stick a new Land Cruiser owner in a base model Rav4 loaner. It'd be a nicely equipped one, or a nicely equipped Highlander most likely. And you can talk about "same level of service" as much as you want, but it's not the case - you come in there with a nicer, more expensive car, and the service adviser WILL notice, and WILL treat you better.
 
#41 ·
For sure. I have an independent guy who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years. Met him when my old Lexus hit 100k miles and I was tired of paying $250 for an oil change and tire rotation. All that stuff is nice, but for what I save having him do the service I can literally take a vacation lol. He just saw the Jeep for the first time last week.
 
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