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CoreyR
Dodge Dakota
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5/31/2005
11:14:49
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 Subject: never again
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A couple of years back I traded in my '99 Mazda (also known as the Ford Ranger) on a '02 Dakota. Man was that a mistake. In the 4 years I owned the Mazda I never once had to take it to the dealers service dept. in fact, other than oil changes and a new set of tires, it was never in the shop.
The dodge dealers "service dept." (and I use the term "service" lightly) probably has my name setenciled on a seat in the waiting area by now. Trying to get them to do anything is like trying to pull your own tooth and they ALWAYS want me to "drop it off with us for a few days." Of course, they don't want to cough up a loaner car even if it is included in the warranty. they tell me to "rent yourself a car." My answer is, I can't afford a renatal and besides, I am opposed to renting a car when I am MAKING PAYMENTS ON ONE!
This thing has problems one after the other. The dealers service dept always charges me an $84 dollar "diagnostic fee" then a $50 deductable. Then they tell me there is nothing wrong. Even when I have taken it to an independant third party shop who documents the problem, the dealership will swear that nothing is wrong. My favorite time was when the ball joints were about to fall off the truck. The Goodyear shop advised me not to even drive to the dealership but to have the truck towed. Dodge swore that the ball joints where fine until I told them, "well then, you won't mind if i come back and look at them myself while you have it up on the rack." Instantly they decided they would "change the joints just to keep me satisfied." Then they charged me the $84/$50 fees plus another $80 some for a front end alignment. Call me silly if you will but, if you replace the ball joints, isn't realigning the front end in a part of that procedure?
Now I have my 4th (or is it 5th) "service engine" light. I guess I am about to have to shell out another $84/$50+ for them to again tell me that "nothing is really wrong."
I am a single father, trying to pay off student loans and a worthless truck so I am stuck with my mistake but I tell you one thing I will never again buy another dodge.
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Webtiger
GenIII
6/01/2005
01:32:46
|  RE: never again
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How far is the next 5 Star dealer from you? After 1 episode of the $84 diagnostic and $50 fee I'd have never gone back to that dealer plus I'd have filed a complaint with DC about their 84/50 racket.
Is this dealer a 5 Star or just a plain jane joint?
I'm blessed I don't get this crap from my dealer when I take my Quad in they take the keys I get a loaner and off I go...
Ken Grierson
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John K
Dodge Dakota
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6/01/2005
07:43:47
| RE: never again
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That really does sound like a racket! I would complain to DC or at least look for another dealership. Is your regular warranty expired? Did you purchase an extended warranty? That's the only way I can see them charge for diagnostics and deductable (and oh, how the dealers love to push that extended warranty!) If that's the case, you're probably out of luck complaining to DC.
I'm actually glad that my warranty has expired, because now I can get things fixed myself, to my satisfaction, on my own schedule, and I can shop around for best value. And, I don't have the added headache of arguing with the morons in the dealership service dept!
Judging from the posts on this forum, you are not alone in your grief. You own a Dodge Dakota and you *will* have problems, not only with your truck, but also with DC's poor service and stubborn denial of common, and serious issues. Once you realize and accept this, you can deal with it the best you can: get rid of the truck or seek advice and experience on these boards and fix things on your own terms (sounds like an AA meeting!)
Good luck!
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CoreyR
Dodge Dakota
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6/01/2005
08:41:33
|  RE: never again
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Thanks for the replies Webtiger and John K. Unfortunately, it is on the extended warranty. I must confess, I had not thought of them useing that as an excuse. The new check engine light I am having is for a "Int Control Module" according to the computer at Auto-zone. Does anyone know anything about this problem? Auto-zone did not even show a "Int Control Module" in their computer for a '02 Dodge Dakota.
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JimmyD
Dodge Dakota
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6/01/2005
21:02:50
| RE: never again
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Is there a code number?
That would make it easier to find in the error code tables.
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yea
Dodge Dakota
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6/02/2005
13:42:58
| RE: never again
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Charging $84.00 to read the codes is highway robbery. I think if everybody complained to the FTC the car companies would have to do it for free or no more than $5.00. Or buy yourself an OBD2 code reader.
Can't ou read the codes yurself by doing the key on 3 times fast trick?
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yea
Dodge Dakota
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6/02/2005
14:36:19
| RE: never again
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And yes my k/b is screwed ;)
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CoreyR
Dodge Dakota
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6/02/2005
16:41:20
| RE: never again
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I got Auto- Zone to read it for free. The trouble is, Dodge will not fix it, under the warranty, withouth doing an "diagnostic" and THAT is what they charge the 80 bucks for. Then, they tell me either a) it is repairable under the warranty (in which case they are not supposed to actually charge the 80 bucks but always try to anyway) or b) It is not covered by the warranty (in which case they charge the 80 bucks and I have to go round and round with them about it). B is FAR more common.
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slopehead
Dodge Dakota
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6/03/2005
17:10:44
| RE: never again
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if it shows as a code and you have less then 100,000 miles on it and is less the 8 years old it certainly is covered by the pollution control warrenty. If they try it again offer to have the EPA come in and examine their scam. It closed a chevy dealer around here about 15 years ago for failing to keep the pollution control warrenty up on a lot of cars+ trucks
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ernie
Dodge Dakota
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6/04/2005
00:13:14
| RE: never again
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Slopehead - may I ask what state or area of the state the chevy dealer was shut down in? This is as I am looking for something other that a dodge and I am in California - San Francisco bay area.
CoreyR - Here they charge $125 for a diagonsic fee and yes B is their only answer. I know for I when through the procedure, but because I had the repairs done at a non-dealer DC refused any share of cost as I didn't pay the $125, and have the work done at the dealer. I only had 31,600 miles, but the 2000 Dakota was five years old. If you are interested my problems are listed under "heater core puked", in several letters. The A/C vac and recharge should have been covered as it was part of the heater core replacement, butI was charged another $170. Part of the problem with a non-dealer, yet the dealer may have done the same thing, or it was why they wanted $1000 - $1200 for the heater core replacement alone. So yes the front end aligment snould be included. One last thing DC still have't returned my original documents. Then again as their cost/sare program doesn't exsist, does anyone have a truck that I should look into? Thanks.
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STS
Dodge Dakota
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6/04/2005
23:46:32
| RE: never again
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hey slopehead, you dimwitted chimp, what makes you think that everything that lights up the MIL is covered by any kind of warranty?
the federal emissions warranty covers only specific parts.
diagnostics are covered if the work is done under warranty. if not then the customer pays. why should a dealer do anything for free? do you clowns invest tons of cash in equipment and then let it be used for free? do you clowns work for free?
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coreyr
Dodge Dakota
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6/05/2005
00:23:36
| RE: never again
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sts, since you apparently cannot comminicate with others in a civil manner, I will thank you to keep your simple opinion to yourself. No, I do NOT work for free. I earn my money and should not have to pour it down an, apparantly, bottomless pit, at the dodge "service" department, paying for things that should not be breaking down at the rate they are.
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Webtiger
GenIII
6/06/2005
00:54:16
| RE: never again
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Corey what is the code you got from AutoZone?
You've not mentioned what area of the US you're in and whether the dealer was 5 Star.
The 84/50 racket should be reported to DC regardless of whether the dealer is 5 Star or not. Also, if you have the DC extended warranty on the vehicle they have to give you a dealer loaner or chip in for the cost of the rental. Look it up in your warranty docs you're paying these clowns 2 or 3 times what you should be paying them.
I'd also consider reporting them to the BBB even if they're not a BBB member.
Ken Grierson
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