Ever since we got this truck, we had trouble with DEF system warnings. While under warranty when taken into the dealership, they just did an 'overwrite' with a little computer which made it go away for a period of time. We bought the extended warranty for the truck but because we drive a lot, the kilometres superseded the years the warranty applied for and when the DEF system light came back on on April 14, 2017 warning us that the truck would slow down to 8km/hr in 321 we took it into a Dodge Dealership.
We run a delivery business and depend on our truck. That time we were en route to the interior with a trailer full of items that needed to be delivered, a 700 km drive. The dealership diagnosed that a filter ($2000 part) needed to be replaced but it was back ordered for 2-4 weeks. We needed to get to the interior that day and obviously did not have 2-4 weeks to wait away from home, so they tried an 'overwrite' (flush out) which got us to Nelson ($124).
In Nelson, we took it into the dealership 4 times (first time, no diagnosis came up at all, paid $75 for that). The first diagnosis came up with a part that would take a week to arrive. When we took the truck back in a week later, the diagnosis was different again, now there was another week wait and we had commitments to go to Vancouver that week and had to pay for a rental truck with towing capacity which cost us another $600. When we got back, our truck was still in the yard, the part hadn't arrived. Then that week, we took the truck in again (every time we lost a day at work as we were without transport) and paid $2300 for a fix (or so we thought).
Today we are in Vancouver again on the way back to Nelson and had to take the truck in again here because once again, our DEF system light came on threatening to slow us down to 8km/hr. Luckily the Dodge dealership O'Connor in Chilliwack accommodated us again on short notice, the dealership in North Vancouver Destination Chrysler where we originally purchased the truck didn't have the time of day for us until May 5th (they never do, they were only happy to take our money, don't EVER buy from them) and we are here to do a re-set, which hopefully will get us to Nelson, there are no guarantees. In the meantime, in addition to paying a lot of money to several dealerships and for a rental, we are losing money in our business, We purchased this truck as we need a reliable vehicle for business.
When I called and complained at Dodge Canada, they stonewalled us because we are 'beyond the warranty". I understand that we will have to pay for a fix, but what is an acceptable amount of time to wait for parts ( it has been over 6 weeks now waiting for different parts and having a wrong repair done for $2500) and when is Dodge going to take ownership and either re-imburse us for a rental truck in the meantime or get the problem sorted?
I have a feeling that with Dodge, you are on your own as soon as your warranty expires. They can't fix your truck, well, that is your problem.
Def system kept telling me to get serviced at a dealer or the truck would not run. The dealer cleared the code 12 times in a row before replacing the system. Still having the same problems with the system and dealer is saying oh well you don't know how to drive a diesel and it's you're fault.
- cleavitt,
Spirit River, AB, Canada
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Ever since we got this truck, we had trouble with DEF system warnings. While under warranty when taken into the dealership, they just did an 'overwrite' with a little computer which made it go away for a period of time. We bought the extended warranty for the truck but because we drive a lot, the kilometres superseded the years the warranty applied for and when the DEF system light came back on on April 14, 2017 warning us that the truck would slow down to 8km/hr in 321 we took it into a Dodge Dealership.
We run a delivery business and depend on our truck. That time we were en route to the interior with a trailer full of items that needed to be delivered, a 700 km drive. The dealership diagnosed that a filter ($2000 part) needed to be replaced but it was back ordered for 2-4 weeks. We needed to get to the interior that day and obviously did not have 2-4 weeks to wait away from home, so they tried an 'overwrite' (flush out) which got us to Nelson ($124).
In Nelson, we took it into the dealership 4 times (first time, no diagnosis came up at all, paid $75 for that). The first diagnosis came up with a part that would take a week to arrive. When we took the truck back in a week later, the diagnosis was different again, now there was another week wait and we had commitments to go to Vancouver that week and had to pay for a rental truck with towing capacity which cost us another $600. When we got back, our truck was still in the yard, the part hadn't arrived. Then that week, we took the truck in again (every time we lost a day at work as we were without transport) and paid $2300 for a fix (or so we thought).
Today we are in Vancouver again on the way back to Nelson and had to take the truck in again here because once again, our DEF system light came on threatening to slow us down to 8km/hr. Luckily the Dodge dealership O'Connor in Chilliwack accommodated us again on short notice, the dealership in North Vancouver Destination Chrysler where we originally purchased the truck didn't have the time of day for us until May 5th (they never do, they were only happy to take our money, don't EVER buy from them) and we are here to do a re-set, which hopefully will get us to Nelson, there are no guarantees. In the meantime, in addition to paying a lot of money to several dealerships and for a rental, we are losing money in our business, We purchased this truck as we need a reliable vehicle for business.
When I called and complained at Dodge Canada, they stonewalled us because we are 'beyond the warranty". I understand that we will have to pay for a fix, but what is an acceptable amount of time to wait for parts ( it has been over 6 weeks now waiting for different parts and having a wrong repair done for $2500) and when is Dodge going to take ownership and either re-imburse us for a rental truck in the meantime or get the problem sorted?
I have a feeling that with Dodge, you are on your own as soon as your warranty expires. They can't fix your truck, well, that is your problem.
- Julia M., Nelson, BC, Canada