My Dodge Dealer Does It Again

[FastRam]

Meeting customer expectations and ensuring satisfaction with a willingness to resolve the problem :rock: Several weeks ago I took my truck in to have the front calipers replaced -- the red finish bascially turned pink and was chipped pretty bad in several places. The dealer agreed to replace them under warranty. Well, the calipers I got were in worse shape then the ones they replaced. A week and a half ago we convened a meeting at the dealer and we all agreed the replacements were not what one would expect on a flagship vehicle. So they ordered another set of calipers. Today I went to the dealer to inspect the replacements to the replacement. They weren't bad but still needed TLC. The dealer and I concluded that the caliper shipping box (really flimsy) and lack of protective packing is what causes the finishes to look like crap. Instead of shipping back this set and hoping we received a better set, the dealer agreed and allowed me to take the calipers and have them finished to my liking and they would install them under my warranty. For fear of any possible warranty reprisal with powder coating (and the need to disassemble the caliper) I am going to paint them red using G2's caliper paint.

I guess not all dealers are butt holes. Mine certaintly is not. Before and after pics to follow.

 

[moparracing]

they were willing to work with you, not like most dealers.......

 

[BigRed460]

So you have to paint the calipers, that are under warranty on a 52,000$ truck??? Looks like yet another 5 star dealer...

 

[jontyre]

So you have to paint the calipers, that are under warranty on a 52,000$ truck??? Looks like yet another 5 star dealer...

My thoughts exactly....

 

[FastRam]

So you have to paint the calipers, that are under warranty on a 52,000$ truck??? Looks like yet another 5 star dealer...

Well, the alternative was to hope that another set of calipers arrived, unscathed. Like I said, the problem is the caliper, which weighs around 12 - 15 pounds, is shipped in a light weight card board box without any packing. By the time it leaves TRW or whoever manufacturers the parts for TRW and it actually makes it to the dealer, a lot of mis-handling happens along the way. Because the box is cheap and there is no packing, it is really easy for the caliper finish to be damaged. The finishes to begin with are not Brembo quality and it looks like TRW paints the caliper.

I probably could have pushed the dealer into painting them but I have a really good relationship with them and didn't want to create any ill will. So, I offered to paint the calipers as long as the dealer honored my warranty. Which they agreed to do. Keep in mind the dealer could have pushed back with the argument that the calipers work fine and that the issue is strictly cosmetic. Then the arguments would have began concerning what is covered under warranty and what is not. I didn't want to go there with deal. So, yeah, the paint cost me 48 bucks, including shipping but at least I'll have nice shiny red calipers when it is done, all still covered under the 3/36 and the 7/70 (extended plan). :rock:

 

[ZCx]

sounds like a fair deal to me:rock: :congrats: :marchmellow:

 

[FastRam]

sounds like a fair deal to me:rock: :congrats: :marchmellow:

That's what I thought as well. Especially when these calipers cost around $800 for the set, then include install cost, shop fees, etc. $48 bucks was OK in my book. And besides, I don't mind painting them. It's better than pushing that damn lawn mower

 

[1qksrt]

Did they supply new new brake pads as well????:dontknow:
I will inquire about the warr. on brake caliper finish at work this week.Thanks for bringing this subject up!!!!!:rock:

 

[spdrcrj]

Calipers turning pink is covered under warranty? Mine are horrible and was going to paint them but they can be replaced, all the better

 

[FastRam]

Did they supply new new brake pads as well????:dontknow:
I will inquire about the warr. on brake caliper finish at work this week.Thanks for bringing this subject up!!!!!:rock:

At first, they were going to do the pads, along with the calipers. But the service manager had second thoughts. I was OK with that, my pads, when all this first started, only had 1600 miles on them and were basically brand new.

 

[FastRam]

Calipers turning pink is covered under warranty? Mine are horrible and was going to paint them but they can be replaced, all the better

I got mine warrantied -- vehicle only had 1600 miles on it and was brand new. I made the case "truck is brand new, few miles, not abused, yet the caliper finish is deystroyed". It doesn't look good for Dodge's flagship vehicle does it? The Viper Tech/Shop Foreman and Serv. Mgr. inspected them and agreed to do it under warranty. I think what helped my situation, as well, is that I am a repeat customer who spent a ton of cash on other non-warranty stuff and I'm an all around nice guy.

 

[Ronin]

Calipers turning pink is covered under warranty? Mine are horrible and was going to paint them but they can be replaced, all the better

Me too...while I was cleaning the wheels I noticed the water I was spraying them with was turning pink and thought that was pretty fugged up...didn't think about getting them warrantied... :dontknow: