Can Jeep Dealerships even fix their own brand cars?
Hey all, first let me start by saying I don't know much about forums, or forum etiquette, aside from the obvious "search first" mantra. If I'm breaking the rules, please don't hesitate to pull me up on it! I'm really disheartened, and losing faith in the brand, hence this longwinded post.
I have had a love for the Jeep brand since I was a child. Consequently I have had 4 Jeeps in my lifetime, 2 of which are still here, a 2017 Purple JK Jeep Wrangler Sport and a 2005 Black KJ Cherokee Limited.
I sold my 2004 Yellow TJ Jeep Wrangler Sport after owning it about 4 months. I took it to dealership "A" in Melbourne as it was conking out when it drove over a bump. It would then push start itself as it was a manual. Hit the next bump, conk out. The dealership REFUSED to fix it, saying it would cost too much. They actually told me to "go fix it yourself, there is too much mud underneath it for us to bother."
Furious, and not knowing where to go, I traded that Jeep in for a 2015 Yellow JK Jeep Wrangler Sport. I felt a "new" Jeep wouldn't have the issues an "old" Jeep had. Man, was I wrong. Dealership "B" here in Melbourne had to deal with a broken thrust/release/throwout bearing, as the clutch was grinding down to the floor. It just wouldn't smoothly engage and disengage. To top it off, the gearbox still sounded like it had loose metal rattling through it, heard best when idling in neutral. It took 12 visits to the dealership, 3 replaced thrust bearings, and a severe escalation to FCA Australia to get the matter resolved. After tearing out my gearbox, the culprit was a seized bearing in the transmission. 6 months later the problem was resolved, and my confidence in Jeep dealerships (and FCA) completely shot. I immediately sold the JK ... and licked my wounds.
Now for reasons that make me sound like a madman in hindsight, I came back and bought a 2017 JK Jeep Wrangler Sport. I love off roading and I thought 3rd time is the charm? Oh, no... At 17,000km the thrust bearing did exactly what the previous Jeep's had done. But this is the best part, my partner drove the Jeep into a deep puddle, where it took in some water. The engine ran rough, the check engine light came on, I couldn't keep it running. We had to be towed out. So now I claim insurance, and choose to go to Dealership "C", again here in Melbourne. After 6.5 weeks, they returned the Jeep with a flawless thrust bearing; but they hadn't even slightly resolved the knocking engine. It literally sounds like a diesel, or a 1950s farm tractor. They had cleared the codes, though. They charged me $495 for the 24,000km service, but hadn't fixed the engine first! WHAT THE HELL!! So I bring it back the next morning @ 7:30, show them the knocking engine, and the service foreman told me "We don't want to fix it because it's an insurance job.". I threatened ACCC action, and they took the Jeep back. I have not had a refund. They also made me walk to the train station in the freezing cold rain as "we can't spare anyone as people are sick today". Who knows how long they'll have my Wrangler for...months? Years?
Sadly, my partner and I want to get a JL Wrangler. It ticks every box. The dogs will fit in it. The ZF gearbox is amazeballs. (I have had 2 cars with it, love it). But I have absolutely 0 confidence that Jeep Australia can fix their own cars. Please please help me find the lost love for the brand or I'm going to have to get myself a Land Rover!!
PS: The 2005 Cherokee is ... absolutely fine. It's old as hell and purrs. I love this beast even though it drinks petrol.
PPS: If you want me to attach the videos of my new farm tractor happy to do so.
Thanks for the read....
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