Enraged!!!

[orlanderlv]

My 2014 Viper has now been in service for 3 weeks at a local Dodge dealership here in the city I live. I brought it down to have one of the recalls performed (door handle). After a week I asked the status. I was told they were waiting for the part. Ok, why schedule me to come in and keep my car over a week if the part/parts were not already there was beyond me and beyond apparent reason. I was given an apology and told that it would be soon.

A few days later and I was not getting ANY information regarding the status of my car. I started to become suspicious. I finally got a call back from the service tech who told me my car had been damaged by one of the local techs who had "run over the front bumper with a large 4x4 that was being serviced. I came down to take a look at the damage and was promptly greeted by the service director who was very very apologetic. They told me there was no structural damage to the front bumper. It looked like the damage was isolated to a broken front left bracket and damaged to the paint job.

I talked over my options to a few people and decided it was best if Dodge took my Viper to a local place to strip the paint off the entire front bumper, make sure there were no cracks or damage, repaint the ENTIRE front bumper, reapply the expensive protective sealant I had added to the entire car before I purchased it and let me see the result before I took possession of the Viper back. Just for the record, I had asked the service department to have pictures of the unpainted bumper sent to me so I could ensure there were no cracks. I was worried about cracks that could lead to much worse damage over time.

I never received the images I asked for. Days and days and days have passed since they have had my car to repair the bumper. I have tried to contact service and have not been given a call back. Last I heard (last Thursday) was they were waiting for a bracket piece in order to put the Viper bumper back on. Interesting, since they have a brand new Viper on the show room floor they could have just taken the bracket from that and put it on my car (same Viper year as mine).

At this point i'm livid. I had been working out a deal with the management prior to all this happening to secure a deal for a new 2016 Viper 1of1 ACR but now...I spent the past weekend looking at other cars because this whole mess has just turned me off Vipers.

A few days ago I asked that a 3M bra be added to the front bumper because I was unsure they could add the same protective covering I had put on at another dealer. I have yet to hear back from service even though I have left numerous requests. I'm going down tomorrow to demand to know what is going on. It's been now over 3 weeks since they have had my car.

I apologize for the long post. If anyone has any advice on how i should proceed I would appreciate it. As of right now I see no reason to keep my business at this dealership and will likely be looking elsewhere for a new car.

[Fatboy 18]

What dealer, what city? Its only fair you let people know.

[orlanderlv]

Vegas. That's all i'll say. Luckily, I have other cars but I paid for my Viper for a reason...to be able to drive it. I've been paying on a car I can't even. It's pissed me off.

Also, I have tried to call to ensure none of what happened ends up on a Farfax. No response yet. I've asked three times thus far. Getting worries.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed? Like I said, i'm going down tomorrow to speak with someone again.

[Darius]

I would have made them send the car back to prefix to have it fixed.

[donk_316]

The worst thing about being a Viper fan... Is the Dodge dealership attached to it.

I had to go across the country (canada) to find a dealer willing to return my phone calls. So I bought from him.

[mikesax]

TRULY SUCKS!!! We are ALL human-accidents can happen-it's how you handle it that matters and seperates the "good from the bad" so to speak!! HIDING the truth is the WORST thing a dealership can do!! They should have - admitted the mistake, not hid ANYTHING, and offered up a solution !! You would still be pissed- but at least you knew someone wasn't LYING or trying to HIDE something from you!! Sounds like the dealership may have DUG a "customer service" hole they might not be able to crawl out of!! Good luck getting it repaired and I hope someone in "authority" contacts you and is as "forthcoming" as possible to try and "repair" whats left of the relationship!! We ALL know when something smells "fishy"- hope you get someone soon at this place to apologize and to tell you the "truth"!!

[viperdriver5150]

Dodge service is the weakest link. Not all dealers obviously, but the majority of them.

[Voice of Reason]

It's unfortunate that they messed up your car, they should know better. But I don't think it's realistic for you to expect they steal a part from a car in inventory to fix yours. I don't think I've ever heard of a dealer doing that.

Best of luck and don't let the dealer turn you off to such a great car.

[DEMO MAN]

You should also check and confirm that if their insurance paid to repair your car that it doesn't show up as an accident on such sites as Carfax, etc. That will further diminish the value of your Viper if you have it up for sale in the future. If an accident isn't your fault you need to request the other parties insurance company pay not only for the repair but that diminished value that could be up to 25% of the worth of your car depending on the extent of the repairs. Of course no insurance company will volunteer this info, you have to push the issue. Good luck with it, doesn't sound like you should use that dealer in the future.

[VYPR BYT]

... At this point i'm livid. I had been working out a deal with the management prior to all this happening to secure a deal for a new 2016 Viper 1of1 ACR but now...I spent the past weekend looking at other cars because this whole mess has just turned me off Vipers...

Obviously none of this is the vipers fault so don't get turned off the car itself. Emotions are running understandably high right now. Get thru this the best you can with insurance/carfax, etc and get that 2016 Viper 1-of-1 ACR!

Honestly that's the best advice I can give you.
Mike

[ViperSmith]

My question is, why is that car still at that dealer?

[ViperDC]

Obviously none of this is the vipers fault so don't get turned off the car itself. Emotions are running understandably high right now. Get thru this the best you can with insurance/carfax, etc and get that 2016 Viper 1-of-1 ACR!

Honestly that's the best advice I can give you.
Mike

what he said

[Russ Oasis]

Call Chrysler Customer Care. They do not let dealers get away with things like this. Their number is 800 247-9753. Believe me, this will not stand with them.

[ddominator1]

step one: call Chrysler for advice
step two: demand that car is fixed the way that YOU want it
step three: If things aren't done the way YOU want it.. hire an attorney!!

Very sorry for your inconvenient and a freaking 4 x 4 smashing into bumper.. what a bunch of morons!!

[mjorgensen]

It's unfortunate that they messed up your car, they should know better. But I don't think it's realistic for you to expect they steal a part from a car in inventory to fix yours. I don't think I've ever heard of a dealer doing that.

Maybe not realistic, but I have done just that to speed the process numerous times, it cost the dealer double the labor, but to make the customer happy is worth it to us.


[QUOTE=mikesax;158469]TRULY SUCKS!!! We are ALL human-accidents can happen-it's how you handle it that matters and seperates the "good from the bad" so to speak!! HIDING the truth is the WORST thing a dealership can do!! They should have - admitted the mistake, not hid ANYTHING, and offered up a solution !! You would still be pissed- but at least you knew someone wasn't LYING or trying to HIDE something from you!! Sounds like the dealership may have DUG a "customer service" hole they might not be able to crawl out of!! Good luck getting it repaired and I hope someone in "authority" contacts you and is as "forthcoming" as possible to try and "repair" whats left of the relationship!! We ALL know when something smells "fishy"- hope you get someone soon at this place to apologize and to tell you the "truth"!!

This is why I'm glad that Woodhouse trusts me with everything Viper, from the first call to delivery I'm the guy that handles it period, decisions and all so no wasting your time. When things happen honesty and integrity are all that matter here.

[FLATOUT]

TRULY SUCKS!!! We are ALL human-accidents can happen-it's how you handle it that matters and seperates the "good from the bad" so to speak!! HIDING the truth is the WORST thing a dealership can do!! They should have - admitted the mistake, not hid ANYTHING, and offered up a solution !! You would still be pissed- but at least you knew someone wasn't LYING or trying to HIDE something from you!! Sounds like the dealership may have DUG a "customer service" hole they might not be able to crawl out of!! Good luck getting it repaired and I hope someone in "authority" contacts you and is as "forthcoming" as possible to try and "repair" whats left of the relationship!! We ALL know when something smells "fishy"- hope you get someone soon at this place to apologize and to tell you the "truth"!!

Well said, and yes accidents do happen, they shouldn't but do. I think sometimes dealership employees get so freaked out about the potential customer confrontation that they do whatever they can to hide from the issue at hand. It always makes it worse and the problem rarely goes unoticed.

[BJG32]

Do not put a clear bra on fresh paint! It will remove the paint when it is removed. There needs to be plenty of cure time...

[ellowviper]

It's unfortunate that they messed up your car, they should know better. But I don't think it's realistic for you to expect they steal a part from a car in inventory to fix yours. I don't think I've ever heard of a dealer doing that.

Best of luck and don't let the dealer turn you off to such a great car.
Oh my shop used to do that ALL THE TIME...not cars, but Polaris snowmobiles, Johnson outboards, quad runners of all sorts, boats of all sizes, and the like. Especially if it was the Dealer that caused the situation. Since our business was seasonal (Minnesota), customers couldn't spend precious time waiting for parts nor could we ever ALWAYS have the right part in stock. Don't make the customer wait on a Dealer issue. OMFG.

[lochnessmonster]

The worst thing about being a Viper fan... Is the Dodge dealership attached to it.

I had to go across the country (canada) to find a dealer willing to return my phone calls. So I bought from him.

This^^^^^^ I scheduled my car to have the recalls done at Willowbrook Chrysler in Langley B.C. while I was out there visiting my parents about a month ago. I set up the appointment a month in advance, after being told that the parts were available. I arrived into town and found out that they didn't have all the parts for the car (after calling a reconfirming thankfully due to other members on this forum), despite the fact that they had assured me they had all the parts, and were going to have me drive out to the dealership from my parents place (Lions Bay to Langley) which is over an hour. If I hadn't reconfirmed it would have been a complete waste of my day and well over two hours of driving for absolutely nothing. Once I found out they didn't have the parts, but were perfectly willing to have me waste my day, I made it clear to them that I wouldn't be entrusting them with my beloved Viper. I still haven't found someone in Western Canada competent or trustworthy enough to touch my car. I decided to forget the recalls unless something goes wrong, or I travel to the States to visit family etc. Otherwise, it's not worth the risk for the exact reasons the OP has stated.

But, orlanderlv I wouldn't let this experience turn you off the car. It's simply a matter of finding a shop you trust to work on it. I think the inconvenience of this task is outweighed by the ownership experience. Contacting Chrysler Customer service sounds like some really good advice. That's what they are there for.

[orlanderlv]

This^^^^^^ I scheduled my car to have the recalls done at Willowbrook Chrysler in Langley B.C. while I was out there visiting my parents about a month ago. I set up the appointment a month in advance, after being told that the parts were available. I arrived into town and found out that they didn't have all the parts for the car (after calling a reconfirming thankfully due to other members on this forum), despite the fact that they had assured me they had all the parts, and were going to have me drive out to the dealership from my parents place (Lions Bay to Langley) which is over an hour. If I hadn't reconfirmed it would have been a complete waste of my day and well over two hours of driving for absolutely nothing. Once I found out they didn't have the parts, but were perfectly willing to have me waste my day, I made it clear to them that I wouldn't be entrusting them with my beloved Viper. I still haven't found someone in Western Canada competent or trustworthy enough to touch my car. I decided to forget the recalls unless something goes wrong, or I travel to the States to visit family etc. Otherwise, it's not worth the risk for the exact reasons the OP has stated.

But, orlanderlv I wouldn't let this experience turn you off the car. It's simply a matter of finding a shop you trust to work on it. I think the inconvenience of this task is outweighed by the ownership experience. Contacting Chrysler Customer service sounds like some really good advice. That's what they are there for.

That really sucks and mirrors to an extent what I went through. I scheduled over two weeks out for this most recent "door" recall. They had my car over a week before they told me they were waiting on a part. I said "A part?" The rep said "Yeah, there was more than one part needed for this recall and we only received one of the parts". Great! Awesome! Fantastic! Then one of the service reps hit my bumper and here I am...Viperless (I think that's a new word now in my vocab).

I just got back from service where the director apologized and told me the car would be ready today. I told him to forget about the 3M bra. He hadn't even had it put on yet. So, here I sit waiting for the call to come pick up my car. I'm also getting paperwork apparently that guarantees that the damage and subsequent repair will NOT show up on any report or insurance.

I have a pretty decent deal worked out with the sales department of this Dodge dealership so that is why I hesitate to say which Vegas one it is but honestly, as of right now i think I might be going the route of trading the Viper in on a new 2016 Mercedes GT S or a leftover 2015 Audi R8 V10 coupe.

There's still a couple of years left I can use the voucher from the manufacturer and I'm really eager to see what Viper has in store. I don't know...still deciding on what to do.

[lochnessmonster]

Yep, they pulled the same BS with me, with the only difference, I was fortunate enough to be set straight by Mark at Woodhouse, which prompted one last call to them before I wasted my day. It was the same thing, woops, not ALL of the parts came in. My feeling was, if they can't even figure out whether or not they have all the parts in to fix my car, then they aren't worthy enough to work on it. Period. The funny thing is, I received a voicemail about a week ago indicating all the parts were now in. Hahahahahaha.......... What a joke. I made it excruciatingly clear to the service manager that guys like me, and you, and everyone on here, who purchases a car worth over 100K expects to receive service commensurate with the magnitude of our investment. Im not an f@#king Neon owner! I gave them plenty of opportunity to get things straight and they still screwed it up.

Anyway, I sure hope you are ok with the car once you get it back. At the end of the day, despite how much we love our cars, they are, well, just a car. Sometimes "stuff" happens, and you just have to move on. The only time the car is "perfect" is the 5 minutes after it rolls out of Connor Avenue. After that, it's all downhill. Rock chips, craping the front end on driveways, etc. etc. it's all gonna happen. Get it back, drive the crap out of it for a few weeks, and then see how you feel. You might surprise yourself.

[orlanderlv]

I made it excruciatingly clear to the service manager that guys like me, and you, and everyone on here, who purchases a car worth over 100K expects to receive service commensurate with the magnitude of our investment. Im not an f@#king Neon owner! I gave them plenty of opportunity to get things straight and they still screwed it up.

Well said!

Is everyone listening? Ok, here's what just happened...I just got a call that the part that came in to fix the front bumper...is cracked and they had to order another one. I'm heading down there right now to see the car for myself. Something smells fishy.

[mikesax]

I know your experience with the dealer SUCKS but I wouldn't take it out on the car-unless you don't like the Viper!! I had a LOT of SHITTY experiences with women-but that didn't mean I was going to "give up" on them!! Bad analogy I know-but the point is the only reason to NOT want a Viper is you don't want one-there are MANY great dealers out there-some are MUCH more specialized than others though when it comes to the Viper!! I've purchased 5 Vipers in the last 6 years-the last 2 were from John at Roanoke-AWESOME experience!! I've just had some mods done on my 14 by Andy at Viper Exchange-AWESOME experience-I wouldn't trust anyone else I know with a Gen V-his knowledge of this car is EXTENSIVE and his PASSION for the Viper is unmatched IMO!! My general service and warranty work is done by Ramsey Chrysler up by me-AWESOME experience EVERY time I bring it in to them!! Their Viper tech is fantastic-he just doesn't have the day to day experience needed IMO to do the work I wanted and so I was much more comfortable shipping the car to Texas and Andy!! ENJOY the car for as long as you have it-I hope things get worked out as well as they can be given ALL your recent frustration-and if you are interested-I can give you some real SHITTY Mercedes and Audi dealers up here in NJ to deal with-probably on par or worse than you're Vegas Dodge people!!!

[dethred]

In my experience just about every dealership in existence is capable of such garbage. My Acura required me to get the regional service rep involved just to fix a door rattle.

I had my Acura repaired at a Mercedes body shop (the last place in town that hadn't already been proven untrustworthy). I spent all day there as they tried to charge me for a new bumper... without actually replacing it (a child could have noticed it), then it took them three separate resprays to get it to factory standard. My Lexus dealership gave me my car back with 75 extra miles on the car and tried to give me a 2005 Chevy Malibu as a loaner. They're almost all garbage. I still get internal emails from the dodge dealership from which I bought my Viper. I'm convinced the average IQ at dealerships is in the 70-80 range.

[orlanderlv]

Just got back. I took the Service Director down to the place where they fixed and repainted the bumper. Looks great. I looked at the part they said was damaged. Yep, it was definitely damaged. They are fixing it and when the replacement part for the replacement part comes in I will have that put on the Viper. Everything appeared ok. Paint needs buffing on the bumper but other than that it looked great. They also need to apply the protectant and will do so after the paint settles.

I was offered $500 to apply towards the deal I was negotiating with sales on the new 2016 Viper ACR. They've had my car nearly a month...a month I had to pay the car note. Much more than $500. I am sure we can work something out but I'm just afraid to ever bring my Viper back to service...and it's not like Vegas has a lot of Dodge dealers (ahem). I'd have a sick to my stomach feeling if I bought an ACR and had to have it down at service for either routine stuff or recalls.

I still have my coupon and it's still good for a couple more years. I'll probably just wait a while and buy a 2017 or 2018...maybe by then there won't be as many recalls and maybe the service department might know these Vipers better. I don't know..just thinking aloud. I'm pissed.

[repiV]

Wow....crazy deal. I hope they get it all fixed to your satisfaction. I know how upset I'd be if something like this happened to mine.

I think you should keep the Viper!!! But sell me your coupon for $6K and use that money for a down payment on the Audi so you can have both. WIN WIN!! :-)

[orlanderlv]

Wow....crazy deal. I hope they get it all fixed to your satisfaction. I know how upset I'd be if something like this happened to mine.

I think you should keep the Viper!!! But sell me your coupon for $6K and use that money for a down payment on the Audi so you can have both. WIN WIN!! :-)

Coupons are non-transferable from what I understand. I plan on using the coupon before it expires but like my stories alludes to, i'm not sure i could ever trust another Dodge service again.

[Drummerviper]

[QUOTE=Voice of Reason;158474]It's unfortunate that they messed up your car, they should know better. But I don't think it's realistic for you to expect they steal a part from a car in inventory to fix yours. I don't think I've ever heard of a dealer doing that.

Maybe not realistic, but I have done just that to speed the process numerous times, it cost the dealer double the labor, but to make the customer happy is worth it to us.




This is why I'm glad that Woodhouse trusts me with everything Viper, from the first call to delivery I'm the guy that handles it period, decisions and all so no wasting your time. When things happen honesty and integrity are all that matter here.

Really? Depending on the part, that is not something I would care for.

[repiV]

Coupons are non-transferable from what I understand. I plan on using the coupon before it expires but like my stories alludes to, i'm not sure i could ever trust another Dodge service again.

I'm sure there are ways it could be done with a little creative paperwork and I'll bet it wouldn't be the first time.

[mjorgensen]

[QUOTE=mjorgensen;158525]

Really? Depending on the part, that is not something I would care for.

It has usually been a sensor, some electrical part that is more than a day away (it is very rare and never done to a sold unit), not like a fascia or heads lol. I get where you are going though ;-)

[DEMO MAN]

That really sucks and mirrors to an extent what I went through. I scheduled over two weeks out for this most recent "door" recall. They had my car over a week before they told me they were waiting on a part. I said "A part?" The rep said "Yeah, there was more than one part needed for this recall and we only received one of the parts". Great! Awesome! Fantastic! Then one of the service reps hit my bumper and here I am...Viperless (I think that's a new word now in my vocab).

I just got back from service where the director apologized and told me the car would be ready today. I told him to forget about the 3M bra. He hadn't even had it put on yet. So, here I sit waiting for the call to come pick up my car. I'm also getting paperwork apparently that guarantees that the damage and subsequent repair will NOT show up on any report or insurance.

I have a pretty decent deal worked out with the sales department of this Dodge dealership so that is why I hesitate to say which Vegas one it is but honestly, as of right now i think I might be going the route of trading the Viper in on a new 2016 Mercedes GT S or a leftover 2015 Audi R8 V10 coupe.

There's still a couple of years left I can use the voucher from the manufacturer and I'm really eager to see what Viper has in store. I don't know...still deciding on what to do.

I hope that they do what they say regarding making sure this doesn't show up as an accident in the future but based on their track record I'm not sure I would trust them 100% on that. It would be wise to check Carfax etc a few times afterwards to make sure it doesn't. I'm not an expert on that but my guess is once it's on Carfax you won't be able to have it removed. Good luck with it all.

[lochnessmonster]

I hope that they do what they say regarding making sure this doesn't show up as an accident in the future but based on their track record I'm not sure I would trust them 100% on that. It would be wise to check Carfax etc a few times afterwards to make sure it doesn't. I'm not an expert on that but my guess is once it's on Carfax you won't be able to have it removed. Good luck with it all.

I'm no expert on this either, but wouldn't the "accident" need to be reported to either the OP's insurance company, or the police etc. for this to end up on a Carfax report. I mean, if the dealership has taken care of it through their insurance, and the OP didn't make a claim, then I can't see how it would be attributed to the VIN on his car. Like I said, I'm no expert, but I would think there would have to be some involvement of a third party and his VIN to result in a mark against the car. I guess the question is whether or not the dealership's insurance required the submission of his VIN during the claim's process, assuming that's how it was dealt with. It may not have even been run through their insurance depending on the deductible and future implications regarding premiums etc. for something as "minor" (relatively speaking) as this. i.e. we're not talking about a car sliding off a lift and being a complete write off.

[orlanderlv]

I am supposedly getting a guarantee when I pick up the car that nothing will be reported, to any agency regarding the accident. Does anyone think I should be worried about paint matching the bumper? I went to look at it yesterday and they held the newly painted bumper up to the hood and I took several pics. It looks good but you know, i'm worried.

[ViperGeorge]

I am supposedly getting a guarantee when I pick up the car that nothing will be reported, to any agency regarding the accident. Does anyone think I should be worried about paint matching the bumper? I went to look at it yesterday and they held the newly painted bumper up to the hood and I took several pics. It looks good but you know, i'm worried.

I believe that bumpers are usually painted with some flex agent added to the paint so they don't crack easily or chip too easily. That would be the only thing I would worry about. Prefix bakes the paint so it is durable. Repainted parts rarely are as durable especially on a bumper. No expert here but I have had a few bumper covers painted over the years. It would be preferable for Prefix to paint it like they would any other new Viper part.

[orlanderlv]

Got the car back. Looks nice but there's orange peel on part of the bumper. That and I still need to bring it in next week for the final protectant spray to be applied. Got plenty of paperwork on what I needed, saying nothing will appear anywhere and will remain only at the dealership. Still leaning towards getting another Viper but today I nearly bought a slightly used R8 V10. Changed my mind at the last minute. 10 minutes driving in my Viper again and the smile came back.

[ddominator1]

That's If vipers ate still in production in 2017-2018. Gulp. Hopefully just a rumor !

[DZnutz]

Why this car was left at this Dealership I do not know

[DEMO MAN]

I'm no expert on this either, but wouldn't the "accident" need to be reported to either the OP's insurance company, or the police etc. for this to end up on a Carfax report. I mean, if the dealership has taken care of it through their insurance, and the OP didn't make a claim, then I can't see how it would be attributed to the VIN on his car. Like I said, I'm no expert, but I would think there would have to be some involvement of a third party and his VIN to result in a mark against the car. I guess the question is whether or not the dealership's insurance required the submission of his VIN during the claim's process, assuming that's how it was dealt with. It may not have even been run through their insurance depending on the deductible and future implications regarding premiums etc. for something as "minor" (relatively speaking) as this. i.e. we're not talking about a car sliding off a lift and being a complete write off.

Any claim the dealer makes on their policy would involve them having to report the vin number to their carrier. After that it's almost an automatic process that the accident begins to show up on the typical Carfax type sites. If the dealer pays out of pocket for the repair then there shouldn't be any concern that the accident would be reported. The police would never be called to do a report on this type of accident so that would not be a concern either. I speak from experience on this matter, a minor accident at my dealer showed up on Carfax as a side collision. I will say the dealer is probably the best dealer I've ever done business with, and I still will not let anyone else work on my Viper but them. Total professionals, notified me right away and took care of everything. I think the best thing to do might be to ask the dealer who paid the repair costs, dealer or insurance company. If it was the dealer that would give me some peace of mind if it was my Viper.

[MtnBiker]

I just read the first post/rant. Too lazy to read anymore. Once I got to the part about ordering a 1 of 1 ACr then deciding to look at other cars because this experience turned the OP off Vipers I decided to post. These types of rants are annoying as heck. If the OP was evaluating a BMW then he would be turned off of BMWs...whatever dude!

[Malu59RT]

Why this car was left at this Dealership I do not know

Good luck with running for president!

[Sybil TF]

It's always something trying to to get anything done right these days...

[orlanderlv]

Still some issues wrong with the car that I found out today while doing an extensive cleaning but I guess those will get addressed and remedied next week when I bring her back in. In the meantime, here she is with one of the new car I recently purchased, this one for my girl, the 2015 370z NISMO.

http://i.imgur.com/zHbXrnA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/XG2vtcz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eOjuyZy.jpg

[orlanderlv]

A piece of rubber is hanging off the under part of the hood near where the damage took place. That, and service didn't put the Dodge Viper emblem on straight. :( Bubbling or paint and orange peel galore also. I just made a deal with sales for a new ACR so I guess it's all moot at this point. Below are pics from today's car cleaning. Pictured are my Viper and my girlfriend's 2015 Nissan 370z NISMO. Not pictured is my new 2015 Mercedes ML 350.

http://i.imgur.com/KxBytHE.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/SMcFM4G.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/H6jGgTn.jpg?1

[Patentlaw]

Sorry, I disagree with all of you.

I would have sued them and won. Case closed. They had your car. Damaged your car. Gave you nothing for your inconvenience.

Would you ever use them for anything in the future?

No.

Why play nice. They were not nice to you.

You got screwed and accepted it because you were a nice guy.

[orlanderlv]

Sorry, I disagree with all of you.

I would have sued them and won. Case closed. They had your car. Damaged your car. Gave you nothing for your inconvenience.

Would you ever use them for anything in the future?

No.

Why play nice. They were not nice to you.

You got screwed and accepted it because you were a nice guy.

Nothing is signed yet. Please explain why you think minor damage and subsequent holding of my vehicle for nearly a month warrants a lawsuit? Is there precedence?

The dealership has taken an additional $500 off MSRP and are giving me free tint on the new ACR. The only thing else I asked for was a free 3M bra for the bumper. I might be able to get that for free but I don't like taking advantage of situations beyond what I think is reasonable. I wasn't necessarily playing nice, I thought. I tend not to get mad just serious and direct. However, I have been known to mis-judge a situation to a degree that is not in my favor.

Anyone else think i was too nice and accomodating?

[DZnutz]

This thread is pointless... your clearly well off enough not to care. If you cared I think you would have gone about this differently than complain on-line and yet allow the Dealer to hold your car further

[lochnessmonster]

This cracks me up.

Patentlaw, are you really an attorney? I am. Have you ever actually practiced tort law? I doubt it, based on your horrible advice.

In order for our friend orlanderlv to "sue them" he needs a cause of action. Patentlaw, what cause of action would you identify in your Statement of Claim? Secondly, there has to be quantifiable damages. In this case, the dealership repaired the damage to the car in a timely fashion, and without delay, to a standard that is probably reasonable within the industry, so what quantifiable damages would you identify? Third, you "would have sued them and won". Hahaha. I've never heard a fellow lawyer make such a bold and foolish statement. I don't know about the Court system in Las Vegas, but I have a pretty good idea that this matter WOULD NOT have been adjudicated in the amount of time oerlanderlv has been dealing with this situation. In fact, I would venture to guess that it would take several months to get this matter to Court. If I was the attorney for the dealership, I would have lots of fun wasting orlanderlv's time and resources in the process, until he probably gave up trying to recoup his "damages". Give me a break.

Oerlanderlv, if you were to miraculously get any damages awarded for your "inconvenience" which as far as I know has not been "quantified", it wouldn't be much, and the time that you wasted pursuing this frivolous law suit would more than outweigh the pittance any judge might award in this case. You made the right choice. You got the car fixed, were patient, worked out a deal with the dealership that puts you in a better position than you were before the damage occurred, and you'll move on, not having destroyed the relationship between you and the dealership, and wasted a lot of money hiring a lawyer to pursue this misguided lawsuit. Case closed....hahahahaah Patentlaw, stick to Patentlaw.

[Cargirl]

This cracks me up.

Patentlaw, are you really an attorney? I am. Have you ever actually practiced tort law? I doubt it, based on your horrible advice.

In order for our friend orlanderlv to "sue them" he needs a cause of action. Patentlaw, what cause of action would you identify in your Statement of Claim? Secondly, there has to be quantifiable damages. In this case, the dealership repaired the damage to the car in a timely fashion, and without delay, to a standard that is probably reasonable within the industry, so what quantifiable damages would you identify? Third, you "would have sued them and won". Hahaha. I've never heard a fellow lawyer make such a bold and foolish statement. I don't know about the Court system in Las Vegas, but I have a pretty good idea that this matter WOULD NOT have been adjudicated in the amount of time oerlanderlv has been dealing with this situation. In fact, I would venture to guess that it would take several months to get this matter to Court. If I was the attorney for the dealership, I would have lots of fun wasting orlanderlv's time and resources in the process, until he probably gave up trying to recoup his "damages". Give me a break.

Oerlanderlv, if you were to miraculously get any damages awarded for your "inconvenience" which as far as I know has not been "quantified", it wouldn't be much, and the time that you wasted pursuing this frivolous law suit would more than outweigh the pittance any judge might award in this case. You made the right choice. You got the car fixed, were patient, worked out a deal with the dealership that puts you in a better position than you were before the damage occurred, and you'll move on, not having destroyed the relationship between you and the dealership, and wasted a lot of money hiring a lawyer to pursue this misguided lawsuit. Case closed....hahahahaah Patentlaw, stick to Patentlaw.

I am an attorney too and I concur with Lochnessmonster, terrible advise! Guys, the only time you act out like an emotional teenage girl is when it comes to your cars. I recommend patience, they screwed up and promised to fix it. Vipers are rare cars even at most dealerships and something like this does not come up every day. I usually save my rage for situations where someone does me wrong and then tells me to take a flying leap. Sorry about your car but I am sure they will ultimately make it right.

[orlanderlv]

I am an attorney too and I concur with Lochnessmonster, terrible advise! Guys, the only time you act out like an emotional teenage girl is when it comes to your cars. I recommend patience, they screwed up and promised to fix it. Vipers are rare cars even at most dealerships and something like this does not come up every day. I usually save my rage for situations where someone does me wrong and then tells me to take a flying leap. Sorry about your car but I am sure they will ultimately make it right.

Thank you, Cargirl and lochnessmonster. I concur with your assessment and the service department tried to handle the situation as best they could. There are still problems with the front bumper but I believe they will be repaired and I think I have been compensated enough by the sale department for the purchase of a new ACR.

[orlanderlv]

This thread is pointless... your clearly well off enough not to care. If you cared I think you would have gone about this differently than complain on-line and yet allow the Dealer to hold your car further

Besides your post making little sense, my post thoroughly detailed my issue and represented an appropriate opportunity for advice. Perhaps you fail to realize exactly what forums are intended to represent. The very word "forum" is the definition of a place where people can congregate to address questions, concerns and opinions.

There's a lot of valuable responses in this thread regarding service issues, recall issues, what happens with service screws up and how a remedy can be reached so all parties are satisfied...I can go on and on. If anything truly represents "pointless" content, it's clearly your reply.

For everyone else, I thank you again for your advice and contributions to this conversation. Tuesday I go in to finalize my ACR purchase and get the ball rolling on production. Exciting times for sure!

[Drummerviper]

Well, it may be simpler to say what he needs is liability and damages. And though there is overlap with contracts , this is not so much a tort ( which is a wrong usually involving accidents, product liability, defamation , infringement etc ) , as it it is a breach . Either way, I agree that anyone who claims they would win has not spent much time in front of judges and juries.

[lochnessmonster]

Well, it may be simpler to say what he needs is liability and damages. And though there is overlap with contracts , this is not so much a tort ( which is a wrong usually involving accidents, product liability, defamation , infringement etc ) , as it it is a breach . Either way, I agree that anyone who claims they would win has not spent much time in front of judges and juries.

VERY briefly, the suggestion that he sue the dealership and win without having read the contract (Patentlaw), and any limitation of liability clauses contained therein, lead me to believe he would be suing in negligence, which, is very much a cause of action within the purview of tort law. However, you're right. I was probably foolish to give Patentlaw that much credit. I mean really, the thought that he would abandon the whole breach of contract argument, because based on the facts as provided in this thread, we have absolutely no knowledge of what was contained in the service agreement he signed. That was presumptuous of me indeed. Now, how about that contract? Do any of us know what's in it? NO. I would like to suggest that the dealership's lawyers prepared a fairly comprehensive contract which insulates the dealership from liability in circumstances like this, but what do I know? I know this file is a loser. I can spot a loser a mile away. Word.

[Cargirl]

1) The whole subject of involving lawyers to this situation is, in my opinion, ridiculous. When reasonable people act unreasonably, that is when you resort to a legalistic resolution. 2) If a car enthusiast can't come to a site like this and vent out loud to people who care, forums are meaningless. As far as I am concerned, get it off your chest and be done with it :)

[lochnessmonster]

Agreed.

[viper_eddie]

I just read the first post/rant. Too lazy to read anymore. Once I got to the part about ordering a 1 of 1 ACr then deciding to look at other cars because this experience turned the OP off Vipers I decided to post. These types of rants are annoying as heck. If the OP was evaluating a BMW then he would be turned off of BMWs...whatever dude!

If you're about to drop over 100k on a car, the dealer service plays a big/huge role in that. Why shouldn't he complain? Dodge dealers are some of the worst I have dealt with. Most of them are a bunch of morons, bluntly put. It's one thing to be stupid but when you're stupid and indifferent it sure makes for a great combination. With the exception of a few, that's how most Dodge dealers have been in my experience.

He might like the car but if the dealer network is that bad it's understandable that he might be turned off from the car. His rant is very good to me because hopefully some FCA executives are seeing this or it's brought to their attention somehow. They need to step up their shitty game.

[TexasSnake]

My 2014 Viper has now been in service for 3 weeks at a local Dodge dealership here in the city I live. I brought it down to have one of the recalls performed (door handle). After a week I asked the status. I was told they were waiting for the part. Ok, why schedule me to come in and keep my car over a week if the part/parts were not already there was beyond me and beyond apparent reason. I was given an apology and told that it would be soon.

A few days later and I was not getting ANY information regarding the status of my car. I started to become suspicious. I finally got a call back from the service tech who told me my car had been damaged by one of the local techs who had "run over the front bumper with a large 4x4 that was being serviced. I came down to take a look at the damage and was promptly greeted by the service director who was very very apologetic. They told me there was no structural damage to the front bumper. It looked like the damage was isolated to a broken front left bracket and damaged to the paint job.

I talked over my options to a few people and decided it was best if Dodge took my Viper to a local place to strip the paint off the entire front bumper, make sure there were no cracks or damage, repaint the ENTIRE front bumper, reapply the expensive protective sealant I had added to the entire car before I purchased it and let me see the result before I took possession of the Viper back. Just for the record, I had asked the service department to have pictures of the unpainted bumper sent to me so I could ensure there were no cracks. I was worried about cracks that could lead to much worse damage over time.

I never received the images I asked for. Days and days and days have passed since they have had my car to repair the bumper. I have tried to contact service and have not been given a call back. Last I heard (last Thursday) was they were waiting for a bracket piece in order to put the Viper bumper back on. Interesting, since they have a brand new Viper on the show room floor they could have just taken the bracket from that and put it on my car (same Viper year as mine).

At this point i'm livid. I had been working out a deal with the management prior to all this happening to secure a deal for a new 2016 Viper 1of1 ACR but now...I spent the past weekend looking at other cars because this whole mess has just turned me off Vipers.

A few days ago I asked that a 3M bra be added to the front bumper because I was unsure they could add the same protective covering I had put on at another dealer. I have yet to hear back from service even though I have left numerous requests. I'm going down tomorrow to demand to know what is going on. It's been now over 3 weeks since they have had my car.

I apologize for the long post. If anyone has any advice on how i should proceed I would appreciate it. As of right now I see no reason to keep my business at this dealership and will likely be looking elsewhere for a new car.

I can relate to your aggravating experience. I bought my Gen V in April and the hood vent flew off 3 days after purchasing from a compromised / defective hood. I've had my car at 3 dealerships now and been fed more bs than you can imagine. It's like you're on a deserted island after purchasing a Viper in terms of customer service.

Viper Exchange has been trying to help me for the past 2 months so hopefully it will be resolved soon. I know I'm at least dealing with the most qualified dealer in my area now. I will update with my story once it's concluded on the appropriate thread.

Anyway, I feel your pain bro....

[Patentlaw]

If you're about to drop over 100k on a car, the dealer service plays a big/huge role in that. Why shouldn't he complain? Dodge dealers are some of the worst I have dealt with. Most of them are a bunch of morons, bluntly put. It's one thing to be stupid but when you're stupid and indifferent it sure makes for a great combination. With the exception of a few, that's how most Dodge dealers have been in my experience.

He might like the car but if the dealer network is that bad it's understandable that he might be turned off from the car. His rant is very good to me because hopefully some FCA executives are seeing this or it's brought to their attention somehow. They need to step up their shitty game.

Agreed. And how is this person made whole? He has a damaged car. Because he is well off he should just take it? He never bargained for that. We all know that a good paint job is 2k to 5k. His car is worth less and the service location thinks that it is ok to deliver a damaged car back. Not cool.

Why do the people on the website not take pity on the person who takes his car and pays good money to get it fixed and then this happens? Simply stating to "deal with them" does not help this person. He has been dealing with them. Him fairly....them unfairly.

I never said anything about tort or contract law. Those were your collective words. You could take many types of actions. And yes, I am an attorney. Four states.

Pretty obvious he is not a happy customer and is damaged.

[2doorrocket]

Just got back. I took the Service Director down to the place where they fixed and repainted the bumper. Looks great. I looked at the part they said was damaged. Yep, it was definitely damaged. They are fixing it and when the replacement part for the replacement part comes in I will have that put on the Viper. Everything appeared ok. Paint needs buffing on the bumper but other than that it looked great. They also need to apply the protectant and will do so after the paint settles.

I was offered $500 to apply towards the deal I was negotiating with sales on the new 2016 Viper ACR. They've had my car nearly a month...a month I had to pay the car note. Much more than $500. I am sure we can work something out but I'm just afraid to ever bring my Viper back to service...and it's not like Vegas has a lot of Dodge dealers (ahem). I'd have a sick to my stomach feeling if I bought an ACR and had to have it down at service for either routine stuff or recalls.

I still have my coupon and it's still good for a couple more years. I'll probably just wait a while and buy a 2017 or 2018...maybe by then there won't be as many recalls and maybe the service department might know these Vipers better. I don't know..just thinking aloud. I'm pissed.

Let me guess, Towbin - Home of the "Oops, we backed into your friends Hellcat" with a Durango.

[viperdriver5150]

I know when I had my car towed, roadside assistance was a disaster and the dealership had 2 main service people, one was fantastic and the other one I would consider a complete a-hole. The bad one called me to tell me the motor was a complete failure and we will let you know when your new motor arrives, basically wanted to hang up immediately and seemed totally irritated when I wanted to ask more questions.

[Newport Viper]

If you're about to drop over 100k on a car, the dealer service plays a big/huge role in that. Why shouldn't he complain? Dodge dealers are some of the worst I have dealt with. Most of them are a bunch of morons, bluntly put. It's one thing to be stupid but when you're stupid and indifferent it sure makes for a great combination. With the exception of a few, that's how most Dodge dealers have been in my experience.

He might like the car but if the dealer network is that bad it's understandable that he might be turned off from the car. His rant is very good to me because hopefully some FCA executives are seeing this or it's brought to their attention somehow. They need to step up their shitty game.

Yep, yep and yep. That's why I left the fold. I just can't help but come back here to rubberneck this disaster. Thread after thread, problem after problem. Shame. Once the ACR run/excitment is done the car will be toast. Same as last time. What's left....? ....It's become irrelevant..... There are 3-5 dealerships that even care anymore. They aren't going to save it. It only appeals to a few track guys now (And they are having a blast!) but, there aren't enough of them to keep it going. Dodge is just milking it now.

[ViperSmith]

Yep, yep and yep. That's why I left the fold. I just can't help but come back here to rubberneck this disaster. Thread after thread, problem after problem. Shame. Once the ACR run/excitment is done the car will be toast. Same as last time. What's left....? ....It's become irrelevant..... There are 3-5 dealerships that even care anymore. They aren't going to save it. It only appeals to a few track guys now (And they are having a blast!) but, there aren't enough of them to keep it going. Dodge is just milking it now.

Man, what would this site be without our resident Debbie Downer.

[orlanderlv]

Let me guess, Towbin - Home of the "Oops, we backed into your friends Hellcat" with a Durango.

OUCH! I'm so sorry to hear. I hope your friend's Hellcat came out ok. I can't confirm nor deny the dealership, however. As long as the dealership handles this issue and my impending sale with the amount of respect and attention both deserve, i'll leave specifics out.

[ViperDC]

Man, what would this site be without our resident Debbie Downer.

No kidding, this guy is hilarious.

[ViperDC]

Thank you, Cargirl and lochnessmonster. I concur with your assessment and the service department tried to handle the situation as best they could. There are still problems with the front bumper but I believe they will be repaired and I think I have been compensated enough by the sale department for the purchase of a new ACR.

ACR will be a beast! What color are you getting.

[lochnessmonster]

I agree that it's somewhat disappointing that Dodge doesn't provide the resources to its dealer network so the car can be serviced to everyone's satisfaction. The bottom line is, it's a very low production run car, and expending a lot of resources may be hard to justify. If your dealership never actually has a customer come through the doors with a Viper for service, what is the point of having a full time Viper tech on staff? I get it. Moreover, if you do have a Viper tech on staff, but your dealership isn't used to handling a car like this, "stuff happens." We all know you can't handle a Viper like any other car, for obvious reasons.

By the sounds of it, there are some great places to get the car worked on in Texas etc. I still haven't heard any positive comments about dealerships in Canada, so for the time being, I'm setting my sights South of the border. If you can afford a car of this calibre, you can afford to get it to a dealership that will take care of it. I think we're all prepared to deal with that little inconvenience.

[orlanderlv]

ACR will be a beast! What color are you getting.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. I'll head down to the dealership, in part to point out to service the remaining and new issues with the bumper that have sprung up since I got the car back last week but also to begin finalizing my build. I have my top 3 builds/colors and hopefully will be able to get one of the three since i'm opting for the 1of1 program. My three colors are silver, white and black. Wish me luck!

[Cargirl]

Wish I was there, have fun and let us know what you decide :)

[TA Two Oh]

Orlanderlv...you should have a pm from me.

[vegasgtr]

as a vegas resident PM me who this dealership is , so i can stay the hell away.

[ViperDC]

Well, tomorrow is the big day. I'll head down to the dealership, in part to point out to service the remaining and new issues with the bumper that have sprung up since I got the car back last week but also to begin finalizing my build. I have my top 3 builds/colors and hopefully will be able to get one of the three since i'm opting for the 1of1 program. My three colors are silver, white and black. Wish me luck!

Cool keep us posted

[orlanderlv]

Orlanderlv...you should have a pm from me.

Replied. I had no idea I had so many PMs. Sorry to everyone who PMd me.

[orlanderlv]

I still have no car. Got it home for two days and then it had to go back to have a final layer of paint applied, which was something I knew needed to be done. They fixed the bubbling paint, the orange peel and re-positioned the front Viper badge but when they put the bumper back on they deformed it to the point where the hood sticks up above the front bumper a good bit. It's no longer flush. Pic below:

12917

They've had my car now almost 5 full weeks. I just finalized a deal on a new 2016 ACR though, so I have that going for me...which is nice.

[Rapidrezults]

I still have no car. Got it home for two days and then it had to go back to have a final layer of paint applied, which was something I knew needed to be done. They fixed the bubbling paint, the orange peel and re-positioned the front Viper badge but when they put the bumper back on they deformed it to the point where the hood sticks up above the front bumper a good bit. It's no longer flush. Pic below:

12917

They've had my car now almost 5 full weeks. I just finalized a deal on a new 2016 ACR though, so I have that going for me...which is nice.

Is it just in the center or the whole hood is raised?

My hood in the center does the same thing. It's slightly raised. Then I looked at a bunch of pictures and analyzed Vipers when I see them in person and a bunch of them are like that. I think it has something to do with the carbon fiber molding.

[orlanderlv]

Is it just in the center or the whole hood is raised?

My hood in the center does the same thing. It's slightly raised. Then I looked at a bunch of pictures and analyzed Vipers when I see them in person and a bunch of them are like that. I think it has something to do with the carbon fiber molding.

This is why I posted. I just can't remember it being that bad though and it was the first thing I noticed...as was the first thing the service rep noticed too. I really don't want to be making a deal out of something that isn't but like I said, I think the bumper is sitting too low in the middle.

EDIT: Just checked a pic I took last week of the hood. Side by side views for comparison. It's obvious the front bumper has been further damaged or installed incorrectly...or worse, the hood has been warped/damaged. Pic below:

12918

[ViperSmith]

Is it just in the center or the whole hood is raised?

My hood in the center does the same thing. It's slightly raised. Then I looked at a bunch of pictures and analyzed Vipers when I see them in person and a bunch of them are like that. I think it has something to do with the carbon fiber molding.

you can adjust the bumper, there are plastic washers underneath the bolts that affix it to the frame you can remove

[orlanderlv]

you can adjust the bumper, there are plastic washers underneath the bolts that affix it to the frame you can remove

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thank you for your feedback.

[Cargirl]

I just finished restoring my 1974 Delta 88 Hurst Indy 500 track car. Every time I finished a project it just did not look right to me, it drove me crazy. Now that it's done it all came together perfectly. I hope your in the same boat and like the previous poster, perhaps it always looked that way and you did not notice. I really hope things work out for you, this should be a fun and positive. I will also keep fingers crossed.

[Rapidrezults]

This is why I posted. I just can't remember it being that bad though and it was the first thing I noticed...as was the first thing the service rep noticed too. I really don't want to be making a deal out of something that isn't but like I said, I think the bumper is sitting too low in the middle.

EDIT: Just checked a pic I took last week of the hood. Side by side views for comparison. It's obvious the front bumper has been further damaged or installed incorrectly...or worse, the hood has been warped/damaged. Pic below:

12918

It definitely is worst in the new picture but it still has that slight bulge in the center on the old picture.

[Rapidrezults]

you can adjust the bumper, there are plastic washers underneath the bolts that affix it to the frame you can remove

How can you adjust just the center of the hood down a little bit? To me it seems like heat or something has created a slight bulge only in the center that is part of the form of the hood itself, not an overall adjustment in height. Both sides line up perfectly and are flush, but the center is slightly raised.

[ViperSmith]

How can you adjust just the center of the hood down a little bit? To me it seems like heat or something has created a slight bulge only in the center that is part of the form of the hood itself, not an overall adjustment in height. Both sides line up perfectly and are flush, but the center is slightly raised.


no idea, but worth a try! :)

[darbgnik]

Most bumpers are quite flexible. It should be able to be shimmed up in the center to match the hood contour........ should.


FWIW, on my old Gen 3 Viper, the body lines weren't exactly awesome to start with, so I took a bunch of before pics, so I didn't expect better than it was before, when I was finished.

[Bad Brad]

I always set my trip dial to zero and write down the mileage when turning in my car to the dealer!!! Joy rides you know!!!

I had a Porsche 944 turbo once picked it up had 11 miles and cig butts in the ash tray (don't smoke) boy did we have words!!!!!

Bull crap about the car getting hit !!! Bull crap about them keeping it so long !!!! I would not go their again!!!! Keep the Viper or

get a New one 2016 may be the last year for awhile, they may suspend building Vipers for a few years, May come out with a new

Cuda, looking somewhat like a viper???? Lots of Government EPA laws on fuel mileage Chrysler has to meet requirements!!!