Dealership Wrecked [Slightly??] my Trailhunter

Let me add: I've purchased a total of 4x New Cars from this dealer in the past...

So, after dropping my Trailhunter w/1,800 miles off at the original dealership to repair the leaking transmission [Here's the Thread], the vehicle was ready for pick-up after 3.5 weeks. They had dropped the transmission; disassmebled; cleaned; changed all of the O-rings and Seals; then reassembled [refilled] and reinstalled last Thursday.

They then did a 60 miles test drive [that's another story] and returned Thursday afternoon. Put back on lift to look for leaks - - none spotted. So, they called and told me the truck would be ready for pick-up on Friday late morning - - as they wanted to to "one more" quick check-ride to see if any leaks.

So, Friday AM the Tech gets in the truck and back out of the shop - and into a telephone pole

The Sales Manager then calls me to share the bad news. Says it just needs a new bumper; but I could still pick-up and they'd call when the bumper arrives [4-weeks] and they'd replace. I decided I'd better head over there and take a look-see. Once there, I immediately noticed the fitment of the tailgate was "off" from the left and right sides - which made me seriously question what I had been told.

After speaking with the General Sales Manager [the Service Manager was out]; I indicated that I no longer felt comfortable driving my vehicle away and wanted to speak with somone about the next steps.

Later that afternoon, the General Sales Manager [mind you - - "SALES"] called me back and indicated the dealership's position of: "We're going to fix the vehicle as good as new and we're not going to report it to insurance... So, you won't have to worry abour CarFax" and, "We don't see a loss for Diminished Value, because there will be no CarFax..."

I told him that I disagreed and wanted to speak with somone who wasn't a "sales guy" and that could understand that I have definetely suffered a loss and would like to have an appropriate offer to make things right...

What are your thoughts? I've attached some pictures with a diagram of where the damage is...

 

Thats some BS. Id be sick to my stomach.

 

it just needs a bumper. the tailgate fitment was prolly off from the factory... other people have complained about that. how could it have tweaked the bed alignment or tailgate alignment without even hitting the tailgate or bed?

 

Am I seeing this correctly?
Just bumper damage & zero tailgate or other panel damage?
That's a good thing...

There's nothing wrong with the tailgate in regards to the gap on the left...
Your tailgate was shut firmly enough...
That Is all...

It's not a left to right gap / alignment issue, the left side of tailgate isn't latched correctly. Was slammed shut hard enough after it was last opened...
makes the left gap look larger than the right.
Dont have them touch the tailgate till you verify its nothing.

Looks like just a bumper to me & its not paint to match so that good.
Probably comes pre-painted from the factory.
Move on..

 

How fucking fast was that dude going? It's a steel bumper.

 

Yeah, I left out: was pretty sick after the phone call and the visit...

On the fitment: GMTech: I promise it wasn't like that from the factory... I look at these sorts of things - - and, it's definetely new.

Slater: The tailgate is fully closed, BTW...

 

Tell the dealer you are seeing diminished value because they damaged your $70K truck.

Any vehicle I work on, I can check for leaks without driving 60 miles.

Also, whatever you and the dealer agree to get it in writing.

 

Thanks!

 

Here is the drive report from the "check-out" drive... I looked over all of my drives on the previous 1,800 miles, and I had 3-events... This guy had 19+ in 60-miles... WTH?? Sort of feel violated - - "Bueller-D"... Am I wrong??

 

happen to have the oem dashcam? It would have recorded an event woulda at least been able to see what happened.

 

Actually, I do have the factory dashcam... I'll have to gain access to get the video... Will probably get the check-out ride, too... I did set it up initially, but have never gotten a video off of it... Thanks!

 

Dont let them know you want it or theyll clear it. They might already have done so. But if they really backed into a pole hard enough to bend steel it _will_ have saved the minute before and after on it. You can just pull the card in half a second if you are in the drivers seat and copy it to your desktop or laptop.

(fun fact mine had numerous captures from the factory and boat ride over but I couldn't see anything because they left the positioning paper in front of the camera)

 

Man I don’t know what I’d do, like the other dude said I’d be sick to my Stomach

 

Just get a new bumper. Your tailgate was probably misaligned before

 

Im willing to bet the tailgate was like that already and you just now noticed because your staring at it.

 

Did you see the telephone poll the tech (reportedly) hit? With all those logged events I'd be a little suspicious...

I recall years ago one of the corporate Senior VPs where I worked had his Porsche Carrera 4 convertible totaled by one of the company guys who was in charge of getting them detailed. I'm sure that left a mark on that valet's employment file...

 

You mentioned that earlier and I replied. Maybe if you mention it again, it will come true?? Nah...

 

Don't bet too much... The picture isn't doing justice -- it looks worse in person. But, you'd have to be there -- I understand...

 

Sue their ass for a new truck.

 

Hell that looks like my wife was driving it. Does not take much to get the sensors to trip. So...tell them you want lifetime oil changes or a $1k credit at the parts department. These are things that you can benefit from and will be a lot easier on them to swallow. If you push too much they will turn it over to their insurance and you can have fun dealing with them.