For background, I am not new to Jeeps. I've owned many - as many CJs as at-the-time-current models of Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, and I've always had positive ownership experiences. I'm at approximately 1.5 years into ownership of a 2015 GC Limited Diesel, and it's by far been the most frustrating experience of any vehicle I've owned - ever.
My context for making this statement:
For a vehicle that I purchased new, I should not expect that it averages ONE DAY PER MONTH in the shop. That's right - it spends more time in the shop, predominantly with complaints about bull**** issues, than any other vehicle I've ever owned. It's having more issues than my kids' 2001 Saturn SC2 with 150,000 miles on it. I don't even bother talking with my dealership about my issues - not because I don't like them, but because I don't believe they are equipped to solve the problems I am facing. They just keep telling me that they can't do anything about it if they cannot reproduce the issues.
We purchased my wife's 2015 Mini Cooper S two months before I purchased this vehicle. She is known in our family to be abusive on cars [and gets teased relentlessly for it]. However, her car has more miles on it today, and has spent literally ZERO time in the shop except for planned maintenance. As a matter of fact, when it goes in for service, they do very nice things above-and-beyond the service - like when they noticed a bit of discoloration on a piece of plastic, they replaced it as a courtesy without even requiring the car stay longer. She gets a loaner vehicle that is another Mini of the same level or higher.
Me? I get a cheap Subaru base model with cloth seats and a low horsepower econobox engine, or a Minivan. I don't get anything CLOSE to the significant investment I put in my vehicle.
The thing is, I LOVE this vehicle. I sought out this specific model and engine, and I keep it spotless. I rely on my car for my work - I travel for a living and use this vehicle for work. The diesel engine is efficient, has gobs of torque, and the interior is comfortable for all the time I spend in it. I was planning on doing some light mods to personalize it - but now my only thought is either (a) buy the extended warranty as far out as I can, or (b) sell the car and get something else. I just don't feel like I should have to deal with all of these low-quality issues for a brand new car with this amount of spend.
I've opened a case with FCA. The people on the phone are very nice, however, my case [to them] likely doesn't translate into anything they're going to see as a priority. They'll likely review what is in my case notes and won't see much there. The context is lost between the lines because, candidly, it doesn't make it into my service records.
Ugh. I can't believe my ownership experience has been reduced to risk management. Anybody have ideas on how to reduce the inconsistencies with all the electronics acting erratically?
My context for making this statement:
For a vehicle that I purchased new, I should not expect that it averages ONE DAY PER MONTH in the shop. That's right - it spends more time in the shop, predominantly with complaints about bull**** issues, than any other vehicle I've ever owned. It's having more issues than my kids' 2001 Saturn SC2 with 150,000 miles on it. I don't even bother talking with my dealership about my issues - not because I don't like them, but because I don't believe they are equipped to solve the problems I am facing. They just keep telling me that they can't do anything about it if they cannot reproduce the issues.
- I am already on my second transmission. There is an entire other thread on this matter elsewhere on this forum.
- My second transmission, mechanically speaking, is fine. However, the computer controlling it is not. It makes bad decisions frequently, often times leaving me driving down the highway in 6th gear (of 8) doing high RPMs on my diesel engine until I take action to "break" it's behavior.
- My always updated UCONNECT system doesn't work well on bluetooth with my always updated iPhone 7. It likes to randomly lose my bluetooth setting. It also randomly decides to play my music over BT connection at ~2x speed, turning all songs into Alvin and the Chipmunks '80s remakes. This issue has been since one month into ownership, and the best response I get is to update all of my software.
- My diesel regen - which already is a lovely inconvenience when it notifies me to keep driving the moment I am arriving home - has failed to initiate at times when it would be opportune to do so, like when I am on a trip with 600 miles to go, leaving me with the check engine light on.
- My windows randomly won't roll down. Or, at times, they decide they won't roll up. It may be one window, it may be all of them. Take your pick. This issue has been going since June of 2016.
- In addition to all of the above, I've been plagued with random fit-and-finish issues like the windshield cowl coming apart. Many of these things [aside from replacing the cowl] I've just fixed myself, because I don't want to be without my car yet again.
We purchased my wife's 2015 Mini Cooper S two months before I purchased this vehicle. She is known in our family to be abusive on cars [and gets teased relentlessly for it]. However, her car has more miles on it today, and has spent literally ZERO time in the shop except for planned maintenance. As a matter of fact, when it goes in for service, they do very nice things above-and-beyond the service - like when they noticed a bit of discoloration on a piece of plastic, they replaced it as a courtesy without even requiring the car stay longer. She gets a loaner vehicle that is another Mini of the same level or higher.
Me? I get a cheap Subaru base model with cloth seats and a low horsepower econobox engine, or a Minivan. I don't get anything CLOSE to the significant investment I put in my vehicle.
The thing is, I LOVE this vehicle. I sought out this specific model and engine, and I keep it spotless. I rely on my car for my work - I travel for a living and use this vehicle for work. The diesel engine is efficient, has gobs of torque, and the interior is comfortable for all the time I spend in it. I was planning on doing some light mods to personalize it - but now my only thought is either (a) buy the extended warranty as far out as I can, or (b) sell the car and get something else. I just don't feel like I should have to deal with all of these low-quality issues for a brand new car with this amount of spend.
I've opened a case with FCA. The people on the phone are very nice, however, my case [to them] likely doesn't translate into anything they're going to see as a priority. They'll likely review what is in my case notes and won't see much there. The context is lost between the lines because, candidly, it doesn't make it into my service records.
Ugh. I can't believe my ownership experience has been reduced to risk management. Anybody have ideas on how to reduce the inconsistencies with all the electronics acting erratically?