[Fire_girl]

Hiya Guys

OK, I have a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and a couple of weeks ago I was in a head on collision at 40mph. The impact was on the drivers side, pushing the front members back significantly.

The other party admitted to the accident being their fault.

My insurance company (USAA) decided to have the car fixed rather than replaced. They chose a company called 'rams autobody' in woodbridge virginia.

After having my car for a few weeks to repair it with supposed new parts I went to pic my baby up.

Issues? Oh yes.

Rather than replacing the members that took the main force of the impact, they cold formed them back into place. In short, they bent the already impacted metal members back into place and have reduced the integrity of the relevant structures further than that which already existed.

I have my mechanical engineering degree; I pretty much laughed at the guy.

What I want to know is; is this even legal?

None of my panels line up as they did before, and the structural integrity of the vehicle is no longer valid as far as I am concerned.

They did try to replace one spar, however decided to chop the old one in half and chop a new one in half and somehow weld the two ends together. This will result in a sheer force for sure on impact and not crumple as the spar is designed to do.

What should I do guys?

I have a new car that's worth **** at this time and I told the guy I was not going to accept the car in the condition it's presently in.

I really need your experience on this one.

Here's pics for you:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w319/andreauk007/IMG_0233.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w319/andreauk007/IMG_0231_1.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w319/andreauk007/spar.jpg

The spar that's in black and white in one image is the one they chopped in half and welded up with another half. I wasn't even aware that jeep sold half spars/members.



Thank you.

[Wiki-USMC]

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you weren't hurt too bad. A few years back I got cut off by a drunk driver and t-boned her at 45mph, I had to have therapy for a year after that.

I'm kinda surprised USAA is being so cheap about it, how much was the cost of repair? I've got USAA and they seen to really take care of their customers, but you did the right thing, do not accept it in the condition it's in. You may enter yourself into a small battle but they should restore your vehicle into near new condition before giving it back to you.

[Texas WJ]

Call USAA first thing in the morning and get them to send someone over to inspect the vehicle.

[airportdave]

As a 19 year USAA member, I'm surprised they're comfortable with this- they're one of the best insurance companies out there. I'd start complaining with USAA. When my wife had an accident as few years ago that significantly damaged the front of our Explorer, I insisted on OEM Ford replacement parts, and they obliged.

[----]

Originally Posted by Fire_girl

Here's pics for you:




The spar that's in black and white in one image is the one they chopped in half and welded up with another half. I wasn't even aware that jeep sold half spars/members.



Thank you.

Images present....

[Fire_girl]

Thanks dsl!

[Fire_girl]

Originally Posted by Wiki-USMC

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you weren't hurt too bad. A few years back I got cut off by a drunk driver and t-boned her at 45mph, I had to have therapy for a year after that.

I'm kinda surprised USAA is being so cheap about it, how much was the cost of repair? I've got USAA and they seen to really take care of their customers, but you did the right thing, do not accept it in the condition it's in. You may enter yourself into a small battle but they should restore your vehicle into near new condition before giving it back to you.

The repair cost was around 8.5K.

We have been with USAA for 21 years, and that's about to change. I am shaking with anger that someone would try and pass our vehicle off as safe when it's clearly not.

Simple points being that when you bend metal, you weaken it. If you bend it back, you further weaken it. Hence the crumple and load bearing structures are not sound. None of the panels line up and the hood will barely close.

It's just a shambles and I am not having the car back, even if usaa say it's good to go.

This will go to court, and I will win.

[----]

Go get 'em! Sounds like a crock to me also.

[colinzj]

Smells like someone's getting a kickback on this one. Dollars to donuts the replacement trim and lights are craptastic aftermarket stuff, in addition to the hackjob on the unibody.

For future reference, keep in mind you get to choose the body shop in most of the country—including Virginia. Ask friends, check reviews, look for I-CAR and ASE certifications. Good body shops aren't too hard to come by, but crappy ones are a dime a dozen. (As if it's any surprise, Ram's Auto Body isn't I-CAR certified; I just checked.)

Good luck getting this made right quickly! Sucks to go from a sweet new '07 to this in so little time.

[Fire_girl]

yeah, my hubby and I are not speaking now. He was the one that informed me that we HAD to get the car fixed at a recommended (by USAA) auto body shop. I remember the conversation, and I sure as **** remember saying "that doesn't sound right baby".

As for the hack job on the uni body, you are so right....it's terrible, and I am not accepting it as 'fit for purpose'. It devalues the car far more than the crash alone, and simply isn't safe. None of the panels line up and none of the trim looks right. A child of 5 with crazy glue would have done a better job at lining the whole thing up.

Now we are stuck with a piece of cr@p and a lovely huge car payment to go along with it.

Hubby isn't getting any for the next year at least!

[madrabbitt]

Well, i'm sorry about the wreck, but you're blaming the wrong people.

You are correct on the vehicle not being as structurally sound as before the wreck, furthermore, the panels should line up, as a crash repair should get the vehicle back to its original shape.

First, it was the body shop, not USAA that was the problem. The insurance company basically takes bids from who can do it the cheapest, with the contracted understanding that its repaired to OEM spec. The body shops tend to (especially non certified ones) just throw **** together and take the check to the bank smiling.

Heres what you do.
Call USAA (and yeah, they're one of the best) and get an adjuster to look at the vehicle. Do not accept it. Dont be a whiney wife and blame your husband. Tell USAA in plain english that you will not accept a vehicle thats not to OEM standards, throw your degree around if you have to, but i doubt it'll come to that.

One bit of warning though, due to the shoddy repair, they may just do a total/buyback and just give you the insured amount (minus deductable), especially if its a financed vehicle. The reasoning is, (and you're correct on this too) is that after the repair, it may not ever be back to spec again.

[Texas WJ]

One bit of warning though, due to the shoddy repair, they may just do a total/buyback and just give you the insured amount (minus deductable), especially if its a financed vehicle. The reasoning is, (and you're correct on this too) is that after the repair, it may not ever be back to spec again.

Ideally, this is what you want to happen.

[Fire_girl]

Originally Posted by madrabbitt

Well, i'm sorry about the wreck, but you're blaming the wrong people.

You are correct on the vehicle not being as structurally sound as before the wreck, furthermore, the panels should line up, as a crash repair should get the vehicle back to its original shape.

First, it was the body shop, not USAA that was the problem. The insurance company basically takes bids from who can do it the cheapest, with the contracted understanding that its repaired to OEM spec. The body shops tend to (especially non certified ones) just throw **** together and take the check to the bank smiling.

Heres what you do.
Call USAA (and yeah, they're one of the best) and get an adjuster to look at the vehicle. Do not accept it. Dont be a whiney wife and blame your husband. Tell USAA in plain english that you will not accept a vehicle thats not to OEM standards, throw your degree around if you have to, but i doubt it'll come to that.

One bit of warning though, due to the shoddy repair, they may just do a total/buyback and just give you the insured amount (minus deductable), especially if its a financed vehicle. The reasoning is, (and you're correct on this too) is that after the repair, it may not ever be back to spec again.

Thank you. I agree with what you have said.

Regards hubby....i am not being a wingy wife...I was kidding around. I know it's not his fault. He simply said what he thought was right at the time; we live and learn.

Again, thank you.

[Fire_girl]

Oh and regards the buy back minus the deductable...the odd thing is, I am not claiming on my insurance. It's all being paid for through the lady that ran a stop sign, and whom I t-boned (kinda).

[no-blue-screen]

Originally Posted by Fire_girl

Oh and regards the buy back minus the deductable...the odd thing is, I am not claiming on my insurance. It's all being paid for through the lady that ran a stop sign, and whom I t-boned (kinda).

If the lady's insurance company is paying, what insurance company does she have? The vehicle must be restored to the condition it was in before the accident otherwise you are not considered whole and the claim is not settled until you are whole.

If her insurance company resists, contact the insurance comission for Virginia. I live in Maryland and had a 5 month battle on my hands to get my VW totalled after an accident. If the lady has progressive......call the insurance administration right away....it will probably take you 4 or 5 months to get this resolved.

Good luck and the important thing is that you are alive!