10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
41,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
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problem #1

May 132007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4.7 HEMI

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 'Off Road' truck with a Hemi purchased at BOB MARIANO JEEP DODGE, CONCORD, NH. I paid just over $20,000.00 for it. Recently the rains caused some standing water on the roads. I drove through a puddle about 8-10" deep with the truck, the motor blew. This is supposed to be a 4X4 'OFF ROAD' Vehicle and it's never even been off Road! If you look at the design of these trucks, you'll find the real issue is design, the air intake sits BELOW the motor, IN FRONT of the front tire, it's the only vehicle designed that way. The result was water sucked up into the air intake from a little 8" puddle splash.

I had paid over $2000.00 for the 'Top of the Line' maximum care warranty, and they covered NOTHING! I have brought the vehicle in for service several times before on a warranty related issue, all I ever get is an excuse why I have to pay. the last time it was for rotted power steering hoses, and they told me I got it in a week too late to be covered, these hoses were pretty well shot and leaked the fluid just about dry, this kind of thing doesn't happen in a week's time, that was a $400 job I had to pay for.

I just paid them over $5000.00 to put another motor in it after the puddle incident, but when they did the quote it was for 16 hours, this INCLUDED time for taking my original parts off of the blown motor, and putting them on the replaced engine block.

There was no reason not to put back my original good parts. They charged the company over $5000.00 and myself an additional $300.00 after telling me it was about $200 on the phone, and adding another $100 for working on a check engine light problem, I guess they gave up after an hour because the light is still on constant, $100 and it was never fixed.

They out right stole my other parts that they were supposed to re-install, like my Alternator, AC Pump, Air intake, all the parts from the top of the motor were not my parts it went in with, they were now old rusty and used from the used motor block that had been sitting for who knows how long, the motor itself is covered in rust, dirt and it raps. It amazes me, They just left the junk stuff on the used motor and stole my perfectly 'Good' parts, why not take my CD player as well, you already stole my money, but stripping my vehicles parts? That's out right STEALING!

The sales guy's thought the whole thing was pretty funny, as I was leaving one told me "We got your Money again, have a great weekend sucker", he was upset that I had told one of his customers to beware.

The biggest problem with these guys in addition to just being crooks, is they are so cocky about it when you catch them and their rip-offs, they actually laugh about it, well, I suppose why not, after all they seem to get away with it.

They even sent me a postcard to try to get me to buy a new truck from them before this happened, it features 'My Truck' (same make, model, year, etc.) driving through the ocean! It's just amazing how these crooks take advantage of people through deceptive advertising, making the truck look like it can handle the 'off road', I can tell you all, if you did this you would blow the motor, trust me I did it in less water than shown here.

As it stands now, myself and my insurance company have been ripped off for more than $10,000.00 on a $20,000 truck between an absolutely useless warranty, Mariano Service dept. charging for work not done, and even out right Theft of my personal property, not to mention the indignant treatment and the fact that this $20,000.00 truck is in worse condition than when it had the blown motor in it. They never even replaced the $5 thermostat.

My insurance adjuster has pictures of my original motor with my original component parts (like the alternator, air-intake, A/C pump, thermostat, and every other top side component was stolen) I have pictures of the motor that was returned with the used old and rusty 'replacements'. At Bob Mariano Dodge They seem to feel pretty safe in these practices, even to the point where they will laugh in my face about it.

- antichrysler, Washington, NH, US