New Truck Problems...Please Help

[md_trucker05]

I purshased a brand new 2007 Peterbilt 379 on February 5, 2007, On my very first trip, my truck broke down. The truck was at the dealership for a week to get the problem fixed. Then on the way home from picking up from the truck from the dealer,the fuel guage and rear audio control stopped working. Then later the clutch had to be replaced. Then just yesterday, the radiator started leaking really bad and once again, had to be taken back to the dealership and they told, that it is probably going to be another week to get it fixed......I am seriously sick of this truck..this truck spends more time at the dealer than it does on the road..my purpose for buying a new truck was to avoid all of this hassle and breakdown time...does anybody know what my options are or what I should do? Thank You.

[Fredog]

I purshased a brand new 2007 Peterbilt 379 on February 5, 2007, On my very first trip, my truck broke down. The truck was at the dealership for a week to get the problem fixed. Then on the way home from picking up from the truck from the dealer,the fuel guage and rear audio control stopped working. Then later the clutch had to be replaced. Then just yesterday, the radiator started leaking really bad and once again, had to be taken back to the dealership and they told, that it is probably going to be another week to get it fixed......I am seriously sick of this truck..this truck spends more time at the dealer than it does on the road..my purpose for buying a new truck was to avoid all of this hassle and breakdown time...does anybody know what my options are or what I should do? Thank You.

I would ask for a new truck and if they refuse, call a lawyer, there is a lemon law for cars, maybe there is one for trucks

[Fredog]

I purshased a brand new 2007 Peterbilt 379 on February 5, 2007, On my very first trip, my truck broke down. The truck was at the dealership for a week to get the problem fixed. Then on the way home from picking up from the truck from the dealer,the fuel guage and rear audio control stopped working. Then later the clutch had to be replaced. Then just yesterday, the radiator started leaking really bad and once again, had to be taken back to the dealership and they told, that it is probably going to be another week to get it fixed......I am seriously sick of this truck..this truck spends more time at the dealer than it does on the road..my purpose for buying a new truck was to avoid all of this hassle and breakdown time...does anybody know what my options are or what I should do? Thank You.

I would ask for a new truck and if they refuse, call a lawyer, there is a lemon law for cars, maybe there is one for trucks

read this
http://www.gazetteextra.com/lemonlaw060207.asp

[yellowcabbill]

I hope you didn't pay cash, but start looking into the Lemon Law. Talk to the General Manager of the dealership where you bought it, if you financed this rig get on the phone to the finance company. I had the same problems with new vehicles in my fleet and had to pressure Ford into helping me get rid of them. Get on the phone now and email everybody you can think of who may be able to help you with this mess. Good luck Bill

[Truckdobe]

Our '07 hasn't had nearly the severity of problems that yours has, it's just been annoying.... it's for sale, that was my solution.

I've had zero problems with cat (didn't expect any) and no problems with the rest of the running gear; the KW part is what I'm worried about... don't know what they were thinking when they made the latest changes.

Wish I had my '96 back, but in lieu, we are restoring the '87 and bought another truck to drive while it's being built.

[GMAN]

I think you make a good point that you don't necessarily prevent breakdowns or problems because you buy a new truck. I would try to resolve the problems first with the dealership. If you cannot get satisfaction from them you may want to get in touch with Peterbilt direct. If that doesn't work, I suggest talking to your state attorney or consumer protection people to see if there is a lemon law which covers big trucks. That may wind up being your best option if Peterbilt isn't willing to work things out for you. It seems like a long time for them to keep your truck. Perhaps they would like to make your truck payments for you while they have the truck.

[icedad]

Call 1-800-4peterbilt. Ask for Greg Cleveland. He has helped me in the past on problems and the regional will contact the dealer and you. Another thing you can do, go to the Peterbilt website and start bitching there. A couple of years ago you were able to contact the V.P. I know they had a comment area. When I was able to bitch at the V.P. chit started to happen. Tell them how you wished you would have bought an International or Freightliner instead of this piece of doo doo. He who has the BIGGEST mouth gets results.
Good Luck and don't ever quit bitching!!!

[floored]

http://mypeterbiltlemon.com/

site seems to be down though, hopefully they will get it back up soon, it was a site devoted to a lemon 387 and the owners personal hell

[furbis]

love the new avatar Floored.

[Porchclimber]

You're just being too nice to them.
A) Why did the clutch go out so soon.
There are probably more issues than the clutch and there isn't a lot of warranty on a clutch.

I can see a rad leaking on a new truck because lots of times the temperature differentials will cause some leaks easily repaired by tightening clamps.

If the rad leaks anywhere else on seams or the core, I would not allow them to repair the rad.
Replacement only or you're just looking at more grief and expense down the road.
By the way, it sure doesn't take a week to change out a rad.
In a shop that's a half day job.
If they don't have quick access to a new rad, they aren't much of a dealership.

The wiring in the new dashes are fibre optics now and can be a headache but then again thats's a warrantable item.

I would personally make a big list for what they missed on PDI and get them moving.
You might want to have a chat with them about giving you some extra warranty .
Start with the salesman who sold you the truck.
I personally have had good luck with new trucks but when it comes in I usually have a nice big work list for them and I'm a picky SOB.
I'll accommodate them in any way to get all the glitches out but I won't let them park it in the corner of the lot and play around with it when they have time.
You have to keep on top of those guys because they make money on the volume of equipment they move through the shop at an hourly rate, not on warranty work.

I've been told by some salesmen that I know that the plants are famous for passing faulty trucks onto the dealers.
They figure it's cheaper to let the dealer fix it in their shop rather than put it in the reject line at the factory to redo the work.

It's ironic that if you spend 120,000 dollars on a car, they're lined up at the doors at a dealership to kiss your butt and yet when you spend the same money on a truck you're lucky if they let you in the back door and give you a cup of coffee.

Good luck with your truck but you can't let them keep that thing sitting waiting for parts and doing work they should have already done.