[goldenankh]

Okay, so... I turned in my 2014 SXT Plus AWD 2 weeks ago for a Header Orange R/T Plus RWD with the Blacktop package. The dealer's porter told the sales guy that it had a pretty bad shake the moment he drove it off the other dealer's lot. They told me, after signing the papers, of course, to give it a week or so to see if the flat spots in the tires would right themselves, if that was, indeed, what was causing the issue.

Okay, 2 weeks later, nothing is better. I take it in, explain to the service center what the deal is, they balance the tires and claim it should "be good now." I get home (about a 10 mile drive) and it is still shaking. (*sigh*)

I drive it home from work tonight, on the freeway because I have a damn R/T and want to *drive* the damn thing, and I can barely hold the steering wheel because the longer I drive, the worse the car shakes. Seems to be worse than before I took it in to service on Friday!

So what could the issue be? They said the other dealer had it on the lot since April 2014 and it didn't seem like they moved their inventory around that often, so maybe the tires are flat in some spots? Could it be the rims? Anything else I need to insist they look at? I am worried that at this point, service will keep telling me all it needs is a balance, and I will be constantly going in with the car, which infuriates me. Do I demand they replace wheel/rims at their cost? I don't want to get to the point where they refuse to replace wheels/rims because "it has been too long and who knows what pot holes I hit," etc.

I can't drive it more than 30 mph without the shaking starting, and I feel like a car like this should not be having this issue immediately out of the lot. I am not too thrilled that they didn't take care of this when the porter told them about it, and allowed me to sign the papers before disclosing it.

Any advice or suggestions on what to do/ask/look into would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Part Deux]

You didn't drive it before signing papers?

Make sure the tires are properly inflated.

Good friend of mine, their entire family buys from one dealer in SE MI. I'll get the name of the dealer for you.

 

[goldenankh]

I've only ever gotten cars from this dealer, and never had a problem. Should have known it would happen at some point! Although, what with the roads being how they are in Michigan, I didn't notice a shake until a day later when I finally went down the one smooth, repaved road in the area. Then it has gotten progressively worse.

Tires appear to be okay, even when it was super cold here. Would really like to know what is going on with the car, since my last 2014 was pretty much 100% perfect!

 

[Part Deux]

Could always try facebook Detroit Area Modern Mopars for help too. If this dealer isn't taking care of you, find another one.

 

[Ddaddy]

OK...so if I understand it, the car has a shake when driving that is causing the wheel to vibrate. They rebalanced the tires but it's still shaking.

There are several things to check and the first is the alignment. Cars aren't fully aligned from the factory (they don't put them on an alignment rack, they just set the dimensions and let it go). I would have that done first.

The second thing (and probably more related to sitting) is the brakes. Since it sat for so long and the rotors rusted everywhere except where the calipers and pads are rusted less. You may have significant rotor deformation that is causing the shake. Does it get worse when you hit the brakes at speed? If so, then you can bed the brakes and see if it corrects the issue or have them turned to make them true.

The last thing is the tires. Have them rotated (I assume they did that when they rebalanced them, but maybe not). If the shaking changes or seems to move to a new location, then the tires may have a defect like a slipped belt.

I seriously doubt it's a rim issue, but by rotating the tires you will be able to see if it moves and then narrow it down to either the wheel or tire.

 

[goldenankh]

Thank you for the suggestions! A few of these I hadn't thought of bringing up. The car isn't shaking when I brake, but the entire thing is shaking once I get moving. I feel it in the steering wheel, seat, gas pedal and my sister said she could feel it as a passenger. Everything in the car was also shaking pretty bad, especially as I went faster on the freeway. I can also hear a kind of thump thump thump as I am driving, but I don't know how to really explain that on here.

So far all they have done is balanced the tires, and I don't see anything about alignment being done, and will have to ask if they rotated them or not.

OK...so if I understand it, the car has a shake when driving that is causing the wheel to vibrate. They rebalanced the tires but it's still shaking.

There are several things to check and the first is the alignment. Cars aren't fully aligned from the factory (they don't put them on an alignment rack, they just set the dimensions and let it go). I would have that done first.

The second thing (and probably more related to sitting) is the brakes. Since it sat for so long and the rotors rusted everywhere except where the calipers and pads are rusted less. You may have significant rotor deformation that is causing the shake. Does it get worse when you hit the brakes at speed? If so, then you can bed the brakes and see if it corrects the issue or have them turned to make them true.

The last thing is the tires. Have them rotated (I assume they did that when they rebalanced them, but maybe not). If the shaking changes or seems to move to a new location, then the tires may have a defect like a slipped belt.

I seriously doubt it's a rim issue, but by rotating the tires you will be able to see if it moves and then narrow it down to either the wheel or tire.

 

[goldenankh]

I tend to be the person that will keep on coming back and bothering them until they take me seriously and fix the issue, but so far I haven't felt that way. Just frustrated with such a shake on a new car. And sad. I really want to drive this thing and take it place! I have a friend at another dealer so I asked him for some advice, too.

Could always try facebook Detroit Area Modern Mopars for help too. If this dealer isn't taking care of you, find another one.

 

[Ddaddy]

Thank you for the suggestions! A few of these I hadn't thought of bringing up. The car isn't shaking when I brake, but the entire thing is shaking once I get moving. I feel it in the steering wheel, seat, gas pedal and my sister said she could feel it as a passenger. Everything in the car was also shaking pretty bad, especially as I went faster on the freeway. I can also hear a kind of thump thump thump as I am driving, but I don't know how to really explain that on here.

So far all they have done is balanced the tires, and I don't see anything about alignment being done, and will have to ask if they rotated them or not.

Your last description gave me another idea to check. The thumping noise may suggest a drive shaft/CV joint issue. I would also have them check this. Sitting could cause the CV joints on the drive shaft to become corroded and not moving freely as they should.

I would also ask that the Service Advisor go for a "ride-along" so that you can show him exactly what you are experiencing. A good ride is worth a thousand words.

 

[goldenankh]

Thanks! I will ask them to check that, too. I am sure they are doing the cheapest thing to try and fix it that they can, and I did check my paperwork and it was only a wheel balance. They didn't even check the tires, brakes, etc. in their inspection sheet, and the mileage in and out is the same. Will definitely make them go on a ride along, although if they actually drove it on the freeway like I asked them to do, there is no way they could miss it. This is one of the worst shakes in a car I have ever experienced...to the point where my arms hurt when I am done driving because it is shaking so badly! I am afraid I have going to have to get politely insistent that they actually check all of these things when I visit on Monday. I don't want to have to go in every other day saying "nope, try again!"

Your last description gave me another idea to check. The thumping noise may suggest a drive shaft/CV joint issue. I would also have them check this. Sitting could cause the CV joints on the drive shaft to become corroded and not moving freely as they should.

I would also ask that the Service Advisor go for a "ride-along" so that you can show him exactly what you are experiencing. A good ride is worth a thousand words.

 

[tgbraley]

Thanks! I will ask them to check that, too. I am sure they are doing the cheapest thing to try and fix it that they can, and I did check my paperwork and it was only a wheel balance. They didn't even check the tires, brakes, etc. in their inspection sheet, and the mileage in and out is the same. Will definitely make them go on a ride along, although if they actually drove it on the freeway like I asked them to do, there is no way they could miss it. This is one of the worst shakes in a car I have ever experienced...to the point where my arms hurt when I am done driving because it is shaking so badly! I am afraid I have going to have to get politely insistent that they actually check all of these things when I visit on Monday. I don't want to have to go in every other day saying "nope, try again!"

Go back and ask the service manager for a ride along, when he gets near the car, toss him the keys and tell him to drive. If it's as bad as you describe, there will be no way he won't notice it.
Your issue should get some traction then.

 

[JayRTMax]

+1 for insisting on a ride along. It's the only way to convince them there is a problem. If the steering wheel shakes, i would suspect a wheel/tire issue. I would think since it's brand new they could swap a set of wheels from another car on the lot to test. It won't hurt to put a couple miles on them. If they do have flat spots, there's no assurance they will ever fully work themselves out. It sounds more like separated tread to me. In any case, they need to make it right since they knew about the issue before you took delivery.

 

[goldenankh]

Just a little update! They figured out it was indeed the tires, and after waiting for the two dealers to argue it out, weeks later I am getting new tires! Can't wait to actually DRIVE this thing!

 

[WideBlueEyes]

Just a little update! They figured out it was indeed the tires, and after waiting for the two dealers to argue it out, weeks later I am getting new tires! Can't wait to actually DRIVE this thing!

Sweet, glad you got it worked out!



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