Dealer put 40 miles on truck, is that normal?

[SALEEN961]

Driving your truck 40 miles does seem excessive at first glance, but this is probably just an issue of how the information was communicated and how expectations were set. For minor maintenance and repairs, I typically drive vehicles less than 10 miles. For a transmission service, cooling system repair, or drivablilty issue, 15-20 miles is more typical.

If the service writer didn't charge you for the inspection, it's entirely possible that the person doing it was not paid to do one at all. In cases like this where the work is being done for free, many service writers will ask techs to take a vehicle on a long drive when they go to lunch or run errands. This isn't ideal, but most customers don't want to pay to have a thorough inspection done under warranty, and the techs don't want to work for free.

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[UGADawg96]

Was it 40 miles for 40 kilometers ?

 

[flatag]

This is another reason you need a dash cam. The dash cam would give you all the evidence you need.

 

[Henfield]

 

[780]

Was it 40 miles for 40 kilometers ?

40 miles - 60 kilometers. I did the conversion to miles cause I think most of the folks here are from the US.

Driving your truck 40 miles does seem excessive at first glance, but this is probably just an issue of how the information was communicated and how expectations were set. For minor maintenance and repairs, I typically drive vehicles less than 10 miles. For a transmission service, cooling system repair, or drivablilty issue, 15-20 miles is more typical.

If the service writer didn't charge you for the inspection, it's entirely possible that the person doing it was not paid to do one at all. In cases like this where the work is being done for free, many service writers will ask techs to take a vehicle on a long drive when they go to lunch or run errands. This isn't ideal, but most customers don't want to pay to have a thorough inspection done under warranty, and the techs don't want to work for free.

I paid $150 for the inspection plus $99 for the works oil change package. I asked them to do an inspection as my bumper to bumper warranty is about to expire. I did not have any drivability issues that needed to be checked. 10 Miles would seem normal to me. I do realize they would need to road test it. 40 miles seems excessive.

 

[Kanuck]

I would go and see the service manager to start for a reason why. If I didn't get a believable answer, up the corporate ladder I would go.

 

[Kodiak]

40 miles is a lot but not crazy. Personally I would not make a big deal out of it unless you have time on your hands. I would go back and let the service manager know what you saw though. They may have a rouge service person going on little rides that they should not and I would let them know what I found.

They may not do anything, and maybe it is the service manager that is the culprit, but maybe other customers have complained too, and this helps route out bad actors.

 

[diambo4life]

Not a big deal but make note of it if something arises.

 

[780]

Not a big deal but make note of it if something arises.

I let the service advisor know when I first noticed it. I'm not going to chase it up the ladder or anything. I want it noted in case I get a red light camera or photo radar ticket in the mail. And I'll just take my truck elsewhere if it happens again.

 

[sbi]

I think it is super excessive.

And again - dash cam is the #1 item you need when you get new wheels.

 

[jhelrey]

40 miles on a highway around me is a 20 min drive there and a 20 min drive back. Grabbing lunch? Heard something and wanted to drive further? Quick errand on lunch?

 

[780]

I think it is super excessive.

And again - dash cam is the #1 item you need when you get new wheels.

Funny thing is I actually got a dash cam for christmas. Just been to cold to install it, lol

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mygekogear-orbit-951-dash-camera-0350757p.0350757.html?loc=plp

https://blog.bestbuy.ca/car-gps-satellite-radio/mygekogear-orbit-951-dash-cam-review

 

[powerboatr]

welllllll back in 1992
my wife bought me a NICE 1992 F250 super cab 4x4 long bed
she took off the day it needed some warranty work for a recall..for a wiring harness...sound familiar?

as she was sitting in waiting room, for a 30 minute job, she saw our truck drive out of the dealers lot.

this was before cell phones and cameras???

so she went and asked service advisor when truck would be ready and of course he said just a few hours as they were backed up. so she asked for a service car to go get lunch, back then mike davidson ford jacksonville would give you a demo for a few hours easy as pie

so off she goes looking for our truck and finds it at the little hamburger shop down the road.
so she parks the loaner behind my truck preventing it from moving, her words BUMPER to bumper.
she then sat there waiting....
it was not a pretty sight when the TECH, and two other employees walked out with burgers and stuff for the shop. she asked the tech about why her truck which was being fixed for a recall was here getting burgers??? it went downhill fast after that. she then went in and call the police to report a car theft.
moral of story...never ever underestimate a jersey girl and never take my truck to a lunch without me

 

[780]

welllllll back in 1992
my wife bought me a NICE 1992 F250 super cab 4x4 long bed
she took off the day it needed some warranty work for a recall..for a wiring harness...sound familiar?

as she was sitting in waiting room, for a 30 minute job, she saw our truck drive out of the dealers lot.

this was before cell phones and cameras???

so she went and asked service advisor when truck would be ready and of course he said just a few hours as they were backed up. so she asked for a service car to go get lunch, back then mike davidson ford jacksonville would give you a demo for a few hours easy as pie

so off she goes looking for our truck and finds it at the little hamburger shop down the road.
so she parks the loaner behind my truck preventing it from moving, her words BUMPER to bumper.
she then sat there waiting....
it was not a pretty sight when the TECH, and two other employees walked out with burgers and stuff for the shop. she asked the tech about why her truck which was being fixed for a recall was here getting burgers??? it went downhill fast after that. she then went in and call the police to report a car theft.
moral of story...never ever underestimate a jersey girl and never take my truck to a lunch without me

Amazing! So what ended up happening?

 

[powerboatr]

Amazing! So what ended up happening?

truck was fixed and we never ever ever had issue with that dealer. apologies all around, yada yada

not sure if techs got hammered, but i am sure it was ugly afterwards.

we always had loaners right up when ever truck had to come in for service. remember the taurus wagons?? we had one of a weekend so we could tow our boat to the ramp.
which in 92 was very rare, it only had 2 warranty issues and repairs over its ten years of ownership
one ac fix and one Throttle position sensor.

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