The Truck -- The Verdict Is In

 I love my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500.  Yes, it's 20+ years old.  

I purchased it 9/4/2010. When I bought it, it came with a FOREVER WARRANTY.  The stipulations on the warranty was that I had to have all the oil changes and major maintenance services done at specific locations.  I chose the dealership where I had bought it.

I have spent countless hours sewing in the waiting area while my truck has been serviced over the years.  One year during a four hour major maintenance required $ervice I even took my Accuquilt cutter and cut out a whole quilt.

I had never hear of WARRANTY FOREVER before the purchase of this truck.  I asked a lot of questions such as, "So when I need a new transmission, as long as I kept up with ALL of my required services, WARRANTY FOREVER will replace the transmission, parts, labor and all?"

We finally put this to the test.  My husband and I keep vehicles as long as possible.  I'm not the kind of person that needs new new new.  Heck... look at all the quilts I make from fabrics thrown away by others.

On 12/6/24 the transmission started slipping on the way to pick our son up at school.  I recognized it and quickly shifted from overdrive to 2.  I didn't want any more damage.  Yep, after shifting in other gears and reverse I knew the signs.  I have been through SEVERAL transmissions on my FORD.

This is the first Dodge my husband and I have owned.  He's a Chevy guy.  But that's just his preference.  I knew I wouldn't go back to a Ford when I had numerous problems with the ONLY NEW VEHICHLE I ever purchased back in 1985 (which was a Ford).  This truck is our "test bunny".  I really like how it handles and the fact that it gets me up our slippery driveway.  

If you've made it thus far and the suspense is building, YES, the failed transmission at 254,325 miles IS COVERED by my WARRANTY FOREVER!  I am a little dissappointed that is all the miles it has on it.  (At least two of our Chevy trucks still run with 600,000+ miles on them.). Typically our vehicles outlast their rusty bodies from the Ohio salt on the roads.

My truck has been at the dealership since 12/9.  I had to wait nine days until the WARRANTY FOREVER went through every dotted "i" and crossed "t" to make sure every single paper was signed, dated and mileage/service was checked more than once.

Patience, loyalty, and perseversance paid off this time.  Whew.  $$$

Now the wait is for the middle person parts getter to locate the most feasible transmission possible.  Part of the deal is that they are not allowed to give me a transmission with more miles than my failed transmission.  After (probably) a rebuild transmission is located, it will only be a two day job to swap it.

After the "new to me" transmission is installed, I will have a one year/12,000 mile warranty on those specific parts.  After that time expires I will continue with the FOREVER WARRANTY -- as long as I keep up with all the scheduled maintenances.

This post is basically for my records and for some of my friends that have followed me on my Dodge Ram service journey.  Some of them have dropped me off at the dealership, listened to me complain for sitting in the waiting room for extended periods of time, texted back and forth while I was in the waiting room...  But thank you for reading.  I have learned a lot through this experience.