A DRIVER has issued a warning to others against buying a popular truck after experiencing a terrifying issue on the road.
Alicia Marrero found herself in a prolonged battle with a dealership in St. Augustine, Florida, after her Ram truck began suffering from a series of bizarre and dangerous problems.
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Documenting her ordeal on TikTok, via her profile @aliciagringamarrero, Marrero explained that the issues began when her 2020 Ram Big Horn 1500 experienced steering wheel lock-ups and erratic electrical problems, such as windshield wipers turning on and off randomly.
In the video, which has amassed over 210,000 views, Marrero shared how these issues caused her hazardous driving conditions – prompting her to take the truck to her local Dodge Jeep Chrysler dealership on multiple occasions.
However, the problems persisted after each visit.
The dealership initially blamed a loose battery cable, then a power control module (PCM) recall and later, a crack in the brake light glass.
Despite these so-called repairs, none of the fixes resolved the issues permanently, leaving Marrero and her husband increasingly frustrated with the dealership.
The situation escalated further when the truck’s infotainment screen stopped working entirely and electrical error messages continued to appear on the dashboard.
After Marrero attempted to escalate the issue by contacting the dealership’s CEO, she was provided with a loaner vehicle but was repeatedly reminded of its cost.
Despite her efforts, the dealership claimed they could not replicate the error messages – this, even though the warnings were visibly displayed on the dashboard when Marrero retrieved her truck.
Things worsened when the truck experienced a vacuum pump failure after the warranty had expired.
The dealership quoted a $700 repair cost – a price Marrero said she couldn’t afford.
She was advised to fix the issue herself but feared the dealership might later blame her for any additional problems.
At one point, Marrero was even forced to call a tow truck after one of the dealership’s supposed “repairs” failed to last, leading to it breaking down the next morning when she tried to start it.
Since the vehicle was undrivable, she had no choice but to get it towed back to the dealership – all for cost of $180.
Frustrated with the ongoing issues, Marrero took to TikTok to warn others, urging viewers to “stay away from the manufacturer at all costs” due to her negative experience.
Marrero’s story echoes similar issues reported in Ram recalls, as documented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
These recalls include problems with PCM-related components, such as misaligned capacitors and faulty voltage regulator chips, which can lead to communication errors.
Her TikTok post has sparked significant attention on social media, with many criticizing the dealership for failing to investigate the root cause of the issues.
Instead, they offered temporary fixes, blaming unrelated components like a loose battery cable and a crack in the rear brake light glass.
Marrero also described the dealership staff as “rude” and unhelpful, further compounding her frustrations.
Even after escalating her concerns, she was left without a permanent solution.
How to spot add-on fees at the dealership
The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on dealerships that charge buyers unfairly.
However, as many transactions aren’t spotted due to electronically signed documents, many added-on fees aren’t spotted. Here’s how the agency says you can spot them.
- Demand a physical copy of the sales contract or invoice, and read it carefully. Customers aren’t required to pay for add-ons they don’t want, like nitrogen-filled tires, paint protectant, wheel and tire insurance, etc.
- Be sure you understand the total cost, not just the monthly. Make sure the total cost is in writing so you can get an idea of how other fees play into the monthly fee. If it’s different from what you originally agreed on, the dealer may be adding fees.
- Explore your options for financing. First, check with your bank, as they can give better rates on auto loans depending on your credit. Bring a hard copy of your preapproval notice to entice the dealer to meet or beat those terms.
- If you’ve been charged illegally, the FTC encourages you to report it.
Source: FTC
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