Water leak - Found Mold - 500 Miles

[Cutlass]

Long story short, my right rear sunroof drain wasnt installed properly which caused water to leak inside the cab.

I found the right rear seat assembly frame has surface rust all over it, the carpet is wet and I have found some patches of MOLD!

I have already contacted my sales rep, explained the situation and have an appointment to bring it in on Monday.
He started off saying how their detailer can do a "Mold Remediation" service on it and all will be good but I am very hesitant on this.

So my question to you all, what would you do in this situation? Try for a buy back? Let them attempt to fix it and have them pull out the entire interior on a brand new truck to dry out the carpet?

Am I just making this into a bigger issue than it is??


Truck is a 2019 1500 Laramie w/ Pan. Sunroof, build date of 6/18. Just picked up on 11/26 with barely over 500 miles on it.

 

[geotex1]

As someone with a SEVERE mold allergy I'd want a lot honestly, but not a buyback. I would want all the excess humidity removed by dehumidifier or dessicant - takes awhile to pull it out of seat foam. I would want the BODYSHOP to remove the interior, treat any rust on the pan and the seat bracket, and put in a new carpet (and anything else cloth that was directly leaked on). Then finish off with a fungicide cabin treatment. Couldn't be any other way for me as mold puts me in respiratory distress!

 

[syddog 2000]

How long have you had the truck, if you just got it and it was sitting in a lot since June your problem maybe bigger than you think. Personally I would try to negotiate a deal with the dealer to cancel the deal. I know some states offer a cancellation clause within a certain period of time. I have mold allergy's also and would not accept it.

 

[Gondul]

My wife has severe mold allergies and the AC in my old Dakota was leaking into the cabin. Once the fixed the leak, they sent the truck out to a mold remediation place and had no issues in years after.

If you are going to accept the remediation route, make sure it gets done by a certified mold remediation company.

Best of luck.

 

[User_3336]

OP stated...

Just picked up on 11/26 with barely over 500 miles on it.

How long have you had the truck, if you just got it and it was sitting in a lot since June your problem maybe bigger than you think. Personally I would try to negotiate a deal with the dealer to cancel the deal. I know some states offer a cancellation clause within a certain period of time. I have mold allergy's also and would not accept it.

 

[4sallypat]

Geez makes me wonder about the build quality of a 05/18 Rebel build I am looking at with the old engine price.....

 

[16RamHemi]

"A certified mold remediation company" isny going to cut it. I am a manager for an environmental contractor. Been there for 8.5 years. We do mold remediation (single family residences, multi family, hospitals etc) as well as other services. Your problem will be a company WITH experience doing vehicles. Going in and ripping sheetrock down to studs etc is not the same as removing an interior of a vehicle. Much more complex. Basics are: eliminate water/moisture source, dry out completely, treat affected areas (or replace) and put back with sufficient materials. It can be done right....but will it? The more affected you are by mold, the more involved you need to be in insuring its done right. Its your health, not theirs. Ive seen plenty "certified companies" do half assed work. Mold is also a very lightly regulated issue. Most states just have some weak standards (or even none at all). Biggest reason is due to it affecting others so differently. I have gone into some really bad buildings. But i dont have any problems. I have also seen the other side as mentioned above. I think you are in for a tough battle. Just read other threads about dealers and fca stating "within tolerance". If it were me it would be to remove everyrhing, fix leak, and put in new. Good luck.

 

[Gondul]

My truck went to a certified mold remediation company with experience in vehicles... the entire process was documented and everything was corrected with no lingering or returning mold issues for over 10 yrs. They 'cut it' just fine.

As always Caveat Emptor... do your research before you send off for an 'expert'.

 

[RamCares]

Long story short, my right rear sunroof drain wasnt installed properly which caused water to leak inside the cab.

I found the right rear seat assembly frame has surface rust all over it, the carpet is wet and I have found some patches of MOLD!

I have already contacted my sales rep, explained the situation and have an appointment to bring it in on Monday.
He started off saying how their detailer can do a "Mold Remediation" service on it and all will be good but I am very hesitant on this.

So my question to you all, what would you do in this situation? Try for a buy back? Let them attempt to fix it and have them pull out the entire interior on a brand new truck to dry out the carpet?

Am I just making this into a bigger issue than it is??


Truck is a 2019 1500 Laramie w/ Pan. Sunroof, build date of 6/18. Just picked up on 11/26 with barely over 500 miles on it.

Hi Cutlass,
We understand how concerning this must be. Please send us a private message if you would like any assistance while your truck is at the dealer for this concern. We would be happy to have a case escalated on your behalf.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Cutlass]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Dealership handled the situation very professionally and is ordering a factory build replacement.

While I was on the lot, there was another Laramie with the same drain issue....

Check your trucks everyone and if you had water issues, look out for mold!

 

[16RamHemi]

Awesome! Unreal that this isnt standard operating procedure for check right off the truck. You would think they would care about the product they are selling.

 

[Cutlass]

Awesome! Unreal that this isnt standard operating procedure for check right off the truck. You would think they would care about the product they are selling.

I'm surprised that with the number of complaints we've seen on this board regarding this drain tube issue, Ram hasn't stepped up and issued a TSB to dealers. But I guess the same can be said for a number of growing pains this new gen is experiencing.

 

[jkratze1]

This makes me think that there are 2019 Ram 1500s all over the USA at delerships sitting on lots with drain tubes not installed correctly. They are having leaks and getting moldy with every rain storm as they sit on lots and wait for a buyer. This is not a hard problem to check as they come off the assembly line. Unbelievable.

 

[Edwards]

This makes me think that there are 2019 Ram 1500s all over the USA at delerships sitting on lots with drain tubes not installed correctly. They are having leaks and getting moldy with every rain storm as they sit on lots and wait for a buyer. This is not a hard problem to check as they come off the assembly line. Unbelievable.

What's still a mystery is how they are popping out. Every one popped out I've seen has had witness marks on it indicating that it was inspected at some point. Not sure if later assembly pushed them out or some other action.
I eyeball mine every now and then to make sure they are behaving. Good way to kill time waiting on ~30 gallons to get pumped.

 

[drsubie]

Long story short, my right rear sunroof drain wasnt installed properly which caused water to leak inside the cab.

I found the right rear seat assembly frame has surface rust all over it, the carpet is wet and I have found some patches of MOLD!

I have already contacted my sales rep, explained the situation and have an appointment to bring it in on Monday.
He started off saying how their detailer can do a "Mold Remediation" service on it and all will be good but I am very hesitant on this.

So my question to you all, what would you do in this situation? Try for a buy back? Let them attempt to fix it and have them pull out the entire interior on a brand new truck to dry out the carpet?

Am I just making this into a bigger issue than it is??


Truck is a 2019 1500 Laramie w/ Pan. Sunroof, build date of 6/18. Just picked up on 11/26 with barely over 500 miles on it.

Curious...where is that 1st picture taken from? I have a rubbery plug that looks similar showing between the cab body and truck bed...

NVM, found the thread on here about sunroof drain plug popping out...which is what mine has (after nearly 2.5 mos of ownership, I just noticed this!)...nothing wet as far as I can tell...

 

[Maple]

Awesome! Unreal that this isnt standard operating procedure for check right off the truck. You would think they would care about the product they are selling.

You'd think - I went to a local dealer a couple of weeks ago to poke around and they had a white Limited with so much moisture built up inside, probably due to this very issue, that you couldn't see through any of the windows and another truck with a broken side mirror. No concern shown on the part of the salesman. I expected him to write a note to himself to have them pulled and fixed, but he just kept on walking.

 

[16RamHemi]

You'd think - I went to a local dealer a couple of weeks ago to poke around and they had a white Limited with so much moisture built up inside, probably due to this very issue, that you couldn't see through any of the windows and another truck with a broken side mirror. No concern shown on the part of the salesman. I expected him to write a note to himself to have them pulled and fixed, but he just kept on walking.

Yep. Its hard to believe. I have a feeling this happens WAY too much. Customer drives a vehicle, complains of an issue, salesman says "ill get that looked at right away". Then they put it right back on the line. No trouble shooting what so ever. They want the buyers who cant feel or see things wrong.

 

[RAM999]

This thread made me go check mine. Look what I found. The rear passenger side is not attached properly. Called my local dealer, 2 week wait for a loaner. Ridiculous I'd have to pay for a rent car on a 60K truck with 1500 miles on it. @RamCares any TSB on this issue yet? It seems to be a very common problem.

 

[MJP]

This thread made me go check mine. Look what I found. The rear passenger side is not attached properly. Called my local dealer, 2 week wait for a loaner. Ridiculous I'd have to pay for a rent car on a 60K truck with 1500 miles on it. @RamCares any TSB on this issue yet? It seems to be a very common problem.

I don't think the buy back will work but always worth asking. All of my rear seat brackets and some of the other parts under the rear seats have surface rust but no mold or dampness. Sorry to hear.

 

[Chiefcal]

Hi Cutlass,
We understand how concerning this must be. Please send us a private message if you would like any assistance while your truck is at the dealer for this concern. We would be happy to have a case escalated on your behalf.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

What's still a mystery is how they are popping out. Every one popped out I've seen has had witness marks on it indicating that it was inspected at some point. Not sure if later assembly pushed them out or some other action.
I eyeball mine every now and then to make sure they are behaving. Good way to kill time waiting on ~30 gallons to get pumped.