DD15 has been in the shop for 8 months. Need advice.

Need some advice from experienced owner-operators, mechanics, or anyone who’s been through something similar.

I’m in Colorado. My 2019 Freightliner Cascadia (DD15) has been at an independent mechanic’s shop for 8 months. It originally went in for what was believed to be a head gasket issue. The cylinder head was sent to a machine shop for repair, but after reassembly the truck still isn’t fixed.

Over the last 8 months the diagnosis has changed multiple times. First it wouldn’t start, then I was told it had low fuel pressure, then not enough power, and now I’m being told the engine is misfiring.

The reason I haven’t had the truck towed to another shop is because the mechanic has told me dozens of times that he’s “super close” or “almost done.” Every time I’ve considered moving it, I’ve been worried I’d have to start the diagnosis and repair process all over again somewhere else, so I’ve kept giving him another chance.

To keep my business running, I’ve been renting a Penske truck for $1,350 per week while my truck sits.

At what point do you cut your losses and move the truck? Would another shop even want to take over a partially completed repair like this?

Also, for anyone familiar with Colorado, do I potentially have grounds to pursue damages if a mechanic has had my truck for 8 months with no resolution while repeatedly telling me it’s almost finished?

What would you do in my situation?

 

I should mention that the truck is deleted so freight liner won’t touch it. Also do I have grounds to sue this MF for constantly lying and dodging me? For lost revenue, etc?

 

Also if I move it, do I have to pay this MF for the work he’s done even though he hasn’t fixed my truck? Wouldn’t I be incentivizing negligence?

 

I would understand that but technically he hasn’t fixed anything.

 

We’ve already discussed that he’s not gonna charge me additional labor than what we initially agreed to except for the replacement of the fuel pump. He’s kind of embarrassed at this point that he can’t figure out what’s wrong.