posted 11-07-2002 04:32 PM                  

Today, I took the car to a different dealer (closer to my house) to get the fuel gage fixed. It only registered 3/4 when it was filled and showed empty with 5 gallons left in it. I did this mainly to test the warranty issue, although it was annoying. The servicing dealer told me that the car couldn't be fixed under warranty because it showed a 9/97 in-service date. As I had suspected, the warranty promise was phony.

I then took the car back to Westborn Chrysler Jeep, where I had bought it. I met with my salesman, who promptly took it to the service department to get it fixed for free. It requires a new circuit board, which is now on order. OK, that takes care of the current problem, but what about the next time?

I mentioned my concern to them and they verified that the car could not be warranted as a new car by DC. Then they made it good by offering me the DC warranty for pre-owned vehicles in the amount of 3 years or 50K miles. They gave me the best one of the pre-owned warranty options (Added Care Plus), which includes everything like a new car warranty. The only bad thing is a $50 deductible per occurrence. They tell me this warranty cost them $1400. I will be getting verification on this in the mail from DC in a couple of weeks.

All in all I think this was a fair settlement, especially since I was happy to find an almost brand new Prowler for the money I paid without the warranty. I highly commend Westborn Chrysler Jeep for making good on their word, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a Chrysler product. Coming from a retired Ford guy, I run the risk of being accused as a traitor.

Krautishappy

posted 11-07-2002 05:04 PM                  

Jim B.

posted 11-07-2002 05:09 PM                    

I'd have their butts in court if they didn't cough up some money on that one. They lied and sold you a car under false pretense. There was no new car warranty, never was and I doubt they could claim ignorance on not knowing.

posted 11-07-2002 06:28 PM                  

Maybe I'm too easy going,

posted 11-07-2002 09:25 PM                    

It isn't a matter of whether $50 is a lot or not. The facts are, they sold him that car, AT THAT PRICE, telling him it had a NEW CAR WARRANTY that had not been activated yet.

Truth is, it had, about 4-5 years ago. Imagine going to a restaraunt and ordering Filet Mignon for $15. After eatting your meal, you get a bill for $350. Do yous ay, "oh well, it was a good steak" or do you raise hell about the price change?

Clearly, these guys mislead you. They owe you bud. If you just sit back and say, "oh well, such is life..." they will continue this practise. Why? Because they got away with LYING to you!!!

I'd demand cash or give them the name of my attorney.

posted 11-07-2002 09:27 PM                    

quote:

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Originally posted by ed monahan:
Kraut, that doesn't sound horrible to me. If you never use the warranty you will be a happy camper and it will all be a moot point.

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Ed, get real, ALL these cars have some sort of problem from time to time. I've had 3 and ALL had problems. I'd have been furious if I had to pay $50 every time I took one of them in.

This guy has a 97, the first year out of the gate and probably full of bugs.

posted 11-07-2002 10:43 PM                  

I think what they have offered me is a fair adjustment, considering the position they put themselves in. I could probably press it and win, but then I'd have to take the car to them only for service and it would always be an adversarial relationship. Under the current arrangement, I can take the car to any DC dealer to get it fixed. If the deal costs me $200-300 over the next 3 years, I'll still feel like I got a good deal and everybody is happy.

posted 11-08-2002 08:00 AM                    

quote:

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Originally posted by ed monahan:
Most customers are not memorable to service providers. The only customers that stick out in their minds are really nice customers and pains in the butt. You have to do what you feel comfortable with doing. Some people might prefer to be in one group or the other and some might just want to be right. I appreciate it when they call me by name and smile and want to talk about my car, since they are truly interested in it and not dreading seeing me again. JOMO

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Ed, how can just demanding what you were sold in the SALES office have anything to do with the SERVICE department?

Is the sales GM going to run back to service and say, "when you see this car coming in here, at some point down the road, make sure you trash it."??? NO! The service department would never even know about the dealings in the sales office. And even if they did tell them, as you said, they don't remember anything back there so taking the car in 2-6-12 months from now would make it just another prowler that needed service.

Whether a 97 is completely out of warranty or not is a moot point as they sold him the car telling him it still had a complete 3/36 warranty that had not been started nor used. THEY LIED!

He can justify it in his mind as being a great paint job or a great price but the reality is, he was supposed to get a great paint job, a great car at a great price, AND A COMPLETE NEW WARRANTY. An add-on warranty that will cost him $50 a visit is not the same. Clearly, they cheated him.

As for not wanting to rock the boat so he will be treated right when he takes it back for service. 1) I'd never take any car back to that place for service 2) they realize they can promise him one thing, and after he pays, tell him he gets something completely different.

No, I'd demand satisfaction or have my day in court.

Here are some more thoughts too. Perhaps the car has a wild paint job because it was wrecked (would this dealer tell you if it had been knowing what you now know about them?) or perhaps the OD was rolled back or it's a new one (again, would they tell you?) Perhaps there is more to this car having a fantastic price then just no warranty. It happens. Alot!

posted 11-09-2002 05:21 PM                    

If this dealer really is that small and they know they were able to walk on this customer and basically get away with it, he can probably expect the same when the brother or sister takes care of his car down the road. Personally, I'd go to any other dealer for service.

As far as the cost of ONLY $50 a visit, I've had 3 prowlers (2000 or newer) and have had the three in dealers a total of 11 times for warranty issues in about 2 years. That's almost $300 a year to you.

posted 11-11-2002 09:01 PM                  

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