My husband and I purchased my 2000 Dodge Dakota from Al Deeby Dodge in Hamtramck, and the salesman who helped us was deceptively sweet. I found my truck and fell in love with it, but it would take almost 2 weeks for me to get the truck, then an additional 1 week to get my plates after my paper plate had expired. After finally getting my truck, we pulled it off the lot and I heard a deafening crash. It appeared that the tonneau cover altered the closure of the rear tailgate and caused it to fall open. No biggie, I thought, I would just need to close it harder.
Then, the BIG issues began. One month later, I was going to travel to Virginia to meet with a family member who was shipping in from overseas. My husband brought my truck in to our work to change the oil (he's a technician) and he found the tires were not just bald, but bald to the metal shards sometimes found in tires once you get past the entire tread. I was told an inspection was done, but bald tires after only one month?
At this time, it was also found that my exhaust system had a one foot section of pipe rusted through.By rusted through, I don't mean just a hole here or there, I mean an entire section gone save for a one-inch by one-foot length holding the pipe on. Oh, and it's dual exhaust, so it couldn't have been just one. Nope, both were rusted through.
After returning from my one week in Virginia, I had put around 3,000 miles on the truck and the service engine soon light was on. Apparently a fuel system issue, which I thought would be covered by the warranty I purchased. Well, it sure wasn't, I was told.in fact, it didn't cover a lot of things, or so it would seem.
We replaced the muffler, took off the rotted step-bars, even paid for the fuel problem. Then, the truck would stall and shudder on turns. I brought it in for a free 27-point inspection, at which point I was told a tie rod was loose, my transmission had an odd noise, I had an oil leak, and a coolant leak, and would need a major tune-up. I was told at time of purchase that the truck was fully looked over and only didn't pass for a certified used vehicle beacuse they had to replace my ball joints, upper control arms, and tie rods. Now, I'm not a rocket scientist, I'm not a technician, but even I know that a tie rod will not go that bad after less than 2 years and less than 20000 miles.
I brought it in to Al Deeby again, this time their new facility in Clarkston. Their service department charged me $80.00 to identify only three of the previous issues I have. They then misdiagnosed two additional, and didn't even look at my transmission. They told me the fluid was "low and muddy". And, oh yeah, it WASN'T COVERED.
I was so upset, I just wanted my truck back, so I paid the $80.00, cancelled my extended warranty, and brought it back in to my employer, where I had the free inspection in the first place. Well, a day ago, I got the plan provisions for my warranty, and guess what? The transmission should have been covered unless the fluid was contaminated, so they said it was contaminated. No doubt to get a little extra out of a "naive little girl".
When I bought the truck, I was charged $15,000.00 for the truck, warranty, "down payment", and taxes, title, etc. The truck is now, less than 2 years later, worth only $6,000.00. A nice little profit if you note that the truck was only worth between $8,000.00-$9,000.00 to begin with!
Oh, since I bought my truck, my salesman was let go. Did I mention that they steal money? Apparently routine practice from this "Five-Star Dealership." Sell 'em a lemon, get 'em bitter, then tell 'em to make their own lemonade. This is one consumer that can't be fooled.
Do not buy a vehicle from this dealer, they are not only "Shady" like our most notorious musician, but they are weasels, cads, and lizards. They will do anything to make sure that you are always kept in a state of confusion, and then they will do nothing to help you.
Renee
Waterford
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