A long road between the company and I. I have now learned my lesson from this company, and will never purchase a vehicle from them, or Chrysler for that matter.
My wife and I purchased our first car from Cane River Chrysler. It was a 1995 Chrysler Cirrus, that was sold to us in 1996. It was a new car with very few miles, sold as a demo and marked down a little. It seemed like a very good buy.
Soon after, we noticed a few electronic glitches. The radio would reset at any given time. While driving down the road all lights, including the headlights would just blink off, and then come back on. We didn't hesitate and took the car to be looked at.
After a few days, I called them and they said to come pick it up, that it hadn't did it to them and they didn't know what was wrong. We picked it up, and promptly it started doing it again. My guess was that a five minute test drive wasn't enough time for the car to glitch on them. Still wouldn't a computer test show something?
About 3 months later, and "yes" we were young, and dumb enough to trust this car with a long trip, we went to Monroe and stayed the weekend, just a newly wed couple trying to get away once more... The car droke down...
We called a local dodge dealership and they took the car in. They relaced a small electrical fuel pump on top of the gas tank that had failed, and called us to tell us that the front rotors were worn and they needed replacing immediately. To our amazement, when told they didn't have the parts that day, they drove us to a local car rental place and rented a ver nice van for us to drive home. We were told that when the car arrived in Natchitoches, we could just drop the van off at Cane River and pick our car up. We did, and that was a plus for Chrysler Corp.in a whole.
We then drove the car for about a month without incident. Then the same fuel pump went out, and we had the car towed to Cane River Chrysler to have it looked at again. The car isn't 2 years old, and all this trouble. They replaced the fuel pump.
Keep in mind the warranty and extended we purchased when the car was bought was asking us to pay $50 each time it is brought in.
As soon as the car got home, I received a call from my wife, who said she smelled gas really bad when she got home and got out of the car. I looked at the underside of the car to find that the pump or something was leaking. I called and they sent another tow truck out to tow it back in. They fixed the pump, and about 4 months later the glitch starts getting worse.
Now I didn't mention it before but the glitch was always there, never showing up when in the shop, but it always caused problems. It just never was fixed. About 3 years into the notes, the car finally showed its butt and just started to totally shut down, not just the lights now, but the transmission, and everything.
It stranded my wife in Shreveport and once in Minden. One sunday morning, it stranded us at church, after most everyone had left. Luckily we found a ride home, and after eating lunch, I went to get the car, and presto, it ran all the way home fine. I took the car to Cane river Chrysler and they repaired a switchbox on the transmission and the transmission seemed fine after that.
Last but not least, while on vacation, the cruise control went out on the way to Florida. I called the 800 number on the sticker that was on the windshield for our Gold Service Contract to let them know it went out, because by the time we got to Florida, the car would have 100,000 miles and our warranty would be expired. I told the lady, that I wanted it documented so they couldn't say it was already expired when I got home. They give me the address of a Dodge dealership and told me to get with them, In Florida. We did, and the dealership said I could leave the car and they would try to work it in their schedule, but were not going to give us a rental even though we had extended warranty to cover the cost of the rental. I was PO'ed to say the least. Stranded in Florida, without transportation on vacation? We did what anyone would have done, and took our car, and had vacation. When I got home Cane river Chrysler said there was not documentation that I had called while the warranty was still in effect so I would be charged for the repair.
The electrical glitch was still there, but it didn't strand us anywhere. We put up with that car until 6 months after we paid it off. I was surprised to say the least that the car made it to that point.
My wife convinced me to buy another car from them, and we traded this glitch in on a brand new 2001 Chrysler Sebring. The old car trade in was enough to pay for an extended warranty on the new car. It was a very nice car, but we had the same problem of lights coming and going on the inside of the car. We just looked at each other shocked that this could happen on another car from the same place. Our second car, wow, time to play some lottery huh?
We did have a little better luck out of this car, but 7 payments left and the engine started smoking really bad. I took the car to be looked at, and with the engine rattling and making strange sounds, I asked them what I could do about it. They told me they would check to see if the warranty would cover it.
A week later, I called them and questioned them on what they found out. They said it would cover it, and they would order the new motor. A week later, still no engine. I told them we needed a rental and to find out when I could come pick it up. They wouldn't give me a rental, and when asked why, they told me the local rental places were all out of cars, and there was a waiting list. I was driving my wife to work, coming home, and going back to get her. The trip was a 30 mile trip one way, being made 4 times a day.
I finally decided to go to the dealership and see what was going on. They hadn't even started on it, and said it would take a considerable amount of time before they could have it fixed. I walked up front, and told a salesman that I wanted to test drive a vehicle. Only thing is my wife would need to see it. He told me to take it home and test it out for a day or two and let me know if I wanted it. I brought it back, talked to the shop, no motor yet, and test drove another one. Kept it 2 days, came back, still no motor.
The 3rd car that I test drove was a trade in from a lady who had bought a Nissan Altima, and didn't want it anymore. The altima came from Shreveport, and I told the guys just to trade my car in and pay it off, (I was tired of waiting on them) and I would buy the Nissan. It was a nice car Altima, and my wife liked it. We did the deal and I was took for about 3,000 more than a brand new one would have cost, and the other car was soon fixed after that, and sold at auction. Someone probably got a very good car. I also got a good car, but I have suffered since by seeing 2005 models for sale for 3,000 less than my year old car, and they have 0 miles on them.
All this time, I bought brand new a 1995 Nissan Pickup truck when my wife first bought her car. That truck now has 178,000 miles on it and has never been in any shop at all. I did take it to shreveport one time, to have a taillight assembly replaced because Nissan sent me a recall notice. The guy there asked if I had ever had any trouble out of it... Haha. It could just fall to pieces right now and never run again and I wouldn't say a word. Its definitely been a trooper. I have never had the first thing wrong with it. Guess thats why I decided on the Altima. Maybe I broke the curse, who knows. I definitely have more faith in Nissan than Dodge or Chrysler.
Only 2 things I can have against Chrysler. Every car had an electrical glitch, and they don't have customer service worth a flip at this dealership.
My beef is with Cane River, or as its known now "Varsity Dodge Chrysler Jeep" and its because of poor customer service and the inability to service what it sells, along with stalling tactics trying to wait someone out so they will buy another vehicle.
Danny
Coushatta, Louisiana
U.S.A.
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