First off, I'd like to say I'm 19 years old. I just graduated highschool, and I just got a decent paying job. So I went looking for a nice used vehicle.
Greenbrier Dodge says they give every used vehicle a close inspection, where they all say they go over the vehicle with a "fine tooth comb. "Greenbrier Dodge sold me a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Pickup Truck.
Two days after having the truck, I checked the oil. Not only was I missing over 1 quart of oil, the oil was black. It had not been changed. Also, my front right tire was bald on the outside, belts were starting to show, and they stamped a new inspection sticker on it. It should not have passed.
I work at sears, So I had an oil change done to the truck immediately along with a allignment. That with my discount cost me about $55 The front right tire was supposed to be between. 02-. 08 it was a. 31 before allignment. I had to spend about $160 for a new tire.
One month after having the truck, they brought to my attention the truck needed new brake pads and rotars. Greenbrier Dodge should of fixed this in the inspection.
Not even a week after, Two of my power windows seized up at once. It was under warranty, So I took it back to Greenbrier Dodge to get it fixed, also with the transmittion to be looked at, it was making a "clicking" noise. When I brought it to them, they notified me that the truck had a recall on the upper ball joints. They fixed my windows, and also replaced the transmittion solenoid pack that was faulty even at the time of purchase.
To do that work, they had to hold my truck for two days, They could not give me the free rental they offer because I am not 24 years of age.
When the truck was ready for pick up, I went to get it. I started to drive it off their lot and it made a loud clanking noise from the front right wheel. Sounded like a wind chime in a coffee can. Since it was just a noise, I drove it to work anyway that day, I had missed two days of work for not getting the rental. I had to go to work. I pulled into the sears parking lot, which is literally across the screet, and my steering got really poppy, jerky, and was making that noise even worse.
I immediately turned around and took it back to the dealer. I had to wait yet another day without a vehicle.
I got the truck back the next day, and they said the noise was a "rock stuck behind the rotar" I'm not sure if that was true or not, they would not want to admit if it had been a mess up, but the truck was working for the time, so I let that go.
About three weeks later, I was driving down Yadkin Rd.in Chesapeake, Va. I was going about 35-39mph and suddenly my front right tire fell completely sideways. The truck felt like it hit the road in the front, and I went air bourne into a 4ft deep ditch.
I hit my head on the ceiling, plus the steering wheel hit me in the leg. I had mild bruising and inflamation. I was not able to go to work for another 2 days.
What happened was
A) The nut on the upper ball joint was never put on, or
B) the nut backed itself off due to the pin not being big enough.
None of the threads on the ball joint were stripped, and the pin was still in the bottom of the joint. How can that happen? The nut would of sheared that off.
Here is a picture for you to look at,
http://img96. Imageshack.Us/my.php? Image=1001491fk0.jpg
Here is what it did,
http://img143. Imageshack.Us/my.php? Image=1001485qu4.jpg
This incident happend on Dec 14th. Today is Jan 11th and nothing has been done to resolve this issue as of yet. The weekend before this incident, my parents were in the Pokeyno Mountains pulling a horse trailer that did not have a braking system. Their lives, along with mine could have been lost.
The dealer did not take blame for the issue, but they did ask a Chrysler Rep to come down and see if it was a Manufacturer Defect, we just got a letter in the mail this week and It was denied, but the inspector found signs of recent service.
Two days ago I faxed a copy of the letter to Sean, the Service Manager for Greenbrier Dodge, and they are still trying to deny they are at fault. They are hoping that I am too stupid to know any better, and that I will just let my insurance handle it because I get so frustrated. Im not going to let this happen.
Richard
Chesapeake, Virginia
U.S.A.
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