A 2006 Dodge Magnum was purchased from Desert Dodge in Las Vegas back in March. It was a dealer demo and had 3,000 miles. We were told to go to dinner and that they would have the car ready and cleaned with all the fluids checked and replaced by the time we were back. We were also told that the car would not need to change the oil for another 7,500 miles. The person that sold me the vehicle is no longer employeed by Desert Dodge
On Tuesday 8/7/07 I took the car into Redlands Dodge of Redlands, CA to get an oil change for a trip I was taking 8/8/07. It was late in the day and they did not have time to get it done that day. I had checked my oil prior to taking it in and it was just above the minimum level.
That night I was going to make a trip to the store and heard a knocking noise in my engine for the first time. I turned my car off and decided that the first thing in the morning I was going to take it back to Redlands Dodge to have it looked at. When I got there I talked with Bill Olejnik and stated that I heard a knocking noise and that I also needed an oil change. I told him that I had checked the level of the oil and it was above the minimum level.
Today 8/9/07 I recieved a call from Redlands Dodge stating that the oil had never been changed and that according to corporate that would put it out of warranty because there is now 10,346 miles on it.
I called corporate and explained the situation and they quoted their two different service schedules that they have. According to schedule A, if you drive few miles then the oil should be changed every 7,500 miles. The car is driven one mile to and from work, two days a week on city streets and still under the 7,500 from when the vehicle was purchased.
According to schedule B, if you live in high heat and do a lot of driving the oil should be change every 3,000 miles. Upon contacting Desert Dodge in Las Vegas, NV and talking to Jim Banochi he states that they do not change the oil for 5,000 miles; which according to corporate takes it out of warrenty.
He contacted Redlands Dodge and they told him that I stated I added oil to the vehicle and kept driving. I never added oil to it. I checked the level of it and it was just above the minimum level. Which is still ok and the car should not do what it did. I do check my oil level once a week. There is also no oil spots in my drive-way.
My warranty was also to start at 3,000 miles as well. Which still keeps me in warranty with the miles I have on it.
We do not know the history of this vehicle prior to when it was purchased. The dealership had added aftermarket products to the vehicle as well. If any service was complete on it, it was never logged and they cannot provide that information. The oil filter was not changed because it still said "manufacturer" on it.
For all I know, Desert Dodge could have just changed the oil and not the filter so that they could be fast about it. They also might not have put in enough oil. Also according to Jim Banochi, he said that they would not have changed the oil unless it did have 5,000 miles on it, but we were told that it was going to be taken care of.
According to Redlands Dodge, they say that Desert Dodge should have changed the oil before selling me the vehicle. If they did, then they did not change the filter. According to my paperwork, my warranty does not start until 3000 miles. Redlands Dodge has stated that for the seals to be the way they are Desert Dodge must have run it out of oil and/or added too much oil.
Now I cannot get the warranty honored because of how Desert Dodge abused the vehicle before I bought it.
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