I purchased a 2004 Kia Sedona Van on January 20. I drove the van no more then 15 miles and the Check Engine Light came on. I called Pete my salesman and explained this to him the next day. He said it was probably just a loose fuel cap so I secured the cap and reset the computer only to have it come on again. I bought a new fuel cap and again the check engine light came back on.
I took the van to my mechanic the next day only to find that there was an EVAP code from the van computer saying there was some kind of a pressure leak in the vans fuel system. At this time he noted that my serpentine belt was worn out and my crankshaft/idler pulley area of the engine was making noise. It was making some sound when I got the van and just got worse within a short time. (Was probably greased to quite)
I call the dealer and notified Jana in customer service of my concerns about the Check engine light and idler-arm/pulley area noise and was told to get an estimate and fax it in. I drove 70 miles round trip to get the estimate and sent it to Jana and was later told by Jana that I could get the work done and send her the paid invoice for reimbursement. It took over a week to get an appointment and in that time I had further trouble with the vans air conditioner unit and again called customer care and spoke to Jana.
This time my mechanic looked at the vans A/C unit and ran a test and found the system was low on the T32 coolant or what ever its called. He added 1 pound to bring it back up to 2.4 pounds it should have had. With the car only 4 years old you have to ask just how would it get so low so fast with out having a leak? I paid $42.50 to have the A/C system recharged.
The next time I called to speak with Jana, Frank answered the phone from Sales and informed me that I would not be able to have the repairs done outside the dealer as I was originally promised. When I went to pay my mechanic for the shipping cost ($15.00) on the parts that were ordered I had the mechanic drive the van because I had been noticing a noise in the right front end. He said that it pulls to the right and need new struts on the front and probably more. He also stated that he didnt feel the van was even safe to be driven in its condition without further inspection.
Both the mechanics that I showed the van to agree that the dealer inspection should have shown these obvious defects. And they should have fixed or repaired them prior to selling the vehicle.
1) Serpentine belt (worn) and Idler/pulley area noise
2) A/C unit (Leaking)
3) Check engine light (evap code)
4) Right front makes strange noise during excelleration
On 2-20-08 I returned the Van to Towbin Dodge for the Check Engine Light and Idler-Arm/Pulley area noise and worn Serpentine Belts. The dealer said there were 2 codes on the computer from the check engine light and they fixed one that had never been seen before instead of the evap code that I told them was causing the problem. I feel they did nothing and reset the computer to turn off the check engine light. The engine noise was still there when I got my car at 6:00 pm (after waiting there 11 hours). Before I drove 10 miles from the dealer the check engine light came back on. I called and talked to both Jana and Kelly in customer service and was told to bring the car back for a follow up.
I arrived at Towbin Dodge for my second appointment on 2-15-08 and wanted to talk with Jana because I was sure they would never get the van fixed right. I had decided I just wanted a refund or to trade the van for another vehicle.
I saw a 04 Ford Focus in the lot and inquired on what it would cost to trade my van for it. At that time I was told that they would only give me wholesale value for my car and not what I had just paid them for it despite the fact that I have had so much trouble with it right from the beginning and had barely drove it 1000 miles. I tried to go upstairs and see Kelly (customer service) to talk about my troubles but Frank (GM) suddenly appeared and told me Kelly works for him and I wasnt allowed to talk with her. He claimed I wasnt where the customers were suppose to be and I had to wait downstairs for him to work things out.
Then Frank (sales manager) called me into Virgils office and began arguing with me about nearly everything I said.including the 3-day return policy. He said it didnt exist. Frank then said I have 4 choices 1) I was going to have to take $700. Off the price I paid for the Van to return it for a refund. Or 2) have them fix the check engine light only and not the engine noise. And sign some paper saying I would not hold them liable for anything more on the Van and never come back there again to buy a car or have service. I never did hear what 3 and 4 were. I requested the refund.
After being insulted and lied to I felt I had no choice. And Frank again disappeared. I went outside and a few minutes later Frank walked up and said come look at this. It was a older Ford Focus with 88K on it and a motor that sounded like it was ready to explode or something. He wanted me to take the car for my van. I asked him once again to just get me my money back and I would be on my way. Again he disappeared for some time. When he reappeared he said that I wasnt going to get my money back or my car fixed and the used car salesmanager would call me in few days and that I should leave right now. I told him I needed more questions answered and Frank replied that if I didnt leave he was going to call the police. I told him to go ahead.
I went and spoke with Virgil in the service center. When I questioned him about the leak in my air conditioning unit he said that they had ran dye in the system and it was OK. I knew this wasnt true because I had talked to Marcus (the mechanic) and was told he didnt do it. I left the dealer without one of the sets of keys to my vehicle. Curtis gave me back the set I had given to the lot boy but not the 2 key set I originally had given him when I arrived.
I stayed and spoke more with Virgil trying to figure out what was the deal with Franks attitude on fixing my car but it seemed obvious this wasnt going far so I finally left.
The fact is that both my mechanics agreed that the van isnt safe to drive and should have never been sold in this condition. I would also be happy to show you my phone records showing that I called Towbin Dodge 40-50 times and they called me back 3-4 times.including the day after the sale and just days later.
My experience with Towbin Dodge has been horrible from start to finish. The price was changed from on the phone to when I arrived with cash in hand. The vehicle inspection was a joke. Promises were made and broken. And I cant even tell you how many phone calls I made that were never returned. I have been lied to on numerous occasions and this vehicle is not safe to drive.
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