Back on March 6th of 2001 my family decided we were ready for a new vehicle. So we went to Eckland Motors and saw our van, it was well priced and I was told it was a one owner and the van was only 3 years old. The salesman and the owner of Eckland Motors stressed to me, that this was a great van and would be perfect for my family. So on March 7th we bought it and signed a 4-year loan. Within 2 months I called Eckland Motors and apoke with Mr. Eckland I told him since the weather was warm we had tried to run the air conditioner and the van dies. He stated that my warranty was over and he didn't think he could help us. A brush off. We put 9,000 miles on the van; by this time it was April 11th.
My husband came home and mentioned something was wrong with the van so I took it around the block. We knew right away the transmission was going. I placed a call to Eckland Motors on April 11th and wasn't very happy with the reply. My husband had lost his job when Ferro-Sil shut down and was a full time college student and we couldn't afford the money for a new transmission. The transmission had acted funny since we bought it, so knowing that Eckland Motors has their vehicles serviced at Winners Circle (a local oil change place) my husband went to the business and asked if anything had been added to the transmission when it was serviced. Winners Circle denied any knowledge of this and called Eckland Motors and reported our inquiry. Nothing to hide?
I also ordered the carfax report online to see exactly who owned it before and what the history of this van was. Imagine my surprise when the carfax report showed 3 lease records. So I called the Illinois Dept of Motor Vehicles. The van was owned by Automotive Rentals in Naperville, Illinois and was rented out as a fleet vehicle to GAF Building Products, they got around having a fleet record on the title by having a rental agency own it and then rent it out to the building company! But it was still a rental car. Which was easily found via the information from the carfax report. Eckland Motors, at the time I purchased this van had a sign in the front window stating they carfaxed every vehicle they sold!
When I was told one owner I never thought it was a rental. Which legally they don't have to tell you, morally is another story. On Friday morning April 12th the vehicle sat on 18th and Main St. With big lemons on it. Until someone stole all the signs off of it. Which I promptly made more and stood with a sign of my own to make sure the theft of my signs did not happen again. Mr. Eckland agreed to fix the vehicle. The transmission wasn't the only problem with this van. I also gave Mr. Eckland a list of the major problems like the front end, blowing taillight bulbs, and the fact that we couldn't run the defrost or air conditioner without it jerking and dying.
I also told him that the alarm did not work which upset me because I had asked about it before driving it off the lot. It was agreed upon that everything was supposed to be fixed. January 31st Again, my husband made that dreadful comment "somethings wrong with the van" We went for a ride around the block. We took it to Ed's Auto, this time it was the Rack& Pinion. Seems that was the clunking in the front end, which I was told that it was looked at, at the time the transmission was replaced and nothing was found wrong! It seems the front end was never even looked at. Then 2 days later the van breaks down in the worst snowstorm of the year. We have it looked at seems the fuel filter was clogged, they replace the fuel filter, clear the codes and shut off the service engine soon light which had come on after the breakdown. We thought it was fixed until it rained and it wouldn't run. So we get a complete tune-up, get the light cleared and think its fixed.
One week later it rains again and the van will not start. It seems the battery is dead. We fork out $80 bucks for a new battery. Thinking that it is finally fixed. We finally put 2 and 2 together and figured out it was breaking down when it was wet outside. Every time it rains our "fair weathered vehicle" will not run. It seems it is an electrical problem which explains a majority of what is wrong with it like blowing tail light bulbs, surging when running the defrost or air conditioner. It has had this electrical problem since we bought it and has progressively gotten worse to the point of not running in rain, snow or humidity. When I went to Eckland Motors when the transmission went out I asked for a replacement vehicle because of all the problems this van had and because it is a lemon. If at that time Mr. Galen Eckland had honored my request, we would not be in this position today.
So, at this point we still owe on it for 2 more years, and we can drive it only on days when it isn't raining, snowing or the humidity isn't high. A reliable vehicle it is not! When I paid over $15,000 w/tax and license for this van I thought I was buying something that would last. I am not picky, if it would last until its paid off I would be grateful. I realize I bought this van 2 years ago, but I have been lied to since the beginning. It has had this major electrical problem since we bought it.
I am all for paying for upkeep, it costs money to own a vehicle. But I should not have been lied to repeatedly. Thank God we have our $1000 second car (which was not purchased at Eckland Motors) or we would be in big trouble! The only problem is our family cannot fit into a four-passenger vehicle, so on rainy days we all cannot go anywhere together. That is why we bought a mini-van. This van is broke down more than it runs. All I really want is a reliable vehicle, I make those big payments every month and I don't even have that. Next time I will know better. You can read more info at my website www.keokukcomplaints. Tripod.com
click on my 1999 ford windstar lemon page!
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