We moved from NYC back to Ohio and needed a large SUV due to having 5 girls. After doing research we settled on the 06 Durango Limited for multiple reasons. The Durango is the highest rated in it's class by multiple sources, the adjustable pedals we're a necessity since she is very short, Entertainment System for the kids, Navigation for traveling and so on.
After hunting around for almost a month, we found an 06 Durango Limitied at Axelrod Sales & Service. They told us they we're a Chrysler Dealer and how all the signage and paperwork, service department and so on in Chrysler colors & signs. The paperwork even said Axelrod Chrysler on the Sales agreement/Purchase order.
We called ahead after finding the Durango online & viewing the Carfax that Axelrod provided. Bob, the manager (we later discovered) took the call and said the truck was out for service and it'd be ready by 1. We made an appointment and got there at 12:45 to see it.
When we arrived he said the truck was at the shop and on it's way. Finally about 1:30 we got to see the truck. After a test drive and looking it over, we advised him that it would be good if it got a new tail light, passenger's door mirror and right front fog light. Lenses & mirror we're cracked. Also advised truck needed tires as they we're mismatched, worn and one sidewall was cracked and the final item was for them to make sure it had it's navigation CD.
They agreed to all terms for the asking price and then moved the entire process along it about 20 minutes. Yes, good credit goes along ways to getting in and out fast. They put things in writing and raced it through as fast as they could. Stating they would do the items that needed done and deliver the truck to us the following day. We lived 50 miles away almost.
Well, the next day they deliver the truck. It still has a broken mirror, cracked taillight, no CD and same tires from the day before. A woman name Jeannette (pregnant) delivered the truck with a guy I had never seen before driving another vehicle. I pointed out the tires, taillight, mirror and cd. She immediately claimed that they had to order a cd as they didn't have one in stock and a mirror. Said they changed the bulbs in the taillight. I told her I did not care about the bulbs, the issue was it was cracked and filled with water and rust colored mud. She called the manager and he said that he would order a tailight (claiming he misunderstood what we wanted. I pointed out the tailight with the truck off and keys out, noone in it, he knew what we wanted done to the truck) and it would be done within 2 weeks. Said they would do tires when the truck came in for the mirror, cd, taillight also.
2 weeks later I call them to see if it's all in. Jeannette said she was just getting ready to call us to schedule it. Brought truck in the next day. Within 30 minutes they changed the taillight and mirror. Said they had a bad cd (I saw it, it was all scratched up, worse than the kids do to them). They then said they would have to do tires in a couple of days, didn't have 18 inch tires in stock.
Called 2 weeks later again (just before 30 day tag expired) and they said they had it all in. Went up, advised washer fluid was full and not working on truck also. They pulled truck in, came back and said it was $132.00 to fix the washer fluid, pump was bad. Asked about CD and tires? They said the CD was not in yet and acted stupid on the tires. Service manager went up to Bob (Dealer Manager) and discussed it. Stated that Bob told him the warranty was drive train only, the sidewall was damaged from a curb and it was fine. Then he asked if I wanted him to order the pump? I laughed at him, I admit it. Advised him I'd pay 10 times that somewhere else before I let them put in a pump they should have done before they even sold the truck.
Went online to check the truck for recalls and discovered a recall on the Dashboard that was a bad circuit and caused issues with the Durango's catching fire when they we're parked. This alleged Chrysler Dealership never even checked it for a recall, they just put the truck up for sale as fast as they could. I had another dealer complete the recall. Began a dialogue with them concerning the tires, one with a huge cut in the sidewall and Bob told me to "go to hell, I'm not fixing anythig on that truck. You only paid $16K for it and I should of charged you more!" Keep in mind, this truck at $15,900.00 was their asking price and priced comparatively to all the others with similiar mileage & equipment.
Next up, we take the truck during this time for a fill-up and it shoots fuel out of the tank filler tube after the pump shuts off. Thinking the pump is bad, we report it to the gas station. This happens the next 2 times and we discuss it with the Dodge Dealer that did the recall on the dash. They advise there is a recall for it on the 05, but not the 06. We contact Chrysler, they agree to pay for a diagnostics on it and state if it's faulty they will replace it. So, in it went for the diagnostics and it's then discovered.
The tank is bad, but not due to a defective tank. Rather, the truck has been wrecked and not repaired correctly. It appears the truck had been in 1 or 2 accidents and cheaply repaired. The Dodge dealer (not axelrod) walked us around the truck showing a door slightly out of line, another door repainted with sanding marks in it and no clear coat on it, the rear bumper has body filler and been repainted. Total Damage to fix this mess:
Repaint right side of truck, align door, replace & paint rear bumper: $1700.00
Replace tank, filler tube and so on to repair damage from accident: $800.00
4 New Tires: $615.00 (they were on special)
Washer Fluid Pump: $132.00 (they were honest on this)
Detailing interior from water leak of misaligned door (it leaked at the top) $180.00
Total Price: $3,427.00
Purchae price of truck: $15,900
Repairs: $3,427
Grand Total: $19,927.00
Now, I will admit that we bought a used vehicle and they are not perfect. However we did due diligence in looking at it, thought we were at a Chrysler Dealership, after all, that's what the paperwork said. Turns out we were not at a Chrysler Dealership. They had lost their dealership and we're just another used car dealer.
Axelrod in my opinion committed fraud by preparing and signing a Purchase contract on a vehicle that said: "Axelrod Chrysler" at the top of it when they are no longer Axelrod Chrysler. They then lied to us stating that they would replace the tires, never did. Did not provide a CD until after a month after they agreed to and we still had to drive 50 miles to get it. Sold a vehicle with issues they knew about, that had defective basic safety equipment on it, sold a vehicle that was wrecked when they received it (discovered they sent it to a body shop a few blocks from them for repairs, major repairs) and presented a car fax they knew was a lie as proof the vehicle was not wrecked.
Axelrod took the stance that it was a drivetrain only warranty and we could of purchased additional warranty coverage. During the signing, Axelrod never presented any type of additional warranty options, we would of purchased it if it had been offered. Axelrod has since dunned us with requests for them to do the service on this Durango. Here is my response to you on this Axelrod:
Your plate bracket has been removed from this truck, your little decal has been taken off the tailgate of this truck and thrown in the gutter, literally. We will take the necessary steps to ensure that the new dealership your attempting to get, Hindustat from India, is aware of your actions and thinks again about allowing you to sell their vehicles.
We have spent over $3,000.00 to do the things that should have been done to this truck to make it safe, that you failed to do. It has not even been owned by us for two months. The actions of Axelrod have cause a vehicle that could of killed 5 kids, ranging from 3 to 11 to have been killed when the truck was being refueled. An accident had the windshield gotten dirt on it and no washer fluid available even though it was full, a major accident had the tire with the cut sidewall blown out. Keep in mind that gas fumes can cause cancer, you have no idea how strong they were in this truck. Had someone flicked a smoke or a cell phone gone off this could have been a massive explosion.
Yes, due to the name on the purchase agreement we are filing a fraud complaint with the Ohio Attorney General on this also. Axelrod needs to step up and pay for all of these major safety defects on a 3 year old truck they knew about and deliberately hid or lied about fixing.
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