I really wish I had come across listing all the complaints of Fireside Dodge prior to purchasing my used car. I believe all the horror stories people have to say about this dealer, because I had a very unpleasant shopping experience with them. I'm glad I found this website so others can know the dishonesty and deceptive practices in use at Fireside Dodge Modesto, CA.
I purchased a used 1999 Volkswagen Beetle from Fireside Dodge in April. The dealership was advertising extrodinary low rates and a very low down payment on all the cars on their lot. So, I drove up there from Turlock hoping to get a better commuter car for my trips to work in San Jose.
I arrived at the dealership and showed the salesperson the ad that was mailed to my house, and he informed me that the advertised specials are only good on a select few used cars (the ad said ANY car, new or used)... It's just a way to get the customer in the door. He proceeded to show me which cars are eligible for the "advertised special". By the looks of it, the cars he showed me looked to be high-mileage previous daily rentals. He told me that since I was at the dealership already, he could honor the advertisement on any used car on the lot this one time only (a way to try to get me to stay). I proceeded to look around the used car lot and found that many of the cars were not up to par:
* Balding tires on a Subaru wagon
* Upholstery stains on three Neons
* Paint damage on a Dodge Intrepid
Just to name a few cars with problems that I saw.
And this is the average condition of their used cars they hope to sell!
I finally found a car without any apparent damage, a 1999 VW New Beetle that was parked out front. I drove it for a test drive, and the car seemed ok, with a broken sunroof being the only apparent exception. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the spare tire was missing from the car (the rim was there, but the tire wasn't). Apparently, the staff doesn't fully check the condition of the used cars before putting them on the used car lot... Otherwise, they would've found the missing spare tire. The salesperson said he had another VW in the back that he could pull the spare tire from.
So, being somewhat satisfied with the car in the apparent condition, the salesperson led me in to do the paperwork and to go through financing.
While in financing, the finance manager tried to get me to add on their extended warranty. He told me that if I decline their warranty, my interest rate on the loan and insurance rates would be much higher, and I may not be financed for the car without their extended warranty.
OK. I figured I'd add on the extended warranty and cancel it as soon as I received the paperwork. After all the haggling that one normally goes through when purchasing a vehicle, I realized I forgot my checkbook at home. No problem, said the salesperson. He could follow me home so I could retrieve my checkbook and give him the down payment. After all, these people will do anything to get your money. The problems with the car started the very next week.
I was told by Fireside the day of the sale that I would have to make an appointment to take the car in to have the sunroof fixed. After calling them time and time again, I was finally able to set an appointment that would work with my schedule. I explained to the service manager that my hectic schedule has me in San Jose Monday through Saturday all day, and four night classes at a local college in San Jose. The only
time I could drop off the car was on Friday morning.
The service manager assured me they would have the sunroof fixed for me that day, and since I would not be back in the Central Valley untill very late Friday night, he would have the keys at the operators' desk for me first thing Saturday morning (their service department isn't open on Saturdays). Fireside Dodge was nice enough to promise to pay for a rental car for me from Hertz for one day so I could drive to work while they had my car.
Saturday morning rolls around, and the opening sales manager, Kerry, cannot find my car keys on the operator's desk, and he does not have the keys to the service department, as he is a sales manager and not a service manager. I told him what a hectic schedule I have, and that I might be able to lose a day of work to return on Monday to pick up my car. He PROMISED me that Fireside would pay for the extra days for the rental. I was in a hurry to get to work that day, so I forgot to get his word in writing. Monday morning, I go back to the dealership expecting my car to be ready.
The service manager on duty informs me that they looked at it and had to get someone who specialized in sunroofs to fix it. He told me that my car was at another place getting the sunroof looked at and wasn't at Fireside. I then met up with Kerry, the sales manager I spoke to the previous Saturday, and he assured me Fireside would continue to pay for my rental from Hertz. I get a call from them the very next day saying that the sunroof place has to special order the parts to fix my sunroof.
Finally, after a week of runarounds, I get my car back, with the sunroof finally fixed. I proceed to return the rental to Hertz and claim my car. Two weeks later, I receive my Citibank credit card bill, and on that statement is a charge from Hertz for $420! Fireside ended up only paying for one day's rental, and Kerry refused to help straighten out the problem I was having with Hertz. His manager even refused to acknowledge my problem.
Within two months of purchasing the car, the following problems have occurred:
* Engine hood will not close properly and has flown up at me twice at highway speeds (has not closed properly since the third week of ownership)
* Electrical system has malfunctioned and the car alarm and automatic door locks will not function correctly
* One headlight is permanently out (electrical wiring problem that cost me $150 to diagnose and would cost me $300 to fix)
* Drivers' seat will not latch back to its proper safe position after moving the seat forward to gain access to the back seats
I have called Fireside Dodge repeatedly about the problems with my vehicle, but my complaints have gone unanswered. When I was able to get ahold of a sales manager, he (didn't get his name) even went as far as saying that their extended warranty covers only the powertrain (engine, transmission), and that the extended warranty they sold me would not cover the problems I described above.
At this point, I decide to cancel the warranty, seeing that Fireside has refused to fix the car. On a brighter note, Dodge USA cancelled my extended warranty and applied the $1695 to the car balance. I strongly recommend anybody against purchasing a used car from Fireside Dodge. Your life may depend on it.
I have incurred the following unnecessary expenses with this vehicle:
* $420 from Hertz
* $150 diagnostic charge for the headlight
* $30 (est.) in fuel costs back and forth from Turlock to Modesto to be given the runaround on my car
* 2 days' worth of work
AND emotional trauma having the engine hood fly up at highway speeds, endangering my life and the lives of other innocent drivers around me at the time.
Andre
Turlock, California
U.S.A.
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