Complain about a product or service

Bledsoe Dodge

Dallas

Jan of Arlington TX (05/05/03)
I searched the Internet for a Pre-Owned Maroon 2002 Dodge Stratus SE. Autobytel sent me a match with Bledsoe Dodge in Dallas, TX.

My husband and I met with Michael Gilliam on Saturday April 19, 2003 after having filled out a credit application and a You Are Approved email from Laura Hinsen, the Internet Sales Associate.

Mr. Gilliam knew that we were credit challenged, due to my husband's computer business closing, however, he said that it would be no problem in getting approval for the automobile loan, and he would be in touch with us on Monday. On Wednesday, I received a telephone call from the LENDER stating that our loan had not been approved. We would need $1,000 more money as a downpayment on the $12,000 vehicle. I telephoned Mike Gilliam and expressed my disappointment to him that I should find this out from the Lender instead of himself. He made various excuses, and was quite abrupt with me.

Later that afternoon, my husband telephoned Mr. Gilliam and maded arrangements that we would some how come up with an additonal $1,000 down, and we would be in on Saturday, May 3. Mr. Gilliam said that would be No problem and he would move the vehicle off the lot and put it in the back.

Just as we were getting ready to leave our house to pick up our car at Bledsoe Dodge, Mr. Mike Gilliam called me and said, You can't have the car. You don't have a home phone; you have a cell phone. I agreed that yes, my husband and I both had cell phones. Mr. Gilliam said that ALL of their Lenders require a home telephone number. I told him that I would call him back. I asked him why he didn't inform me about this sooner, and he said he didn't know that it mattered.

My husband and I were upset because this was truly a last minute change of plan. He was on the phone with the Manager of Bledsoe Dodge Dealership, and he wouldn't help us. He turned us over to David Farrow, the Pre-Owned Vehicle Manager. He said that at that moment, our car was being SOLD!

I had been on the phone with Southwestern Bell, and had gotten a telephone number assigned, a confirmation number, and a date - 3 days later that my HOME telephone would be installed.

Mr. Farrow said that Mike Gilliam told another Sales Associate that the deal didn't go through and he vehicle was for sale to other individuals.

Note: Bledsoe Dodge had a $500.00 check with the vehicle VIN# on it to hold the vehicle for us. The Finance Manager told my husband that they could hold the vehicle for 90 days!

Sandra of Dallas TX (08/08/01)
1999 Dodge Durango began with a couple incidents of oil pump diving to 0. Stop the car and restart and it went back to normal. Third time my 17 year old daughter is driving at 1:00 am on major freeway, oil guage drops, there's a loud thud and the engine cracked. Towed to dealership with receipts for the last three oil changes within 3000 miles (car had 38,000 miles)and expected extended warranty to cover.

Not only did Bledsoe Dodge refuse, Mr. Hurst laughed when I told him the car was not my first priority, recovering from a mastectomy for breast cancer was. We negotiated for 6 months with Chrysler and got no where. Extensive research through the Internet including NHTSA website revealed this was a consistent problem (oil sludge/engine failure) with this automobile along with all the other problems (windows, brakes, airbags, AC etc.) We consulted our manual which suggests oil changes every 7500 miles.

We relented, had our car moved to an independent repair shop and replaced interior parts to the tune of $4000. I'm sure it's too late to help us but feel others should know. Lawyers we consulted said we had a legitimate complaint but supreme court rulings protected the big auto makers and declined class action help.

Sandra of Dallas writes (8/8/01):
The problems with my 1999 Dodge Durango began with a couple incidents of oil pump diving to 0. Stop the car and restart and it went back to normal. Third time my 17-year-old daughter is driving at 1:00 am on major freeway, oil guage drops, there's a loud thud and the engine cracked.

Towed to dealership with receipts for the last three oil changes within 3000 miles (car had 38,000 miles)and expected extended warranty to cover. Not only did Bledsoe Dodge refuse, Mr. Hurst laughed when I told him the car was not my first priority, recovering from a mastectomy for breast cancer was. We negotiated for 6 months with Chrysler and got nowhere.

Extensive research through the Internet including NHTSA website revealed this was a consistent problem (oil sludge/engine failure) with this automobile along with all the other problems (windows, brakes, airbags, AC etc.) We consulted our manual which suggests oil changes every 7500 miles. We relented, had our car moved to an independent repair shop and replaced interior parts to the tune of $4000. I'm sure it's too late to help us but feel others should know.

Lawyers we consulted said we had a legitimate complaint but Supreme Court rulings protected the big automakers and declined class action help. We have our car back but the passenger window no longer works. I assume we will have to deal with a dealer again. Others we know of with all their oil change receipts were accused of lying or "manufacturing" receipts for proof.

Any help you could give consumers would be great. I believe I'm driving a dangerous automobile but do not know how to get out from under my lease. The $4000 in repairs, $2000 in rentals, medical costs for breast cancer, and daughter going to college have made it impossible to take another major financial hit on this car.

It's true that the conservative Justices have pretty well shredded consumer class actions but Sandra could -- and should -- go after Daimler Chrysler and her local dealer in Small Claims Court.

Back to the top | Dealers