History of a Grand Caravan 2007, sold to us with a defective catalytic Converter on February 1, 2009. Also the rear shock absorbers were completely useless, and collapsed preventing car damaged to rear chassis frame. We were fully confident of the good used car quality advertising many points inspection, and guaranteed satisfaction, on TV, and newspapers by CarMax Super Stores.
Two Day after we bought it, on Feb 3rd we detected an intermittent rattle noise coming from under the Car. It did not last long as it went away, re-appearing only at random. We look all over trying to find some loose hardware, but found none. On Feb the 5th of Feb, the rattle got stronger, but will fade away quickly. We wanted to take the car for an exchange to CarMax, but again, the noise disappeared, and had nothing to show to a mechanic at CarMax Car Service Stores.
On Feb 13, 2009, another situation began to developed. [Had it repaired at PepBoys.] The phantom rattle continue, on and off, but gotten worse, we decided to take it in to CarMax repair Center before the 30 days guaranteed expired, on Feb 30, 2009. He gave us permission, and issued a work order to take it to Clippinger Chrysler in West Covina, for a quick Converter check up using their electronic code detector for the Torque Converter that CarMax Service personnel said they did not have in their local shop, as they did not repair torque converters. We quickly took the car there.
The random loud intermittent rattle persisted, the engine shaking badly, lack of power kept on coming at any time at 65 miles/hour, but especially stopping in Red lights, and Stop Signs. But it will disappear. We finally decide to drive the car until the rattle became unbearably evident. Car had no engine power, and extremely hot.
Finally, very upset, we took the car to Victorville Chrysler dealer, in Victorville. The technician confirmed the very loud rattle, shaky engine, and documented it. After six days of trying to find the problem, I WENT TO SEE THEM, AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, AND SAID THE REAR MUFFLER RESONATOR, was defective, it needed replacement, that's were the loud rattle was coming from.I asked them if car was fixed, they said not, I asked to give me my car back on June 09, 2009. And asked to charge the cost of the non-repair to my account, but told them they could not charge CarMax Insurance, because the problem was still there. They decided not to charge either account. I took the car back, still NOT FIXED.
We took the car to Howard Muffler repair shop, in Victorville. I knew the man to be an expert mechanic, and muffler expert.
The guy quickly raises the car, and proceeded to hit the catalytic Converter with his glove protected fist, immediately said "The catalytic Converter core is broken into pieces, and need quick replacement because of it's extreme heat, but I cannot do it, only the Dealer can re place it because of 2009 Car, California Law"
We went back to the Victorville Motor Dealer. A manager by the name of Marshall, said "The problem is in the back of the muffler, in the muffler resonator, and it needs replacement."I told him to replace the Catalytic converter that was broken in pieces inside. He said "I cannot replace it, the Chrysler FACTORY will not pay for it, everyone knows they are in bankruptcy. Besides I don't think it's the Catalytic Converter, keep driving the Car, when the rattle becomes very loud bring the car back for re-evaluation, then we will check it again." By now, the car was getting extremely hot after a few about fifteen minutes operation; my wife began to be afraid of driving the car because it could suddenly become a ball of fire while driving me to the Hospital. We decided to call CarMax Service Department. I called on June 10, 2009.
CarMax Service personnel, instantaneously said, "The bad Catalytic Converter it's not our problem, it's your problem, it's guaranteed by Chrysler Manufacturer for 80,000 miles, so we have nothing to do with the repair." I told him he needed to help me, as I bough the car there just three months ago, he fumed some, and thought, then said "You need to call this number for chrysler, see if they can help you, call Chrysler Factory Warranty and see if they can help you." I asked him if I couldn't get help from the number, then what? He then said, "Perhaps, but I'm not sure if I can help you, this is your problem, but possibly a muffler shop may help"
On June7, 2009, I called Chrysler Factory Guaranteed service. A Service Representative listened to the car situation, and called Victorville Motors, they told him the muffler resonator was defective, not the Catalytic Converter. He called me back, then, I told him I have taken the car to two muffler expert shops in town, they diagnosed it, a broken in pieces Catalytic Converter. I told him to call Jeep Chrysler Dealer in Ontario. They agreed to check the Car. We sent car in Tow truck by AAA, because of the engine terrible high temperatures during operation. Ontario Dealer, they found a core disintegrated catalytic converter.
I have given the Service Representative in Ontario Dealership our CarMax Insurance Policy that we paid for during the initial car buying to pay for repairs and parts in case of a break-down. We thought if something else could be bad, but not covered by the Chrysler Manufacturing; An Insurance Service Representative working for the CAR MAX insurance Company, by the name of J. Zabala, talking to Ontario Service representative, she said, to me, "Mr Zabala said, will not pay for the two new Oxygen Sensors that Ontario service had replaced, nor the labor for the work, after the new Catalytic Converter was installed, all because, they affirmed the two old Oxygen Sensors should have fail to prevent the Catalytic Converter to burn, and break in pieces inside, therefore, the obvious reason, if preventive failure we do not care to pay our money, but the Chrysler, and the customer money it's ok to pay." I ended- up paying for the two sensors, and the labor, for a total of $289.61 to get the car repaired after five months of disgusting troubles.
We did pay for the sensors and labor, from our pocket, but we will need to cancel the CARMAX Insurance. California Car Dealers act as afraid to deal with the Insurance Service Representatives working for CarMax Insurance, from Chicago! I personally called CarMax Insurance in Chicago, talked to Mr. J. Zabala. I was surprise by his nastiness, his lack of Customer Service discipline, such an argumentative individual, impossible to deal with him! How can all this allowed to happen, unless the profit motive, like always is more important than honesty!
When a belligerent CARMAX Insurance Representatives have the power to call the shots to the Dealer, if to pay or not to pay, for a defective part removed from an engine by a qualified mechanic, after the replace component has been properly documented on the bill given to the customer to pay.