Complaint Review: DIAMLER CRYSLER/JEFF TEAUGE

IN 2000 I PURCHASED A DODGE DAKOTA, QUAD CAB, 4.7 V-8, 5 SPEED 4X4. THREE WEEKS LATER I TOTALED IT OUT, BIG TIME. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY I HAD THE SEAT BELT ON AND WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE CRASH. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEY WERE EXTREMLY HAPPY TO ODER ME A NEW DAKOTA FULLY LOADED WITH EVERYTHING THE FIRST ONE HAD AND MORE.

ALL THE PAPER WORK WENT THROUGH LIKE A DREAM. NOW COMES THE BEGINING OF A NIGHTMARE. AS SOON AS I DROVE THE TRUCK OFF THE LOT I NOTICED IT SURGED BACK AND FORTH AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS. I TOLD MITCH AUTRY, THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET IT TO DUPLICATE IT, SO I WAS TOLD! THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

DURING THIS TIME MY SON PURCHASED OUR THIRD DAKOTA. I WAS REALLY GETTING CONCERNED AS IT WAS GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENED ON THE HWY IN LANE CONTROL. AT AN ACCIDENT SIGHT, IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION AND SO ON. IT ALSO BEGAN TO HAVE AN IDLE PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD IDLE ANYWHER FROM 1000RPM-1500RPM. IT STILL IDLES HIGH AT TIMES TODAY, BUT I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO STOP IT. THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS THE JERKING OR SURGING BACK AND FORTH AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT WAS NOW SO BAD THAT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN 4X4 LOW.

I CALLED JEFF TEAGUE HIMSELF AND ASKED FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. HE REPLIED HE WOULD TALK TO HIS SERVICE MGR. AND GET BACK TO ME. HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. HIS SERVICE MGR. CALLED AND ASKED ME TO BRING THE TRUCK IN THE NEXT MORNING. I DID AND THEY CHANGED OUT THE IDLE MOTOR. I DROVE OFF AND WENT SHOPPING. FIVE MINUTES LATER IN A PARKING LOT THE TRUCK DID THE JERKING ROUTINE THREE TIMES.

I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE SERVICE MGR. IT WAS STILL DOING IT. HE TOOK A RIDE WITH ME AND WE SPENT THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES TRYING TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T SHOW UP! WE DROVE BACK TO THE SHOP AND MITCH SAID TO DRIVE IT TO THE BACK. I STARTED IT UP AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO THE BACK OF THE SHOP WHEN THE TRUCK REALLY BEGAN TO ACT UP. NOW THEY COULD NO LONGER DENY THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT. RIGHT? WRONG.

I WENT TO BINDING ARBITRATION. AGAIN THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACT UP. MITCH WOULD NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION, "DID YOU EVER RIDE IN MY TRUCK WHEN IT ACTED UP?" ALSO THE DEALER LIED ON THEIR REPORT TO THE BINDING ARBORTRATION BOARD. WHY, I DON'T KNOW, AS THE MONEY TO FIX IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THERE POCKET. I LOST THE FIRST ROUND. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD BE FORCED TO BUY BACK THE TRUCK BUT NOT FIX IT. BY THAT TIME I HAD PUT SEVERAL AFTER MKT. ITEMS ON IT. I DIDN'T WANT TO SELL IT EITHER.

I STILL BELIEVED IN MITCH. I ASKED MITCH IF I WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATE,AND HAVE YOUR PEOPLE INSTALL IT SO YOU WOULD KNOW IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY. WOULD YOU REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF R & R IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM? MITCH SAID HE COULD WORK THAT OUT. THREE MONTHS LATER I ASKED FOR THE RETURN OF THE MONEY SPENT ON REMOVING THE STOCK CLUTCH AND INSTALLING THE NEW ONE. I HAD TO SUE TO GET THAT.

WHEN CONTACTED BY DIAMLERS ATTORNEY WHO WAS A LITTLE WISE GUY, I WAS ABLE TO SHUT HIM UP REAL QUICK. WHEN I MADE THE DEAL WITH MITCH I HAD A SMALL TAPE RECORDER IN MY SHIRT POCKET AND TAPED THE FULL CONVERSATION. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT NEVER WENT TO COURT AND COST THEM MORE THAN IF THEY HAD JUST REIMBURSED ME. I NEVER WENT BACK TO THEM AGAIN. I THINK THATS HOW CHRYSLER DOES IT? THEY FIX THE SMALL THINGS BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MAJOR, YOU CAN FORGET IT!!!!!

William
BEECH BLUFF, Tennessee
U.S.A.