Complaint Review: Drive Time Aka Ugly Duckling

Hello, fellow rip off reporters! I finally have some good news. Okay, the noisy Dodge went back to Drivetime recon and they couldn't figure out why it was still making the noise after the rack and pinion being replaced twice, so then it went to a place called American tire for struts and strut bearings. They told me that the noise was not struts or bearings, it was still a rack and pinion problem. Recon told them that that was already fixed twice (actually three times, first after auction) so they sent it back to the Chrysler dealer for rediagnosis. They finally correctly diagnosed the problem as being the front wheel hub bearing on the right side of the car. It took them approximately 28 days to diagnosis and fix this car!

After about a week I had the car back, I test drove it thoroughly and it passed, no noise. I still can hardly believe it. I keep waiting for the noise to return. Drivetime's problem is that their onsite mechanics waste the customer's time trying to fix things they can't fix and then their recon sites don't want to take the time to find and make a thorough diagnosis when a problem persists. They just want the customer to forget about it and pay up. (which I didn't)

The only thing that needs to be looked at now is a rough idle, but that's nothing compared to the God awful noise that it was making. I'm basically happy with the car, but I'm still unhappy about having to do business with Drivetime. For the most part we are just big dollar signs to them, we're not people. And while the limited service contract (they call it a warranty, it isn't) helps a lot initially, it doesn't make up for the fact that even though used cars are used and have problems, they should run consistently for at least six months to a year before anything happens that makes the car undrivable, and if something does happen, they should provide longer service contracts, say up to one year, just so the customer is not paying for a car they can't drive.

I for one would never do business with them again or tell anyone I know to get a car there. Even if they offered me $300 off my contract!

Stephanie, I agree that I made an expensive error. I'm hoping it will be a relatively painless lesson in how not to buy a used car.

I will call them tomorrow and ask those questions, though with foreign speaking mechanics it can sometimes be difficult to get a clear answer. Supposedly they put in an aftermarket rack and pinion and sway bars, not really knowing what was causing the clunking noise. Then supposedly they put in another non aftermarket one,(a shot in the dark) Today they say they still need to work with the rack and pinion. They, being the Drivetime and Chrysler mechanics at a Chrysler dealership.

Are you a mechanic? You seem knowledgeable about diagnosing problems. The car is a Dodge Stratus 2001-20002 with 51,200 or so miles on it now. It had about $1100 worth of repairs done after they brought it at auction. It clunks on the driver's side when making sharp lefts and over bumps or inclines, otherwise it seems okay.

First off, you bought a used car from a "buy here pay here"....lucky you, that all you have is a steering noise. Hard lesson learned, ALWAYS have an independent mechanic look at it BEFORE you sign on the dotted line!!!

Well, in your case...whats done is done....you got a used chrysler with an annoying noise.

You say that "they" replaced the rack and pinion, did they say it was leaking? Have YOU seen this car on a lift to see for yourself if there where any leaks???

If infact that the rack was leaking, chances are that the powersteering pump was damaged.
If that is the case, that may very well be your noise.

I would ask "them" 2 questions...

1. was the rack and pinion leaking?
2. Did they replace the powersteering pump?

Also, if infact they DO replace the powersteering pump....it WILL continue to make noise for ATLEAST 500 MILES.....that is the break in period.

If I am off target here, please let me know what kind of car you have...year, make, and model....miles....and any other info you know or have learned about the vehicle.

I didn't get to take the car in to the mechanic on the 22nd. I did take it on Monday. The mechanic changed his diagnosis and said it wasn't the control arms after all. He took it to a Drivetime in Wilmington where they have repair stations and then he tells me they put in an aftermarket rack and pinion and were going to change it out for a new one. They then took it to a Chrysler dealership in Carson and guess what, after they put in the new rack and pinion, it still makes the noise!

Now today they want to take it for an alignment and are hoping those service people can specify the noise and its remedy. I am so angry that I may not have this car until Monday and then maybe not then. This is the fifth try. I have brought used cars before but never got one that had a problem that could not be found or fixed. I am ready to give this car back to them and have them do a contract for something else, but I'd probably get a bigger problem!!

I didn't get to take the car in to the mechanic on the 22nd. I did take it on Monday. The mechanic changed his diagnosis and said it wasn't the control arms after all. He took it to a Drivetime in Wilmington where they have repair stations and then he tells me they put in an aftermarket rack and pinion and were going to change it out for a new one. They then took it to a Chrysler dealership in Carson and guess what, after they put in the new rack and pinion, it still makes the noise!

Now today they want to take it for an alignment and are hoping those service people can specify the noise and its remedy. I am so angry that I may not have this car until Monday and then maybe not then. This is the fifth try. I have brought used cars before but never got one that had a problem that could not be found or fixed. I am ready to give this car back to them and have them do a contract for something else, but I'd probably get a bigger problem!!

I didn't get to take the car in to the mechanic on the 22nd. I did take it on Monday. The mechanic changed his diagnosis and said it wasn't the control arms after all. He took it to a Drivetime in Wilmington where they have repair stations and then he tells me they put in an aftermarket rack and pinion and were going to change it out for a new one. They then took it to a Chrysler dealership in Carson and guess what, after they put in the new rack and pinion, it still makes the noise!

Now today they want to take it for an alignment and are hoping those service people can specify the noise and its remedy. I am so angry that I may not have this car until Monday and then maybe not then. This is the fifth try. I have brought used cars before but never got one that had a problem that could not be found or fixed. I am ready to give this car back to them and have them do a contract for something else, but I'd probably get a bigger problem!!

I didn't get to take the car in to the mechanic on the 22nd. I did take it on Monday. The mechanic changed his diagnosis and said it wasn't the control arms after all. He took it to a Drivetime in Wilmington where they have repair stations and then he tells me they put in an aftermarket rack and pinion and were going to change it out for a new one. They then took it to a Chrysler dealership in Carson and guess what, after they put in the new rack and pinion, it still makes the noise!

Now today they want to take it for an alignment and are hoping those service people can specify the noise and its remedy. I am so angry that I may not have this car until Monday and then maybe not then. This is the fifth try. I have brought used cars before but never got one that had a problem that could not be found or fixed. I am ready to give this car back to them and have them do a contract for something else, but I'd probably get a bigger problem!!

In the ongoing saga of me vs. Drivetime I have a bit more to add. This is about my trade in a car that had a lot of miles on it, but I believe it was fixable because the car has a reputation for reliability and durability. (granted I'm probably the only one who would give a d**n) But to leave it somewhere so that it could be stolen and driven about until six hundred more miles were on it and so that it could get a ticket in Beverly Hills among other things is ridiculous. I'm getting all this stuff in the mail about where that car has been and I shouldn't be getting anything. Do cars that dealers can't sell or auction off, get "stolen"? If you are an insider please let me know.

I'm hoping that the noise on the car I bought is fixed on the 22nd, which is the promise their mechanic made me. On a good note he's coming in on a Saturday and putting on a part so that I'm not inconvenienced anymore during the week. At least some of them try.

Thank you for your rebuttal. I have never had a real problem with a used car dealer before so I didn't think about having the car checked before I brought it. Not many folks do, I don't think. Especially when they need a car fast and are used to hearing no. It's a very good idea and one I would follow once I'm done with this one. It's also a good idea to research the dealer at BBB and websites like this.

The thing is, I wasn't going to buy a car that day, only see what they had and whether they could do anything for me, I even offered to come back in six months with a nice down payment. Of course they wouldn't let me out of there and I ended up in a car that, although it wasn't my first choice, seemed like the best on their lot and I brought it. I guess I'm lucky the noise came up within the thirty days, which is over now. The G.M. said he heard it after they tried fixing it and would still try to fix it without cost to me. I do intend to have the car looked at by an independent mechanic, but money is very tight now.

The repair amount on their system inquiry sheet tells me that whatever was wrong with it when they got it at auction was by no means minor. What worries me is that they have you sign something that says you can't join a class action suit. Does that mean you can't sue them at all as an individual, only arbitrate?

Also get this, the trade-in I gave them (it was falling apart a little inside and needed minor work mechanically) was found on the freeway by LAPD, it was wrecked but drivable, with six hundred more miles on it and two tires missing, even though they told me it was going to auction. Lies!

You should take the car to a good mechanic and pay (typically about $100) to have them diagnose the noise from the front end as well as examine the whole car for other potential problems. This should have been done before buying the car of course but now you need some independent evidence of what the problem is. A car that makes strange noises like that could be unsafe to drive.

It is possible the noise is a simple problem, but the mechanics at Drive Time are not competent to fix it. Or it could be a major problem, and they don't want to spend the money to fix it. You want to know before the 30 day guarantee is up.

As for repair history, forget it. They bought the car at auction and no one really knows where it's been. A car that new showing up at a subprime place like Drive Time is highly suspicious. It may have been "totaled" by a severe crash, flood, etc. Then these cars are pieced together with parts from other totaled cars, e.g. taking the front half of one and welding it to the back half of another. Unless such work is done very expertly (and of course it never is) such a car is never going to work properly and could be unsafe. Your mechanic's opinion would be very useful in such a case to take them to court.

I want to alter the first report I sent. According to some paperwork I found on the car I purchased, the price I paid is a little over $4000 more than the car is worth Black Book, also it's more than they paid getting it from an auction house and repairing it, which I guess is okay. I know they need to mark up to make a sale, but I'd like to know what was wrong with the car that they had to spend a little over a thousand to fix it and why they can't find the noise it's making and fix that too. The car is nice and it does run, but when a car makes unusal steering noises, it just gets me crazy. I've brought used cars before with problems, the difference is you take it to the dealer, they find the problem and fix it. Usually no more problems.

Does Drivetime allow it's customers to see the repair history of the cars they sell? Are they legally supposed to? This would help either ease my anxiety or increase it, but at least I'd know what to expect from the car. Thanks.

I want to alter the first report I sent. According to some paperwork I found on the car I purchased, the price I paid is a little over $4000 more than the car is worth Black Book, also it's more than they paid getting it from an auction house and repairing it, which I guess is okay. I know they need to mark up to make a sale, but I'd like to know what was wrong with the car that they had to spend a little over a thousand to fix it and why they can't find the noise it's making and fix that too. The car is nice and it does run, but when a car makes unusal steering noises, it just gets me crazy. I've brought used cars before with problems, the difference is you take it to the dealer, they find the problem and fix it. Usually no more problems.

Does Drivetime allow it's customers to see the repair history of the cars they sell? Are they legally supposed to? This would help either ease my anxiety or increase it, but at least I'd know what to expect from the car. Thanks.

I want to alter the first report I sent. According to some paperwork I found on the car I purchased, the price I paid is a little over $4000 more than the car is worth Black Book, also it's more than they paid getting it from an auction house and repairing it, which I guess is okay. I know they need to mark up to make a sale, but I'd like to know what was wrong with the car that they had to spend a little over a thousand to fix it and why they can't find the noise it's making and fix that too. The car is nice and it does run, but when a car makes unusal steering noises, it just gets me crazy. I've brought used cars before with problems, the difference is you take it to the dealer, they find the problem and fix it. Usually no more problems.

Does Drivetime allow it's customers to see the repair history of the cars they sell? Are they legally supposed to? This would help either ease my anxiety or increase it, but at least I'd know what to expect from the car. Thanks.