Complaint Review: Drive Time

 Approximately 10 months ago I purchased a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica from Drive Time. Within the first month they had to repair the transmission and several other items. From that point forward, I have had too many complaints to list at this time. The chief complaint each time was always the driving performance of the vehicle it didn't seem to pick up speed well and seem to drag. In January 2013, I took a trip to Atlanta, GA and upon my return back to Charlotte, NC my rear drivers’ side tire blew out on the highway. After inspection by Wal-Mart’s automotive department, I was advised that both rear tires were worn in the inside and needed to be replaced immediately. At which time, I did replace both rear tires with brand new tires. Now, in May 2013(not even a full 4 months later) I am being told that both rear tires are worn again. The vehicle is very unstable especially in the rain it will hydroplane out of control. I brought the vehicle into Drive Time’s contracted repair location (Statesville Garage located on Statesville Avenue in Charlotte, NC) and was advised by one of their mechanics that the rear cradle was bent up pretty bad which was causing the tires to rub and wear quickly and also could be the primary reason for the car’s poor speed performance.  The mechanic inquired if the vehicle was involved in an accident and later pulled the Car Fax report on my behalf. The report did come back clean however; their mechanic advised both their client (Drive Time) and me that the only explanation for the damage would have been an accident that may not have been reported. Drive Time is refusing to repair the damage because “I can’t prove it”. I have been told by their warranty department  that I must have run over a pot hole which is possible but unconceivable because the damage would than only be on one side and not both sides with the most damage being on the left side. The vehicle has been faulty since the beginning and I have continued to be an honorable customer to them. I have made all payments up until this point on time and have had to alter my life on several occasions because the vehicle is not reliable. My payments are approximately $450.00 per month on a 2006 vehicle with over 100,000 miles and I still owe about $15,000. The repairs are going to cost me approximately $1500.00 plus the cost of new tires and I simply can not afford to pay the fee plus a steep monthly payment. The true issue is they sold me a lemon and NC does not have a used car lemon law other than the federal law known as Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act which only applies to vehicles that are still under the original manufactures warranty which is why all of these “buy here pay here” companies are cashing in big time in this state. I researched Drive Time on the BBB website and there are so many customers just like myself who are being taken for a negative financial ride by this company. I trusted Drive Time to help me rebuild my credit and to provide me a quality vehicle to transport my family around in. They reeled me in to the purchase with a promise of a great warranty program but that too was a lie every time my vehicle needed repairs I had to fight for them to do what was required. There are Rip Off Reports online that suggest that Drive Time sells vehicles with structural damage cosmetically repaired that are unsafe to drive. Please help me in spreading the word to the world about this company’s misleading practices and possibly send a message to many other companies just like them who are taking advantage of those of us who are trying to rebuild credit in a very crippling financial economy that is going through a recession.