Complaint Review: Drive Time

I, Lance, am notifying you I am voluntarily returning the 2002 Dodge Stratus I purchased from your dealership in January 2004.

Since the date of purchase, I have had continuous transmission problems, all of which you have been aware of. I have only been able to operate the vehicle for approximately twelve months out of the fifteen months I have owned the vehicle. I am confined to a wheelchair. It is very difficult for me to be stranded on the side of the road due to mechanical problems. I feel you show a lack of concern with regards to my on-going transmission problem.

Approximately two weeks after purchasing the Dodge Stratus, I realized the reading on the odometer in the vehicle did not match with the odometer reading listed on the registration. I also realized the registration I was given was not the correct registration, as the VIN number on the registration did not match the VIN number on my automobile. I immediately contacted my sales person, Jesus Vaquero. Mr. Vaquero directed me to return the car and the contract to Drive Time.

On February 9, 2004, I returned to Drive Time with the vehicle and registration and met with Mr. Vaquero. Mr. Vaquero researched the problem and realized your company made a mistake and gave me the incorrect registration. The registration given to me belonged to a similar Dodge Stratus. The registrations were identical except the last five digits of the VIN were different. Mr. Vaquero apologized for the mistake and reinstated a new contract.

Approximately June 2004, I experienced mechanical problems with the transmission. My automobile broke down on I-17 near the Cortes Junction exit. I had to be towed from I-17 and Cortes Junction to my residence located in Laveen, Arizona. I contacted Drive Time about the incident and spoke with Lance. Lance directed me to contact Mario at the Recon Center. After speaking with Mario, he had the car towed from my residence in Laveen, Arizona to First Choice Transmissions, a particular business used by Drive Time, to repair the transmission problem.

I contacted First Choice Transmissions and spoke with Ricky, one of the owners of the company. Ricky advised me he had to replace the transmission in full. I was able to pick up my car approximately two weeks from the date the car was taken to First Choice Transmission.

While I was returning home with my vehicle from First Choice Transmission, my warning light on the instrument panel turned on. I immediately contacted Mario at the Recon Center. He directed me to return the car to First Choice Transmission. The very next day I returned the car to Ricky at First Choice Transmission. Ricky advised me there was a screw loose in the fuse box under the hood and the screw was touching a fuse. This caused the warning light to turn on. He ran a diagnostic test and said two diagnostic codes appeared.

I had a doctor's appointment the following day and was scheduled to be admitted into the hospital over the upcoming weekend. Ricky advised me it would be okay to drive the car, and asked that I return with the car before I was admitted into the hospital so he could repair the problem while I was in the hospital. Before I was able to return the car to Ricky, the transmission failed again. The car would not move. This incident occurred while I was in the middle of an intersection. I was by myself and wheelchair bound. It made the situation very difficult. Fortunately, someone assisted me by using their truck to push my vehicle out of the intersection and into a nearby parking lot, thus causing damage to my rear bumper. The paint was chipped and the bumper cover was damaged. Once again, I had the car towed to my residence and immediately notified both Mario with the Recon Center and Ricky with First Choice Transmission. The following day, Ricky had the vehicle towed from my residence to First Choice Transmission.

I contacted Ricky the next day to find out the status of the damage and repair. Ricky advised me it may possibly be an electrical problem, but the diagnostic machine was reporting more trouble codes. The following date, Ricky advised me he had to replace the transmission, and that the car would be ready the following Tuesday.

Two weeks after the vehicle was repaired, I was driving to Flagstaff and the car started to smell like hot metal. Once again, the transmission went out. I had to have the vehicle towed from Anthem, Arizona to my residence in Laveen, Arizona. I immediately notified both Mario and Ricky and they had the car towed back to First Choice Transmission. I called to follow up with Ricky regarding the repair the following day. He informed me that he performed a diagnostic test and more trouble codes were reported, including a possible filter collapse. The following day Ricky advised me he had to take the transmission apart and replace a part internally. One and a half weeks later I was able to pick up my car. When I arrived to pick up the vehicle, it had transmission fluid on the windshield, hood and down the front of the car. I inquired as to whether or not the car was ready for me to pick up and I was advised it was. I commented on the condition the vehicle was in and that I would have to take the car to have it washed. When I arrived home with the vehicle, I inspected the car further and noticed several parts on the engine were loose and were not replaced properly, such as the air filter housing, the throttle body sensor, the driver's side wheel well cover, and many more items on the driver's side engine compartment.

After completing the inspection of the vehicle, I contacted Mario at the Recon center. I expressed my frustrations regarding the situation. I asked Mario why he insisted on having me return the vehicle to the same transmission shop repeatedly after experiencing the on-going problems that had occurred. Mario advised me to take the car to the Recon Center to allow him to perform a diagnostic test and to find out what type of services had been completed on the vehicle.

After taking the car to the Recon Center, Mario directed me to take the car to AAMCO. I took the car to AAMCO and spoke with Kevin. I waited while Kevin performed a diagnostic test. He informed me the test reported nine trouble codes, the internal area was not being lubricated, and the torque converter was damaged. In other words, the vehicle needed an entirely new transmission.

Kevin kept the car and waited for Mario to contact him with an approval to repair the problems. Four days later, unbenounced to me, Mario had the car towed from AAMCO to First Choice Transmission. Mario advised me he wanted the company to warranty the work. I expressed my frustrations and concerns once again to Mario of how unsatisfied I was with the way this matter was being handled.

Ten days later, Ricky brought my vehicle to my residence. He advised he found metal shavings in the bottom of the transmission fluid pan and he had to replace the transmission. Ricky apologized for the inconvenience and the problems I experienced with the car. He directed me to contact him personally if I experienced any further problems with the vehicle.

Once again, the same problems are re-occurring. The warning light on the instrument panel turned on and the transmission is slipping.

I am confined to a wheelchair. It is pertinent I have a dependable automobile. This is the sixth time I have experienced problems with the transmission. I have been told on three occasions the transmission has had to be replaced, and on three more occasions there are additional existing transmission problems. I went without a vehicle for approximately three months, paid $715.00 in towing charges, and paid an additional $689.00 for a rear bumper cover and paint repair. I was advised by Drive Time I would be reimbursed for the out-of-pocket costs by not having to make monthly payments over a certain period of time. Instead, they allowed me to skip payments, but they extended my lease for the months that were skipped.

I do not wish to continue the on-going battle I continue to experience with this particular automobile. I am forced to seek legal assistance through an attorney to review the Lemon Law and the Discrimination Law.

Please accept this letter as notification that I am voluntarily returning the 2002 Dodge Stratus to Drive Time located at 4121 South Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85040, 602-276-3038 due to extenuating mechanical malfunctions.

I am advising you to refrain from contacting me, as I do not intend to continue to be harassed by telephone calls made by members of your staff. Please be advised if you contact any members of my family and/or friends to discuss this matter in detail or to discuss my financial affairs regarding this loan, I will pursue legal remedies. Any violations regarding the FAIR Debt Collection Practices Act will be fully pursued by me in a court of law.

If necessary, I will not hesitate to contact the media regarding your complete disregard for my safety, and your blatant disregard for the inferior workmanship of your authorized mechanic. This issue will be made public to allow other members of the community to be aware of your deceptive practices.

Sincerely,

Lance

CC:
Arizona Banking Department
DriveTime Service Department (Recon Center)
Ridenour Hienton Harper & Kelhoffer

Lance
Tolleson, Arizona
U.S.A.

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