Complaint Review: John Koons Automotive

I purchased my car from Koon Automotive in Oct. 2002. In Nov. 2002, the car started to pull when changing gears. I took the car back to the dealership for repairs and told them I thought it was a transmission problem. They told me it was a loose gear shift and they tightened it. I asked them was it ok for me to drive it out of state. They said yes. In Dec. 2002, I was driving from DC to Atlanta and half way there, the service engine light came on. When I got to Atl. I took the car to a service location and they told me it was my transmission and it had to be repaired immediately. I had to leave my car in Atl. to be repaired.

After what I thought was a repaired car, my coolant light kept coming on. I once again took it to the dealership for repairs and they told me it only needed coolant. I told them I had just put coolant in the car before I left Atl. Of course, they are "experts".

Not even 8 months later, the same problem reoccurred with the pulling of the gears and the service engine light coming back on. I had taken the car back to AAmco who had originally repaired the transmission and they said it was an engine mount problem. I also noticed that my passenger blinker and back brake light were out. I then took my car back to the dealership because my car was still under warranty. After the dealership had my car for two week, they said it was the transmission, but I did not have a warranty. I said I did. I had to contact the general manager and finance manager to clarify the situation. After another four weeks, it was resolved that I did have a service warranty, but because my car was originally repaired at Aamco, I had to take it back to them. I asked about the other problem of the engine mount and was told that it had to be repaired at Aamco. They returned my car with nothing repaired, not even the blinker and brake light.

I returned the car to Aamco, who repaired the transmission, but also stated that my engine mount was not a tranmission problem. After a couple of weeks, my car began to overheat. I had to have my car towed to the dealership. The service rep, Todd Ramberg, who told me he was the service manager, told me of another problem with the car and it would cost over $700.00 for repair. I asked about my warranty and he said that the warranty had expired. I told him that my car was in there for repair before the warranty expired and was not repaired. He told me that was not his problem and I had to contact the general manager. This was in Dec. 2003.

It is now Feb. 2004 and I have tried to contact Ricardo Ledbetter, who was the finance manager (no longer works for the company) and Jerry Cromwell, the general manager. I have not received a return call and they never seem to be in the office for in person visit. My car is still in their shop and nothing has been done to repair it or let me know the situation.

I am now in contact with an attorney to help me resolve this situation. I never thought it would be this difficult to get my car repaired and have it held hostage from me. I will update as my situation changes.

Tara
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.