Complaint Review: Clark Chrysler Jeep - Methuen Massachusetts

Sorry to here about your car not having abs. Living in a northern state as you do, I know the importance of having it. Morning frost,ice, snow,black ice, all can cause a car with out abs to loose control even if your only going 5 miles an hour. But if you live in a southern state such as Texas or Florida you probably would not know this.

It is still an option(some of us actually know how to drive without the car looking out for our safety), although most dealerships order everything with ABS. It's still an option though. I'd prefer the states actually require people to learn how to drive, not just aim, a car before handing them a license. Most state tests consist of going around the block and back to the DMV. Don't hit anything, or anyone, and park between the two cars on either side of you, and you win a driver's license. My original test in MD consisted of actually knowing where the car was at all times, and being able to navigate it through a series of obstacles and skills tests. My Class A test in NC consisted of literally driving around the block and back. A 3000 pound car needed an hour of time, and about a dozen skills tests. An 80K pound GVW tractor trailer took less than 15 minutes and 1/2 dozen left and right turns, only. Good grief. The truly sad thing is, I have seen people FAIL the "'round the block and back" test. How?

Every car sold in the U.S. sence about 1995 has ABS I beleve it is a law. The way most ABS systems work is a computer in the car is told what speed all the tires are going, If it showed all tires stopped than it is working proper, and if you were going 10mph than you would not lose control even if you were in a 1955 rust bucket.

The ABS software may be programmed to not act at slow speed. In the very early days of ABS, there were problems with the vehicle coming almost to a full stop, then the ABS incorrectly decided the brakes were locked and released them! If you lock all 4 wheels at low speed the car will stop so fast that there isn't time for it to skid out of control. Your car may have ABS after all if it has the ABS light. Have someone inspect it and see if the ABS hardware is fitted. Also you could test drive in a very safe place such as an empty parking lot at about 30 mph to see if the ABS works. You need something in writing with the dealer representing the car having ABS in order to prove your case agains them. Anything the salesman says are just words in the wind. Imagine it is in a strange language you don't understand.

If I travel at 10MPH in my car and slam on the brakes, my car stops instantly. Yes, the brakes lock up, but at that speed, you do not have enough forward momentum to "lock up the brakes and loose control of the vehicle". And the lesson here? Never trust anything that comes out of a car salesmans mouth unless it is also written down on paper. A slightly used car such as this should have come with a list of installed equipment.

Anyone, NOT retarded, believe the brakes on a car will lock up and cause you to lose control at 10mph? I shall quote..."Approximately two qweeks after purchasing the car a child ran out in front of me and when I hit the brakes, the brakes locked up and the car skidded almost hitting the kid. Once the tires started to skid I had no control over the car". Sure Perry. That happens all the time.

Anyone, NOT retarded, believe the brakes on a car will lock up and cause you to lose control at 10mph? I shall quote..."Approximately two qweeks after purchasing the car a child ran out in front of me and when I hit the brakes, the brakes locked up and the car skidded almost hitting the kid. Once the tires started to skid I had no control over the car". Sure Perry. That happens all the time.

Anyone, NOT retarded, believe the brakes on a car will lock up and cause you to lose control at 10mph? I shall quote..."Approximately two qweeks after purchasing the car a child ran out in front of me and when I hit the brakes, the brakes locked up and the car skidded almost hitting the kid. Once the tires started to skid I had no control over the car". Sure Perry. That happens all the time.

Robert in Jacksonville, Funny I don't recall you being in the car with me. If you had been you would have noticed that I was doing about 10mph down the street that I live on. That the child came skateboarding down a driveway blocked from view by a Dodge Durango and a Chevy Pickup. The wheels locked because I hit the brakes so hard. Or was that a trick question? I do know how to drive and have been doing so for over 30 years. But thank you for your comment, as uninformed as it was. To the other Robert: This car did not have a manual in it when I test drove it. Did you know that ABS was standard on the Limited Trim Level of this vehicle. Did you also know that the Touring trim level was introduced in 2004. In researching my car, which does have the ABS light, I looked at Edmunds .com and Chrysler. com. My car seems to be a cross between the GTC and the Limited models. The dashboard doesn't look like a Touring trim level, but the leather seats matched the Limited. With no book or catalogue or online info I was stuck. But thanks anyway.

Perry, you seem like a smart guy, how could you NOT know that there wasn't antilock brakes on this car? It took me 30 seconds to find out that the ABS system was optional on the 2004. Did you look at the manual? Did you do research on this car? You took the salesmans word that it had ABS when all you had to do was look at the car, in the cars manual or even turn on the key (when you do that, the ABS light in the instrument cluster comes on, telling you it has ABS). All the saleman is interested in is selling you a car. If you take his word for it, you deserve what you get. It comes down to this.. RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY!

Anti-Lock Brakes are a recent innovation...as in only about 15 yrs old. "the brakes locked up and the car skidded almost hitting the kid. Once the tires started to skid I had no control over the car." This can only happen because you were hauling a*s down a residential street. I have never seen a posted speed on a residential street for more than 35mph. Most are set at 25mph. If you drove the posted speed, or below, exactly how did you manage to lock up the brakes? Again, because you were playing "Joe Cool Superdude" in your drop-top. Learn to drive.