Complaint Review: Kevil Chevrolet - Budd Lake New Jersey

On Monday, August 3, 2009 I had to take my 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo to a Chevy dealer because of a coolant leak. This car has 60,000 miles on it. I have extended warranty, VSC Premier Program, which covers any breakdown of my vehicle. While the car was in there I figured to do other work that was covered under the warranty, such as replace my seats because the heated seats stopped working as well as the motor in the seats.

Kevil advised me that I needed other work to be performed, which I did not agree with. A bill that should have only been $100.00 (which is my deductible) turned to be $1,500.00! They advised I needed a new battery, transmission flush and engine flush. They stated they could not replace the manifold unless the engine was flushed. So in all my bill was $1,079.02 because they charged me for labor, parts, plus a rental car. The warranty company would only allow for 1.7 hours of labor and Kevil wanted 2.2 hours to work on each seat!

They continued to tell me the warranty company would not call me them back regarding letting them start the work, which the warranty company told us they okayed the work to be performed, the service manager, Lou Popek, would never call VSC Premier Program back! That delayed my car getting work done. I had to pay for a rental car in excess because Kevil stated the car was not done. No one ever called us regarding the status of the car and we asked for a call back. Everyone just okayed us.

We were informed the seats, and manifold replacement would be done Wednesday, August 19. Wednesday we called the dealer, they said it was not done. Thursday and Friday we called, they said it was still not done! Saturday, we called and they said to come in! I looked at my invoice and it states that the vehicle was done on Wednesday, August 19, 2009! Needless to say, I had my car Saturday afternoon with scratches all over the driver-side door as well as the bumper. They were also going to let me drive off the lot without them putting any radiator fluid in the car. The service manager, Lou Popek just put his arms up when we told him that. He also lost my car key! He stated they did not have it.

Long story short, the car had to go back to that dealer Friday, August 28 because of a blown motor! The only reason the car went back here was because it was their fault! I barely drove my car. This car dealer insisted the motor needed to be flushed. Every day I have had to call this dealer to find out about the status of the car and they still were not able to get me a loaner car. Every day they said they were waiting on an inspector to come out and look at the car. Each day they stated they would have a loaner car for me and they didnt.

We called the warranty company yesterday, September 8, 2009 and they said they are having the same issues with Kevil, they will not return their phone calls. They said their inspector was out on September 2! We went to talk to the Vice President of the company, Jim Kevil, because he said if we had any problems to come and talk to him. He did not even care! Jim Kevil said he knows nothing about my car. He did not even care to get out of the office to see what the situation was about. I said what about the scratches on the door, he looked at me and threw his arms up, and stated Again, this is the first I am hearing about this car. I asked him about my car key they lost, he just threw his arms up and said I dont know. He, as well as the service manager, stated they are waiting on the warranty company to okay everything. He said to talk to my warranty company!

Everyone was real quick to push us out of the dealership. They did not want to hear anything. The warranty company states Kevil will not call them back which is the same situation I have too. The warranty company stated our bill should have only been $100.00, payment for the deductible only. He stated because of the situation of the economy, the dealer wants more money so they charged the warranty company as well as me, the customer. He stated they overcharged for everything. The warranty company gave Kevil $3,799.11 and they charged us $1,079.02! I think it is pretty extreme.

We were able to get the car out of the shop, but not without paying $175.00 for pulling the oil pan, supposed 1 hours of labor! And without them having to put grease all over my carpeting inside the car!

I looked at the Better Business Bureau web site and their grade is an F. Each complaint listed is the same gripe we have: Guarantee or warranty issues: claims alleging failure to honor terms regarding guarantees or warranties; repair issues: claims of alleged incorrect diagnosis of problem, delay in completion of repair and inferior workmanship.

I want to warn each and every person about this dealership. I have advised everyone I speak with not to go here. The Vice President does not even care about his own company. I think it is ridiculous for a person to run a business that way.