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  • Report:  #829117

Complaint Review: Sullivan Cadillac Ocala - Ocala Florida

Reported By:
precise14010 - ocala, Florida, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

Sullivan Cadillac Ocala
4040 SW College Rd Ocala, 34474 Florida, United States of America
Phone:
352-732-4700
Web:
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
On Jan. 24, 2012 my father-in-law who is a disabled senior drove his 1998 Cadillac Deville to Sullivan Cadillac in Ocala, Florida for repair.  The problem was that the car would not start just by turning the key.  You had to put the ignition on and wait 30 seconds for the dash cluster to come on then the car would start.  Cadillac's "advisor" Rick Garbig diagnosed the problem as a
security issue.  Estimated around $500 for repair and the issue would be fixed.  Cadillac replaces the ignition switch, cylinder and cut new keys with the security pellet in the key.  My father-in-law was told this would correct the starting problem as well as the
dash cluster problem.  After the repair work was done Cadillacs advisor Rick Garbig realized that the repairs in fact did not correct the dash cluster issue but the car would start.  Cadillac removed the ignition switch and put the old one back in.  Cadillac now claims that the problem is in the ECM (Engine Control Module) the cars computer.    They hit my father-in-law with another
422.00 bringing the total to a little over $1,000.  After installing the ECM the problem was still not corrected and the car is back to its original state with not staring when you turn the key.  My father-in-law now once again has to wait 30 seconds for the dash lights to come on before the car will start. NOTE: this was the original problem.  Now Cadillac tells my father-in-law it may be the BCM (Body Control Module) and wants to charge him an additional $993.00 on top of the $1,000.  My father-in-law at
this point refuses and demands to see the old parts including the ECM.  The advisor Rick Garbig says "We do not have your old parts".  My father-in-law expresses that he feels he has been ripped off and taken advantage of so the manager Victor Haddad gets involved.  My father-in-law demands that the new ECM be taken out and replaced with his old one and manager Victor Haddad says "sorry we do not have your old parts".  So did they actually replace it?  Victor Haddad recognizes that Cadillac has made a huge error and offers $100.00 rebate to my father-in-law.  My father-in-law exhausted takes the $100.00 rebate pays with his visa and leaves. 

Jan. 25, 2012 my father-in-law returns to Cadillac to request a full refund because the car is in the exact state as it was when the car was originally dropped off to Cadillac.  Manager Victor Haddad refuses refund and says we will re-diagnose the car.  Diagnostics are as follows: Car will start and stall.  Key has to be on for 30 seconds then car will start. 

Cluster still has a delay when coming on.  ECM not communicating with BCM.  NOTE: ECM was already replaced.  No communication, yet this wasnt in the first diagnostic report.   At this point advisor rick Garbig says to my father-in-law we have a diagnostic tree we follow and replace parts according to that.  In other words, process of elimination.  Cadillac made my
father-in-law believe the issues he was charged for would correct the problem.  Advisor Rick Garbig's exact words were "both the tech and myself (meaning the advisor) agree that replacing the ECM will correct most if not all of your issues.  This was very misleading to my father-in-law who is on a limited budget as is most of America.  My father-in-law was refused the old parts and denied any refund.  Tell me if this were your disabled grandfather, how would you feel?  Cadillac has purposely and very openly ripped of a disabled senior and will not offer any compensation.  By refusing to show my father-in-law the old parts Cadillac is violating his rights as a consumer. I have read numerous stories involving this same issue and Cadillac ripping off other
consumers.  When will it stop and Cadillac (GM) be held accountable for their actions? As my father-in-law is walking out of the service center he is approached by a salesman who says
"I have this car over here for sale with very few problems I can make you
a deal on that as if to mach my father-in-law. 

This was done in very poor taste if you ask me. Please read this and avoid the service center!  I promise you that you will be sorry.


3 Updates & Rebuttals

precise14010

United States of America
In Response to Robert - Irvine (U.S.A.

#2Author of original report

Wed, February 08, 2012

Q:Did the other repair shop just diagnose it or did they fix it and actually solve the problem?  What was their diagnosis?  Also how much did they charge?
A:Yes the problem was corrected by repairing a burnt wire in the engine wiring harness at the second shop and they did not charge anything up front.  Turns out the owner of the shop worked for Sullivan for years and knows exactly how they operate that is why he left.  Once everything is settled my father-in-law has to only pay $400.00.

Second:  I was there and the parts were requested after Cadillac removed the ignition switch but BEFORE they installed the ECM.  When we expressed we wanted the old switch it was not a problem but after they installed the ECM and we again requested the parts it became an issue.

Third:"I have read numerous stories involving this same issue and Cadillac ripping off other consumers". 

- And if you look you can find numerous stories involving other issues and other manufacturers.  So what is the point of that statement?

The point of this statement is simple.  A large portion of Sullivan Cadillacs business comes from seniors.  This is not the first documented claim against Sullivan for ripping off or misleading a senior.  Sullivan Cadillac clearly makes a habit of it.


Robert

Irvine,
California,
U.S.A.
Comments

#3Consumer Comment

Tue, February 07, 2012

First off I am not saying that the dealer didn't RipOff your father.  But nothing you have posted shows it was because of his age.  

Did the other repair shop just diagnose it or did they fix it and actually solve the problem?  What was their diagnosis?  Also how much did they charge?

As to a few other comments you made...

By refusing to show my father-in-law the old parts Cadillac is violating his rights as a consumer.

- Not necessarily.  Generally any laws that require a shop to return the old part if requested also requires that the customer request it BEFORE the service is performed.  It does not look like your father requested the old parts until afterwards.

I have read numerous stories involving this same issue and Cadillac ripping off other consumers. 

- And if you look you can find numerous stories involving other issues and other manufacturers.  So what is the point of that statement?


precise14010

United States of America
Sullivan Cadillac rips Off Disabled Senior Update

#4Author of original report

Tue, February 07, 2012

Update:  I took my 1998 Cadillac to Expert Touch Automotive in Ocala, Fl for a second opinion.  They found the problem and it had nothing to do with what Sullivan Cadillac charged me for or what they were trying to charge me for.  I am now waiting for Cadillacs response from the complaint I filed with the BBB and the Florida Department of Consumer Services. 

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