On July 5th 2010, I took my 2004 highly modified 650 hp Dodge Viper to Lake Norman Chrysler in Cornelius, NC for an oil change and air conditioner repair and to install my new Generation IV Viper hood. Lake Norman Chrysler changed my oil and fixed my a/c, then sent my Viper to Wilburn Auto Body Cornelius for the hood install. I got a call from the General Manager of Wilburn Auto Body on July 8th at 10 am in the morning stating that "there has been an incident". I asked her what did she mean by that? She said our employee was driving your Viper and had an accident. I asked her how bad was the accident but she would not elaborate, and said I needed to come to the shop.
I went to the shop later that day and found out the Viper was badly damaged and I also noticed that Wilburn Auto Body had installed my hood incorrectly and did not use all the parts. Wilburn Auto Body did not use all the bolts and insulation pieces and padding to prevent water from entering sensitive areas nor did they install the hood screens which keep small animals from entering the engine compartment at high speeds. It was obvious these guys did not know what they were doing. The police report indicated that the employee of Wilburn Auto Body, Adam Christopher Jones was speeding at the time of the accident. In fact according to an employee of Lake Norman Chrysler, Adam Christopher Jones slammed the gas while in my Viper and lost control of the car and took out two trees. My Viper was totaled.
I had the Viper towed to Scott's Auto Body in Charlotte. Scott's Auto Body works on Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Aston Martins, and most of the exotic cars in a 300 mile radius of Charlotte. This body shop is very respected by customers and insurance companies. Upon receiving my wrecked Viper the manager of Scott's Auto Body told me that Adam Christopher Jones had to be driving in excess of 70 mph when he crashed my Viper. The speed limit on the street he crashed on was 35 mph.
I tried to meet with the owner of Wilburn Auto Body, Cooper Faassen to reach a resolution since his employee wrecked and totaled my Viper. Cooper Faassen, owner of Wilburn Auto Body refused to repair my Viper, he refused to replace my Viper, and he refused to compensate me so that I could replace my Viper myself. This man's employee was doing twice the speed limit in my Dodge Viper, lost control, and totaled my Viper and Cooper Faassen, owner of Wilburn Auto Body has basically told me that I will have to sue him to get justice and to have my Viper replaced or repaired.
I just don't get it. You leave your car with a repair shop for service, they wreck and total your car while being irresponsible, yet they refuse to replace, repair, or compensate you for your car. This is not right, and this guy should be shut down for this kind of behavior. Wilburn Auto Body is known for overcharging customers and for having employees that are not properly trained according to other body shop managers that have contacted me about about them.
Wilburn Auto Body totaled my dream car and took away my sports car life style, and could care less. And they are forcing me to sue them and Lake Norman Chrysler for justice. This company does not care about customers, they only care about their bottom line..and if their bottom line means screwing customers...that is exactly what they will do. Just like they have done to me.
Viper 1
charlotte,#2Author of original report
Mon, September 27, 2010
Not Wilburn Automotive, but Wilburn Auto Body. This company, owned by Cooper Faassen, crashed and totaled my Dodge Viper on July 8th 2010 and refuses to replace, repair, or compensate me so I can replace this Viper myself. These guys have 9 locations in the Charlotte, NC are and target insurance companies and car dealerships for business. There are numerous complaints against Wilburn Auto Body ranging from overcharging customers to shoddy workmanship. It is also known in the body shop business in this area that many of their employees working there are trying to leave Wilburn Auto Body and find work elsewhere.