NHTSA Complaint #10199963 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING

WHEN I TRADED IN MY 2003 MAZDA SUV ON JULY 28, 2007, I DID SO IN GOOD FAITH THAT I WOULD GET A FAIR TRADE. I DISCLOSED INFORMATION REGARDING THE MAZDA SUV TO THE ALAMEDA COUNTY AUCTION (ACA CARS) SALES DEPARTMENT. MY CAR JUST HAD ITS OIL CHANGED, ITS TIRES WERE BRAND NEW, ITS BRAKES AND PADS WERE IN WORKING PROPER ORDER. I HAD EXPECTED THE SAME COURTESY AND RESPECT FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP. I TRAVELED FROM SACRAMENTO TO DUBLIN BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN THIS DEALERSHIP AND HAD FAITH THAT IT WOULD SELL ME A CAR THAT HAD PASSED THEIR SAFETY INSPECTION. HOWEVER, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND FELT BETRAYED WHEN I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WAS HELD BY VELCRO TAPES. I WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRESSED OVER THE THOUGHT OF WHAT MIGHT AND MAY HAPPEN IF I DID FURTHER DRIVING, FEARFUL THAT THE FRONT BUMPER WOULD DROP OR "FLY OFF" WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I COULD HURT MYSELF AND EVEN OTHERS. I WAS FURTHER DISAPPOINTED BY THE REACTION OVER THE PHONE BY THE SAME PERSON WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. TO IMPLY TO ME THAT I COULD HAVE DONE THE DAMAGE MYSELF, REPAIRED THE FRONT BUMPER WITH VELCRO, AND PUT THE BLAME ON THE CAR DEALERSHIP WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. THE VELCRO-BUMPER SITUATION COULD BE JUST THE "TIP OF THE ICEBERG." I NO LONGER HAVE ANY TRUST LEFT IN THIS CAR DEALERSHIP AND AM WONDERING WHAT OTHER "HIDDEN" FLAWS THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE. AS A CONSUMER, IT IS MY RIGHT TO BE FULLY INFORMED OF ALL ASPECTS REGARDING THE CAR THAT I PURCHASED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEALERSHIP HAS NOT ONLY FAILED TO GIVE ME THAT RESPECT, IT HAS ALSO DEALT ME WITH A FRAUDULENT TRANSACTION. *JB