NHTSA Complaint #10438905 — 2009 DODGE CHARGER

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN SEPTEMBER 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD A CLEAN CAR FAX REPORT WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK ON SATURDAY AND BACK HOME SATURDAY EVENING AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR ON MONDAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL THE CAR DID NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSUMING IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE STARTER. TO MY DISMAY THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED A COMPLETE VALVE JOB FOR $2,000.00 HE TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR ENGINE FAILURE CAUSE IT IS NO WAY A 2009 SHOULD NEED A THIS TYPE OF WORK THIS SOON. HE CHARGED ME $84.00 FOR HIS INSPECTION FEE AND DIAGNOSIS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO JEEP /CHRYSLER DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ONTARIO CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE SAME DIAGNOSIS EXCEPT IT WOULD COST ANY WHERE FROM $2,000.00- $4500.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER CHARGED A FEE OF $384.00 JUST TO COME UP WITH THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PREVIOUSLY TOLD ME FOR A FEE OF $84.00. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLERS CORPORATE OFFICE 12/07/2011 AND EXPECT A CALL BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY I HAD THE DEALER ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE THE REPAIR OF A TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER FOR $400 THAT I DID NOT EVEN NEED. FORTUNATELY I HAD INSPECTED THE BELT MYSELF AND WAS TOLD BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE BELT AND TENSIONER ARE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. I ADDRESSED THIS WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE TOLD ME I MIGHT AS WELL GET IT DONE BECAUSE IT IS DUE AT 100K MILES. I AM DISGUSTED THAT THE DEALER WOULD TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A CUSTOMER IN NEED OF HELP. THIS UNETHICAL ATTEMPT TO GET MORE MONEY FROM ME MADE ME QUESTION WHAT OTHER FRAUDULENT REPAIRS ARE ON MY ESTIMATE. I BELIEVE DODGE SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. I AM PREPARED TO GO TO THE MEDIA IF CHRYSLER DOES NOT DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR