This is totally off topic for this forum but I really need to post this somewhere. If you’re anything like me, you probably research car dealerships online before you buy a new car. I wish I had done that sort of research before taking my car in for service, then I could have avoided the nightmare that I’m about to post about. But I didn’t. But I hope by posting this, someone researching this particular dealership might come across this when googling for information, and have a moment to consider whether or not to do business with them in the future. So, here’s my story:
At the end of the month of June, 2007 our 1999 Chrysler LHS sedan’s “check engine” light turned on and the speedometer was not functioning, so we took the car to Tate Chrysler in Frederick, MD for service. We were told that the car was mechanically sound and that nothing severe was wrong with the car, but it required almost $2000 in “routine” maintenance. Since the vehicle is older and has high mileage, we declined the service because of the high dollar amount involved. I figured it was time to start shopping for a new car, and that’s a lot of money to put down in “routine maintenance.” After sleeping on it overnight however, we contacted the service department again and stated we were really hoping to avoid buying a new car until 2008. We wanted to discuss what was necessary to keep the car in proper running condition for another ten months. We were assured that our car was not suffering from any issues other than needing routine maintenance, and it should have no problem functioning for another ten months . We talked about what services were really required in the short term and got the amount of service required down to $1200 instead.
According to the service department, the only work that was required to keep the vehicle safe and road worthy was 1)lube, oil/filter change 2)coolant system flush 3)basic tune-up 4)timing belt.
The service department then took about three weeks to complete the “routine” maintenance on the car. When we called to find out when we could expect the car, we were told they discovered a “bad module” that was the reason the check engine light had come on in the first place, and it would cost an additional $450 to fix that as well. Once that work was done, we were told we could pick up the car.
On July 23, 2007 we went to pick up our car, paid for the work and were presented with the keys to our vehicle and told all work was completed. When we got into our car to leave, the check engine light was no longer on, but the car could not stay running for more than three seconds, not enough time to even get the car in gear.
So, having already paid for the service, the car was unable to function and was in fact operating worse now than when we brought it to the dealership in the first place. They began working on the car again.
After a few more weeks, we are told the car is now ready to be picked up. It is driven about four miles from the dealership to our home. It is then driven the next day, and the engine cuts out and gets stuck on the side of the road. The car is towed back to the service department at the dealership. The service department begins trying to figure out why the car is now in worse shape than before they started working on it.
Weeks and weeks pass, and finally a car salesman called from the dealership attempting to sell us a car since ours had been in the shop so long. When I told them that I had reservations about purchasing a car from a dealership that was having such trouble repairing my existing car, and that I was less than thrilled in how long it was taking, or the fact that I was assured I wasn’t throwing money away by doing these repairs, I was then called by the service manager who was upset with me for not being thrilled with the level of service we had received even though I still had no idea when, if ever our car would be repaired.
Finally, on October 10, 2007 I was told that our car was finally ready. When we arrived to pick up the vehicle the service department had closed for the day but the keys were available with the cashier. When we started the car up, we were shocked and dismayed to discover that the check engine light was on and the speedometer was not functioning… the very reasons we brought the car into the shop in the first place. In addition, the condition of the vehicle was appalling. The contents of the center console and glove box had been dumped in the front passenger seat and floor with no regard to our personal belongings.
After not having our primary vehicle for three months, we drove the car home completely distraught. When we contacted the dealership yet again to find out how, after all this time and money, our car was at a minimum of the exact same condition as when we brought it in, if not worse, we were told we should drive the car around for a while and maybe the check engine light would go out. We were also advised that if the car was running and if the check engine light went out, we should sell the car right away.
Needless to say, we think this is a ridiculous answer to the problems we’ve faced with this “routine” maintenance to the vehicle. We are displeased with the level of service we received, the amount of time said service took, and the fact that the work was never completed to our satisfaction. The car left the lot with the exact same problems that it had when it came on, and perhaps more. In short, Tate Chrysler of Frederick provided horrible service at best… and fraudulent deceitful service at the worst.
If you came across this post by searching for information on Tate Chrysler Frederick before conducting business with them, I hope you heed my warning and avoid them at all cost.
