Dodge Ram 1500 - engine blew at 32,000 miles - Chrysler won't honor warranty

# 8 for August 25, 2003

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on August 24, 2003:

From:

RE: Dodge Ram 1500 - engine blew at 32,000 miles - Chrysler won't honor warranty

Arrigo Dodge-Chrysler Financial On 10/30/02 I noticed a difficulty with how the transmission was shifting on my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 truck.I brought the truck in to the dealer, Arrigo Dodge in West Palm Beach, Fl on 10/31/02 to have it checked out. I met with Frank C, my service advisor, who told me they would check it out. He also informed me that there was $950 worth of additional maintenance work required in order to keep my warranty valid, as I had recently passed the 30,000 mile mark (Original Manufacturer’s Warranty 3yrs./36,000 miles). When I picked up the truck the next day, I was told by Frank C it was running like new, he told me they did all of the work that I was told was necessary and charged me for it. I later noticed that they also discovered problems with transmission ,engine, and electrical components which were charged to the warranty for repair. Nine days later when I started the vehicle, the "Check Gauges" light came on. I looked at the gauges and noticed the oil pressure read zero. I called the manufacturer’s 800# and they sent out a tow truck the following day. Upon arrival at the dealership, the vehicle fell off of the back of the tow truck causing additional body damage. Frank C took digital photos at the scene and assured me that they would fix this damage as well, without charge since it was their company that dropped the truck. Frank said that there was probably a problem with the oil gauge sensor and they would check it out. Ten days later, after numerous attempts to contact my service advisor, I was told by Jim G, the service manager that Frank C was no longer employed at Arrigo Dodge because he had mishandled my case. Jim Gross then told me that the oil pump had failed, causing the engine to blow and that Chrysler was not going to stand behind their original Manufacturer’s Warranty so I would be responsible for several thousand dollars in repair bills. I continued to make timely payments on the truck to Chrysler Financial and also kept up the insurance on the vehicle for several months while trying to contact someone in management at Arrigo Dodge or Chrysler to obtain help with this problem. After calling on an hourly basis for days to the 800# provided for consumer assistance at Chrysler, I was finally told that no one was going to call me back, ever. I then began a Lemon Law proceeding with an attorney, to schedule an arbitration hearing. I reached a point, finally where I was unable to continue financially with the attorney’s fees and making the truck payments, because I was forced to buy another vehicle and needed to make the payments on the vehicle that worked. Chrysler Financial then repossessed the faulty truck, and is now suing me for the balance due and the additional body repairs caused by their own towing company. If there is anyone out there who can offer any suggestions please feel free to contact me. lora delorenzo

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