Gary Hardy Dodge, Topeka Kansas - trouble with service to Dodge Stratus

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on December 17, 2002:

From:

RE: Gary Hardy Dodge, Topeka Kansas - trouble with service to Dodge Stratus

This complaint is against the service department of Gary Hardy Dodge, Topeka, Kansas. The complaint stems from the service of a Dodge Stratus. The events in the complaint will be listed in chronological order.

On Tuesday December 10, 2002, upon the request of my daughter I looked at her Dodge Stratus, because she getting ready to take it out state on a trip. She complained that the vehicle was making funny noises under the hood, and that it was shifting funny. After looking and listening to the vehicle, I requested she take it to Gary Hardy Dodge in Topeka, Kansas. Gary Hardy Dodge does the warranty work for the extend warranty insurance on this vehicle. My daughter went Gary Hardy Dodge and an appointment was made for Thursday December 12, 2002.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2002 my wife called the service department and re-emphasized the need for the transmission of the Dodge Stratus to be inspected and checked. She was assured that this would be done.

On Thursday, December 12, 2002 my daughter delivered the Dodge Stratus to Gary Hardy Dodge. The vehicle was serviced and the serpentine belt was replaced. When she picked up the vehicle, she questioned the service manager about checking out the transmission. The service manager told her the transmission did not have any problems and it was not the problem. She re-emphasized that the health of the transmission was a stipulation to taking the car out of state, and if it had problems the warranty insurance would repair or replace the transmission.

The service manager again re-emphasized that there were not any problems with the transmission. (At this time service manager made a merchants warranty of fitness concerning the health of the transmission.) He recommended that she also replace the power steering belt. She then took the vehicle to a Triple AAA Certified Mechanic who replaced the power steering belt and checked the engine oil. The engine oil after service was found to be 1 1/2 quarts low on engine oil.

On Friday, December 13, 2002 she embarked upon a 970 mile round trip with her mother and a six (6) week old baby in the Dodge Stratus with the understanding that there was nothing wrong with the transmission.

On the return trip, Sunday, December 15, 2002 the Dodge Stratus broke down in O'Fallon, Missouri, because the transmission was refusing to engage. The vehicle was towed to Firestone and Firestone inspections revealed a faulty transmission. The the vehicle was to towed to Amoco Transmission, O'Fallon, Missouri for diagnostics and possible repair under the warranty insurance. Amoco Transmission diagnostics revealed the electronic power switches in the transmission were totally destroyed. The transmission was contaminated with metal shaving and it was need of a total overhaul or replacement.

On December 16, 2002 I confronted the service manager of Gary Hardy Dodge. He denied all allegations. He claimed the vehicle was inspected and was test driven for over four (4) miles. He claimed that nobody called service department about the transmission nor was it even mentioned in pre-service.

We have lost over $3271.00 in out-of-pocket expenses due to this incident.