Greg Smith

Review of Capital Dodge | Chysler | Ram ...

I would give them a 0 out of 5 if I could.

I would give them a 0 out of 5 if I could.

I took my vehicle to Capital Dodge Chrysler on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 to inspect the front end of my Dodge Charger. For three days the steering column had been shaking quite a lot. The higher the speed I drove, the more it shook. I suspected that I might have snow in the wheel wells but I decided I better be sure for safety sakes. In fact, the shaking was becoming less and less each day. I mentioned this to the technician when I arrived. I got no response from the technician.

After a few hours I got a phone call from the technician with some bad news. The technician said that my whole front end needed work. He said that I needed the following replaced- (i) Upper Ball Joints (both); (ii) Tension Struts (both); (iii) Lower Control Arms (both); (iv) Left Tie Rod; and (v) The vehicle was leaking Transmission fluid and needed to be resealed. Additionally, once this work was completed an alignment would have to be done and the wheels would need re-balancing. The total cost was quoted at almost $3,700. I was shocked and I wondered how could all of these items go at the same time, when I never hit anything (accidents, curb etc.).

Not wanting to drive the car in case the dealership was correct, I asked the technician what was the minimum I could get away with. He said the tie rod and transmission service. I authorized just the tie rod and the transmission service. When I received my bill I was also charged for an alignment and wheel balancing. The technician was very dismissive and when I asked him questions.

I then decided I would take my vehicle for a second opinion. So I took my vehicle to a mechanic who had a 5 star google rating. This mechanic did a thorough inspection of the vehicle with the original quote in his hand and called me to indicate that none of the items in the Capital Dodge quote were needed. Additionally, he said that a front end alignment should not have been done unless all work had been completed, not just the replacement of the tie rods.

I then contacted Capital Dodge to discuss the situation. A senior Service Advisor, whom I had dealt with for years, recommended that I take the vehicle to a second independent mechanic for a second opinion. I was instructed, not to tell this mechanic about the original Capital Dodge quote. So I took my vehicle to a 2nd independent mechanic and didn t tell them anything. I just asked that they inspect the front end. This auto service company also had a 5 star google rating. After completing the inspection, this mechanic reported that there were no problems with the front end. When I mentioned the shaking problem to this mechanic, he said that I probably had snow in wheel wells at the time but that there were no problems with the front end of my car.

So, two independent mechanics, each with 5 star ratings, concluded that none of the work I was quoted needed to be completed. So I am led to conclude that the dealership was trying to take me for $3,700 work that was not needed and that the work that was completed is now in question. This is, in essence the definition of the INTENTION to COMMIT FRAUD. I contacted the dealership one final time to resolve this matter quietly. However, the only offer I received, which was originally offered by the Service Advisor, was to be reimbursed for cost of the second inspection ($80). Thanks for the lousy offer Capital Dodge.