Return/refund cars under warranty? dodge caravan?

Question

Hi,

I have a Dodge caravan 2006 purchased in January 2007. Within 1 year of driving, it started to have problems, i.e. when stopped at traffic lights, it sometimes tumbled up and down. After having this issue for a few months, someday the engine stopped after the tumbling.

We sent it to the dealer a few times, they were not able to re-produce until someday the engine stopped twice in a day while driving slowly. The reason was 2 of the oxygen sensors were broken.

However, within couple months after the "fix", same symptoms happened again. I wanted to be preventive, and so wasted a few other trips to the dealer cause they couldn't reproduce. Eventually they gave me a recorder, and I did record couple instances when engine died. Now my van has been with them for more than 1 week, and they are still repairing. More than 6 months has passed away since the problem first occurred.

Obviously, I have been too patient for such a serious problem. Now, I think either the problem is too bad, or the engineers are too stupid. Anyway, I am not comfortable driving it any more even if they claim the problem being completely fixed. I don't want to drive the same one, and I don't like to drive a new one of the same kind. I may not want to drive any Dodge vehicles any more.

My question is, what is reasonable for me to ask? Can I ask for a refund of all my money and interests? Anything else I can do?

Thanks a million,

Yvon

Answer 1

Probably all you can do is ask the dealer to repair the problem under warranty as long as it still applies. You may qualify under the lemon law statutes which vary from state to state. Check you glove box for a manual that refers to the lemon law stipulations in your state or contact your state attorney generals office to see if your auto qualifies.

Answer 2

You need to do a search on google for Automotive Lemon Law attorneys in your area. This is too complicated for individuals to handle. There are a lot of rules to get a lemon law satisfaction, but you may have met them or are close to meeting them. I've posted a link to get you started. Good luck.  

Answer 3

Take it to a different dealer.  Don't keep taking it back to the same place!  No, they will not replace the van or refund your money.  A warranty is for repair only and if they decide (based on their data) if the van is not fixable, they could decide to give you another (although that is very unlikely).  They always fix the problems.  But not all dealers were created equal!  

Next time, buy a Toyota!  I had 20 years experience with domestic cars and spent a few years wages on car repairs over those years.  Starting in 1994, I started buying Toyota's.  I have had four of them and in 14 years I have not had one car repair of any kind.  I am not kidding, not one (only oil changes, tires, brakes, tune ups, etc).  They are flawless vehicles!

Your best bet would be to have another dealer repair it to the best of their ability, than put it up for sale, than buy another make and model car or van!  

Answer 4

No, you aren't getting a refund and you really do not deserve one.

You Failed to research this purchase and would have known that Chrysler (yes, that includes Dodge) products are electrical nightmares waiting to happen.

Fix your van and enjoy it.  That's all you an do.

Answer 5

they will not take it back and they certainly will not refund your money. you still had the vehicle in your possession so they really shouldn't refund your money. even if it wasn't working properly, you still had it and drove it so you cannot expect to not pay for that.

i would try trading it in, dump it back on the dealership!

sorry but that's about your best option!  

Answer 6

You have to get a lawyer experienced in Lemon law IN YOUR STATE.  Without a lawyer, you will never get what you need.

But you will NOT get a refund.  You will probably get a replacement car of same year, that you can sell for better value than yours.

Good luck...