QuestionI recently purchased an '03 Trailblazer and have had nothing but problems since getting it home. It was just over 95k miles at purchase and I did not buy a dealer warranty. The ABS light was on when I bought it but no issues were disclosed to me. This is from a dealership that has a Bentley and a Viper in the showroom.
Two days after getting it home the breaks started to squeal like a pig. I take it in to a friend at an auto service chain and get a list of problems- it still has factory shocks and struts, these bad shocks and struts have caused a tone of wear to the sway bar links (you could turn them with your hand), because of these suspension problems extra stress has been put on the breaks. The squealing pads were actually fine, but all of this stress added up to rotors that were completely destroyed. I only had enough money at the time (1400$) to take care of the pads, rotors, and sway bar links. I had only put 300 miles on the car and this is 10 days after purchase.
Round two- just days after this expensive visit to my mechanic the car starts having problems starting. Over the course of a week I needed to get jumped about a dozen times. I take it back and we find that this is because of a bad terminal on the battery, easy fix. As I am fed up with the problems with this vehicle, I ask my friend to put the car back up and find every little thing wrong that he can. So besides still needing shocks and struts we find that the fan clutch is on its way out, the front bumper is broken and has been rigged to look normal, the ball joints are in bad shape and unsafe, the ABS light being on is due to a malfunctioning ABS pump, and the real kicker- there is no emergency break. The mechanic wrote up a ticket for me detailing all of these issues and it totaled at over $4,000.
I showed everything that I signed at the dealers to an attorney friend of mine and she found no return or rescinding clause that would help me. After speaking with a friend that works for a dealership he advised me to try and get an inspection invoice from when they took the trade in. So I began calling the dealership to tell them my situation and request an inspection invoice. I was told by multiple people at the dealership that because I have no warranty the sale is "as-is." I even got a response of "well you don't use and e-brake in a Trailblazer." I also followed up my first phone call with an email noting that there are safety issues with my car and that I would like to see the inspection invoice. My email got no response. In every call I made I made I would tell them everything, they would take down my information and say that they will get back to me. I have gotten no response from them by phone.
I'm currently scared to drive in the rain because if something happens in front of me I have no safety equipment to help me control and stop the car. I am really hoping to be able to give this car back and get reimbursed for my down payment, trade in, and money spent on the car. Or, at the very least, have them fix every thing that is wrong. So now there is my situation in full and I can begin asking questions...
What are the laws regarding inspection and sale of cars with safety issues? Is it possible that they just waxed the body and detailed the interior and put it out on the lot without inspecting the car? Should I just keep calling until they ask me to come in or should I go down there and raise hell? I plan on filing a complaint with my state's Attorney General and Better Business Bureau. Should I just report this immediately or use the threat of legal action to try and get the dealer to take the car back? Am I just screwed?
AnswerHi Tim,
Thanks for your detailed post, I wish I could just wave a magic wand to make your problem go away, but the bottom line is you purchased AS IS and that means whatever problems the car encounters become your problem from the moment you take delivery. Had you had the opportunity to visit my website to learn the process buying a vehicle this would never had happened. Legal action or threat will be a waste of time.
There is no question, the dealer knew selling you a lemon and you got no recourse,,, the question now is what action is available,,, I got one that you may consider if interested reply with a phone # and best time to call paulsenray@yahoo.com
Ray http://www.usedcartips.org/
