Riverfront Chrysler/Jeep Service Mistakes / False Diagnosis / Personal Injury / Deceptive Practices Beware! This Dealer Is the Definition of Rip-Off N

26th of Jan, 2008 by User711456

1st off,
I am the proverbial rural little old school teacher. I take care of things that are precious to me and my PT Cruiser is one of those items. I purchased this car new and rely on it daily to get to work. My students depend on me to be there for them, and my car is an important part of making that happen. I had this misfortune of having my radiator fail on my car. It started leaking and was requiring fluid to be added weekly. I scheduled a repair at Riverfront Chrysler/ Jeep because they did night repairs and it allowed me to get my car back promptly. I also needed a new driving lamp switch, since I knew the switch was bad, I asked how much to replace it. I thought as long as the car was there, I would get both things fixed. Anyway.
1st problem:
They replaced my radiator, then called me and told me I needed a switch for the driving lamp, which I told them upon dropping off the car. When they told me it was an additional $180.00 I declined. When I received my bill, I was charged $51.00 for diagnosis for a switch that I TOLD THEM was bad! That is very deceptive practice. Now the good/bad part.
I picked up my car and had a friend follow me home for coffee, Just as we reached my driveway, water started running from under my car and steam was coming from under the hood. My friend opened the hood to see what was going on and the radiator hose suddenly blew off burning his arm and spilling all over my driveway and engine compartment. Upon further inspection, he noticed that the mechanic never installed the radiator hose clamp! So now I have toxic fluid running down my driveway, my friends arm and hand have minor burns, and my car is not drivable. I promptly called Riverfront Chrysler and the service manager told me to put the hose back on and refill the radiator with my own antifreeze and bring the car back??
My friend re-installed the hose, put on the clamp and filled up the radiator. We then returned to the service center, they checked my friends work and told us everything was fine. Well, not exactly! I had a terrible odor and a small amount of steam still coming from under the hood days later, I was told it was possibly spillage from when the hose came off, they told me it would only stink a day or so. At 1 week, It was still smelling pretty bad and I took it back for inspection. I was then told I needed another $450.00 repair because " THEY SAID" the water pump was now leaking. Well after my bad experience with the last repair I took the car to a local independent mechanic, he replaced another hose clamp and cured the problem. So, they once again tried to get me to buy an un-needed repair! I waited 6 months before filing this report to be sure that I am correct. My car has not leaked a single drop of fluid since the hose clamp was replaced. All for the bargain price of $760.79, a toxic fluid spill in my driveway, a dear friend with a burned arm and hand Plus several return trips, more diagnostic lies and A trip to see a real mechanic that replaced the clamp FREE!! I would avoid Riverfront Chrysler/Jeep service department like the plague! They make work for themselves at the customers expense! Sarasmiles
Elburn, Illinois
U.S.A.

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