Hello Crossfire Fans,
I have a real dilemma...I bought a used 2005 Crossfire from a dealership in Orlando Florida that is now out of business. When I purchased or in this case leased the vehicle, it seemed a little wobbly and unbalanced on the right side. I had previously owned a 2004, kept it for 3 years and was ready to get another one. So, I know how they should drive. Anyway, I told the sales person that I would not purchase without them fixxing it first. They did fix it, however, it continues to get worse and worse. I took it back to the dealer who would do nothing. Now, they are bankrupt. So, I then took my car to another dealer who wrote up an estimate and indeed verified that my car had been in a significant accident prior to my purchase. I pulled a CarFax and nothing was noted on it. I then went to 2 other body shops who all verified the same trouble with the right side.
Have any of you out there had this issue? Do you know where I can turn? My lease is not through Chrysler Financial, another bank holds the lease. Thanks for any advice that you can offer.

Coach Beth

 

Coach Beth

There are numerous questions related to your post:
1. What are the repairs outlined on the two body shop repair estimates
2. What did the "other" dealer provide as a repair estimate
3. No recourse under the lemon law
4. Call the lease holder and explain the findings, I'm sure they will turn their back on you and insist you must make your payments
5. Try to contact the owner previous to your purchase, to get the details, possibly through your state dmv
6. Last and most costly, you must pay for the repairs

The moral of the story is you can't trust these dealers and car fax reports, since it is very easy to avoid the car fax if you pay cash for the repairs.

Good Luck,
Dennis

 

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for getting back to me. The estimates range from 7K down to 3K for the repairs...the less expensive being the other dealership. The body shop found more problems than the dealership. Once the door, hood, bumper, and grill were brought to my attention, it is evident to me that the car was in a pretty bad accident. The previous owner of the car is Enterprise Rent a Car and they claim to know nothing about this problem. My finacee is an attorney, so he has been fighting on my behalf, but getting nowhere. You are right about the lease company...they do not care and told me if I terminate the lease early that I will have a big release fee to pay. Since my car is used, it does not fall under the Lemon Law...besides that, the problems are caused by an accident. I am just praying now for a solution...since I have exhausted all that I know to do.

Thanks for your response.
Beth

 

Beth
I believe Enterprise side steps the Carfax reports by running cars through a repair shop that has been instructed to avoid reporting each body repair. That's the reason Enterprise offers Carfax reports on sales to new owners. There is no history, so the buyer thinks they have a car that was not involved in a wreck.
I suggest that you pay for a Carfax report on this car, if the normal maintenance shows up on the report, as done by Enterprise, then you will know they avoided reporting the extensive body damage to your call. This will prove they were aware of the damage during their ownership.
Just my 2 cents.....
Good Luck,
Dennis

 

I think another option might be the dealers Errors and Omissions or General Liability insurance coverage. they had one at the time of purchase of your car-they were in business, and therefore that policy may be there for anything they omitted to tell you, or in fact had hidden from you. One could request that info on the policy writer
and contact them. I would also contact Enterprise and ask them specifically who might handle their class action suits. they have the G and L coverages too. I also might go to the media who'd love to hear about potential rip-offs. every TV station has its' "consumer affairs reporter". But do some digging on your own. The Vin with damage will show up somewhere if it was in an accident, because it was probably in an accident with someone else involved, and that insurance co. knows the info, so why not Enterprise?

See if you can get your auto insurer to run what's called an NYIB, or ISO index on your VIN and see if there are any matches reported. It might show up there.

 

If you were told the car was NOT wrecked before you purchased it, then you have a good civil suit against them, out of business or not....if you bought it knowing it had been wrecked, then you are out of luck on this one....it is yours to fix....good luck either way...