This is a good point. However, many attorneys will provide a free first consultation. At least then you can be armed with knowledge of the federal and local laws. On top of that, some attorneys will even offer to write a letter on your behalf for free, recognizing that such a simple action is often enough to straighten out things. Honest, it won't hurt you to visit an attorney and at least be armed with genuine legal advice rather than questionable Internet advice.

 

That sucks but:

1) An attorney will not help and will only make things more annoying

2) You trusted a dealership and didn't inspect it first.

3) You let someone else fix it

5) 2) You trusted a dealership and didn't inspect it first.

6) You trusted a dealership and didn't inspect it first.

7) You trusted a dealership and didn't inspect it first.

Consider this a lesson learned to never trust a dealership, especially a Chrysler dealership. It could've been A LOT worse. Let it go and enjoy your Jeep. And do yourself a favor and learn how to do those simple repairs yourself. You could've save a ton of money. The brakes probably only need pads at about $50, for example. Coulda done all that work for less than a few hundred dollars at the most.

 

I think you have a case. It is clear from chrysler's site regarding the CPO policy. THey sold it as a CPO and they did not fulfil the requirements of the CPO.

 

Yes there's probably a case, but bringing a lawyer into the equation will be a mental drain. Not worth it in my opinion. I'd take the loss and enjoy the Jeep.

 

I bought a 2007 certified pre owned and it needed brakes and the drivers door window was scratched---dealership fixed brakes and replaced the glass and no charge because it was certified.

 

I had a very similar experience a couple of years back on a '99. Tons of thing wrong. I asked them to fix it and they refused stating that it was a used vehicle and I should expect some things wrong with a used vehicle. I mentioned that there are things that I expect and other things that should have been caught. I had spent several hundred dollars fixing items as well.

I finally got them to look at the Jeep. I also brought a list of the items that were broke that I expected to have to replace, a list of items that should have been fixed prior to sale, and all my receipts. At the bottom of the page was the number to the Missouri State Highway Patrol(they oversee state vehicle inspections here). They asked me to give them a few hours. I didn't mention anything about the phone number, I just left it there. I had also gone through the complete state safety inspection criteria here. I knew much of what was wrong was pencil-whipped on their part during the inspection they performed prior to sale.

When I came back EVERYTHING, including the small stuff I had expected to to fix myself, was fixed. I was also handed a check for the amount I had spent. I guess they realized I was going to the Highway patrol next to point out my issues. That would have triggered a spot inspection of the vehicles they had inspected on their lot. Guess they didn't want that.

I have the list of items I was able to get fixed. It did include wear items (wiperblades, brakes, etc...). If they inspected your vehicle, they could be liable for those items at a minimum.

 

I think you're pretty much screwed. I hate it for you too, but based on the information given I just don't see any solid foundation for legal action. The only described replacement that I could see them possibly reimbursing you for is the rear wiper as it was the only "defective" or broken part of the Jeep. I would imagine that under the CPO agreement, there is some small print stating that things such as the oil/diff. fluid change, tires etc. are all within "normal" ranges for given miles on the vehicle, thereby relieving them of any such claims. Also, unless you have proof (ie recording etc.) of the guy admitting they didn't even perform the check, then it will simply be a matter of he said/she said and gives no real basis for anything.

In the end I'd forsee it playing out: He said this, no I didn't. Well, we'll reimburse you for the oil change and wiper but the rest is under normal wear ranges.

I could be wrong, and hope I am, but I think this is gonna be a hindsight 20/20 kinda thing.

 

I agree with the fact that you should have checked it out before purchasing. There is always a risk in purchasing a used vehicle (from a dealer or individual seller). Its always up to the buyer to do the research and know exactly what you are getting into.

Personally, I would never consider a used Jeep. Seeing some of the dumb stuff that people do to their jeeps just because it says "trail rated" makes the new vehicle premium worth it to me.

At least I know everything I have put my jeep through.

 

Yes CPO should mean "at the very least" your brakes and tires should have been replaced per inspection. Those are safety items even for tires if they were very low. Not Chrysler, but for Audi i believe its a "125 point inspection"(not sure exactly what they call it), and they have a list of items that they advertise is checked and replaced if needed. You need to find out Chrysler's "certification" claims. And yes it should have been checked, even if you just saw someone trade it in and wanted to buy it ASAP. Dealership should have made you wait, and get it correctly certified before selling it with its CPO claims. Brother in-law is a finance manager for Toyota, worked with him for a little while...so I've seen purchases like that before. They had two options, sell to you "as-is" or make you wait to certify the vehicle. Oh, and your credit? that has nothing to do with what the problem is. They just tried to turn things around and push the problem back to you. Remember a lot of the guys at the dealership, have sales experience, and with this economy, I assume only the best are employed right now, and they are good with their mouth!
So someone I know who does inspections at Audi to "certify" vehicles have a list of checks to do and initials go on every item. I saw this once, hanging out in the shop in his bay.
Ok, so where I think you made a mistake, was when you ran into those issues and the "other" dealership gave you a list of items that needed replaced or repaired. At that point, that's when you should have taken the vehicle to the dealership that you bought it from. If you argued your point at that time, I have a feeling they would have completed the work for you. If not, that would have been a good time for a lawyer to jump in. They probably pushed back paying your tab(not that they should have), because they didnt want money from their pockets to go to another dealership or shop.

Do you have a case on your hand? I think so, but like others have stated, get a consultation from a lawyer first and see what information you can gather to make a calculated decision, if you want to go through with it or not. Also, like said before, maybe even a letter from a lawyer might change the dealerships mind...
I think the dealership dropped the ball on this one, by not correctly certifying a vehicle, when they sold it to you with a CPO claim. Remember, buying certified, always cost more on the lot. You are paying for the vehicle to be inspected, and it should have been. I think it would hurt that dealership more by going to court, than just paying you off..but sometimes they need to be threatened by a lawsuit as most people, like some on here, would have just taken the loss and run after losing a simple argument from them....

hmmm, thats how slow it is at work..i wrote a damn book

 

oh and for the people who are giving you crap about not doing a full inspection blah blah blah...

they are talking like that because they know about vehicles, and know what to look for when buying used. Should you have checked those items? yes, but you pay extra for CPO so you "should'nt" have to.period.

^


the whole selling point in buying "Certified" is what was said above! not all know about what to look for in buying used! It cost more to buy certified, and rightfully so, because you should be confident with what they claim has been checked, and they provide added warranty to back up their inspection.

there are a lot of vehicles traded in, that do not pass the "Certified" inspection, and wont get that CPO claim on it. that's when you should know exactly what you are buying, and that's when you need to know what to inspect!

but you bought CPO, and honestly i feel bad for you cause you really are getting fuct.