Lithia Dodge, buyer beware

[brillmtb]

Speak to Travis at Lithia, Medford. When I call I get through every time unless he is out of the shop. I have been in several times, shared TSB's he didnt even know about because they come out here and other sites so fast. Unlike other dealerships he has taken them serious, gets the job done for me, is polite and professional.



I have also met a couple of the mechanics. They let me back to watch some of the work, educated me on a few things. They were approachable and respectful.



I have found them to be very nice out there.



Now dont ask me about my local Montero dealer... .

 

[PJ]

Thanks for the heads up on the Medford Service department. Ill give them a call next week.

 

[Cummins4Life]

I've had acouple poor experiences with the Lithia in Klamath Falls, so if Medford doesnt work go farther north.

 

[RStratford]

Lithia in Concord CA is so bad I will never go back execpt for oil changes. The first time I took it there I bought the life time oil change, I needed the tires rotated, a leak fixed from the top radiator hose and the passenger mirror replaced because it shook. They called and said I could pick it up but would have to bring it back because they could not get a radiator hose. I was so mad that they did not have a simple part like that. I let the service manager know I was not happy about having to find someone follow me down there again because of a radiator hose. I left and as I was driving down the freeway I noticed the “new mirror” was as bad as the one I had. Then when I arrived at my next stop I saw the brake dust was still in the front wheels. It looked liked they had been handled but not moved from front to back. As I came around to the passenger side there was a small spot of wax on the mirror that I could not get off the last time I waxed my truck. I drove 45 minutes back to the shop but the service manager was gone. Come to find out that nothing had been done except the tires had been rotated side to side. They had ordered the wrong mirror (which I had waited over 6 weeks for). I finally had every thing fixed but had to drag someone down twice to drop off the truck and pick it up.



The next time I needed the oil changed I took it in and told the service writer that I would need some other warranty work done but could I show her what I needed so they would have all the parts when I brought it in. Something had broke in the heater control and rattled and I had heard there was finally a TSB for the vibration at 2000 RPM. We made an appointment, for the maybe 3 hours of work the truck would need. It took them a full week to get the parts and get the truck done. For all my trouble they washed my truck for me. B*D. I had $10. 00 of mobil calls to them to check on the truck. I also had to borrow my dads 1985 Nissan pick for a hunting trip. It was 2 wheel drive and we got stuck.



I was going to demand my money back for the life time oil change but after a few more changes it will have paid for its’ self. I figured 6 changes and the rest are free. I figure after 10 it will cost them money. I get right in and it takes about a half hour. I am going out right now and mark my filter.

 

[KHaeckler]

Lithia Medford

Go to Lithia in Medford... . can't beat that service dept. Good guys!



Karl

 

[jungledave]

I bought my 04 at a Lithia dealer in aroura, CO. I can say that my experience wasn't the greatest but it wasn't their fault I bought a truck from them. I will say that it will be the last truck that I bought from them. I am still not happpy that I was told my Laramie had leather seats; only the drivers and passengers seats are leather. The rest, rear and center are vinyl. I also wish I knew about this REALLY GREAT site before i bought my truck. It would probably be silver or white or anything but patriot blue.

 

[rdanley]

hey PBJOHNSON

all i want to know is do you still have the dealers name around your license plate Oo.

 

[PJ]

I have no dealer plate frame on any car and truck I own. I refuse to give FREE advertising to people that treat me wrong!

 

[dawall]

I guess I can put in my 2 cents. My Lithia dealer is the Concord, Ca Store. Since I have only had my truck for a week I really only have experience with Sales and only dealt for the most part with the Fleet manager. He was allways friendly and as helpful as he could be. If he didn't have an answer to a question he'd find out. I'd say everyone at that store in sales was great. As for parts I bought the fender liners and the F/R dodge mudflaps... told him I just bought a truck and he knocked off ~5%... not great but helpful! I also bought the lifetime oil change, it seems like it is going to be a good deal for us. And finally, I have not dealt with the SVC. Dept. for repairs so can't comment on them yet.



There were some minor problems (looong wait to close sale and truck was not detailed... had to get them to do it twice) but they dealt with it fairly well.



So I 'd recomend them for purchasing a truck, I just hope the SVC department is at least as professional as the sales dept. If so, I'll be a long time customer.



Dan

BTW got the truck at EP price... thanks to a fellow forum member!

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

My experience with Lithia Dodge in Klamath Falls has been right in line with others'. I have talked to 4 or 5 different salespeople over the past few years and every one of them hasn't had a clue about the products they sell. They flat give out bunk information to anyone who will listen.



On a side note, as far as complaining to DC and expecting results, I had a bad experience with Reno Dodge (a 5 Star Dealership) a few years back. I wrote and called DC more than once and never even received so much as a reply.

 

[ssanders60]

Re: Chrysler Dealers, Dodge etc.



If Dodge dealerships ran their business like

my Buick dealer they'd have more business.

For instance when I bought my '03 CTD H/o

the dealer was sending me away with an empty

fuel tank. I reminded them that my GM Buick dealer would never hear of that, at that point they filled my truck with $45 of

fuel. Chrysler is the reason their dealer's

get unfavorable publicity. My dealer just last

week told me to bring my truck in for the

recall repairs, claiming they had the parts.

After keeping my wife for over 2 hours they then

told her that they did not have all of the parts

only a few of the items that was necessary.

I have never experienced anything like that at

GM. 5 star Chrysler dealers and 5 star GM

dealers are not EQUAL!

 

[jimnance]

I have had a few problems with Grants Pass Lithia in the past. They mostly related to not pushing hard enough to resolve a difficult service issue.



My latest issue was my transfer case popping out of gear while going down steep hills with a load in tow. A very dengerous situation as you cannot get back into gear without coming to a complete stop. I took it to them and explained the problem. They drove it around without a trailer and could not duplicate the problem. No s. . t Sherlock. I offered to have them come up Siskyou Summit with me and see for themselves. They declined.



Finally, I called them on the cell after having it pop out coming down Siskyou and told the service manager I'd nearly crashed and died. That finally did it. They called the tech guys a Dodge and I turns out some transfer cases have had poor mating surface machining which can cause the linkage to not properly engage. The pulled the case, repaired the damged machine surface and no problem since.



The problem is that they are lazy and will not go to bat for you with DC unless you push real hard.



Next truck I'm buying from an independent Dodge dealership in Bend, OR.

 

[Punkineater]

Well PB if you express your concerns with the dealer the way you do on the boards therein may lie your problem.

 

[Rogue Ram]

Am I the only TDR member to be BANNED from a dealership??



Maybe so. I was banned from Timberline Dodge in Portland for filling out a negative customer comment card. This was after the coolant gooseneck on top of the engine blew a gasket and coolant was everywhere... ..... the cheeseball service mgr claimed they did a pressure test and it was fine... . "so Mr. Genius, what is that green stuff all over the engine compartment?" Around and round and round we went. Finally they fixed it. Filled out the comment card and told them this issue was stupid from the get go, then mailed it back. Pressed for time, I had to drop the truck there again on an issue----close to work, and as I said, pressed for time. Got to the office, and I have a voicemail... ... . "*&%$ing no good *&^%$ " ?!?!?! Uh, who might this be from..... so I hit redial and it went to TIMBERLINE DODGE's service department. I was sitting there pondering this when the phone rang. Service writer told me to come get the truck, they couldn't work on it. ??? Said they were a "5 star dealer" and could NOT work on vehicles from anyone that filled out a negative comment card. The service manager got on the phone and told me the same thing. I told him I had his profane voicemail and his number and was calling DC. DC was not happy when I played his voicemail to them. I went down to pick up the truck, it was fixed... ... ... but they said never to come back.



During a TDR sponsored event I showed up and confronted the owner. Told him to go pull up my record on their computer. He left for a few then came back and apologized all over himself, saying I could come back whenever I wanted... ... he then gave me a couple coupons for free oil changes.



Far as I'm concerned, the issue was squared to some degree. However, these dealers are seriously lacking in the CS department. And I don't see where PB, me or YOU are in the wrong to expect CS from an organization we just gave $30k to $40k to.



Sorry for the long post.



RR

 

[PJ]

Amen Brother!!!!

 

[jimnance]

Lithia Service

I too have had problems with the service at Lithia Dodge in Grants Pass, OR.



On my '99 Dodge CTD the cruise control was inop for over a year on my then new truck. Lithia's answer to the problem "Dodge is working on a fix". For a year??? Dodge's Customer Service Dept was little help either.



On my '03 Dodge CTD my transfer case was jumping out of gear when going downhill with a load. A very dangerous situation as suddenly free wheeling down a hill with 14K in tow and no way to get back into gear without coming to a full stop. Naturally, they couldn't duplicate the problem on a local test drive and declined to go on a ride with me to the nearest big mountain about 40 miles away. Finally, after having it jump out of gear and smoking the brakes getting stopped I called the service manager and asked him if he wanted to deal with my survivors when I died? That finally did the trick. When the pulled the transfer case they found the problem and it has since been fine.



The point is that I had to threaten them to get them to fix the problem. Not a good way to do business.



When I called Lithia HQ in Medford I could never get a call back.

 

[PJ]

Been there, done that!

 

[guava]

a little lithia justice

Last summer Lithia was running a promotion giving away 10,000 dollars to ten people around the country. I was basically window shopping and told them so. They tried the high pressure sales tactic and ****** me off.

I had ridden with my kids to one of their 'other' lots and they wouldn't give me a ride back to my car. So I called the police via cell phone. I was delivered back post haste.

The manager in an effort to resolve the problem was all kinds of suck up. As I was ignoring him, he followed me out the door and said he'd fill out the contest entry form for me. I said, "whatever. " And left.

A month later, they called me to say come get my check for 10 grand. COOL!

So I picked up my check and walked, reminding them that they lost me as a customre weeks ago but that didn't prevent me from taking their money and leaving.

Promptly spent it elsewhere with no regrets.

 

[RobertBolinger]

$10,000 Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[thejeepdude]

Re: a little lithia justice

Originally posted by guava



A month later, they called me to say come get my check for 10 grand. COOL!

NIIIICE!!! Congrats! I won a $25K ski boat once, but that's another story...