AutoWest Dodge - Fremont CA

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The most recent reports are at the top of the list; the oldest are at the bottom.

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Poor, Parts=Fair, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
I brought the truck in about 8 months ago for the engine shut down during idle and they wanted to charge me for diagnostic even it was under warranty with a lot of hassle. When I got me truck back, it was used for over 350 miles but I was careless to report this since I thought the problem was corrected and I would not be back. The problem exist again with the engine light on. I brought it back again, same hassle, they want to charge me diagnostic fee which I disagreed. Anyway, I still left the truck there to correct the problem for the last time when it is still under warranty. This will be the last ever I would bring the truck to this dealer, they are the worse dealer that I ever experience with compare to Land Rover, Jaguar, Volkswagen that I currently owned. This truck is only 17K mile since I bought it new 2 and 1/2 years ago. I like the truck but not the service and will not buy any product from Chrysler and Dodge again, specially at Auto West.
Submitted by: Long Pham            longpham246[a]yahoo.com
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=5/9/2007, Date report submitted: May 9 13:42:43 EDT 2007

Sales=Poor, Service=Poor, Parts=Good, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
I don't know if its the Autowest way or if its just this dealerships way of dealing with customers. They like me soooooo much they would rather not do a job right the first time and have me come back for rechecks to correct the problems over and over again. Sometimes they wouldn't"bother with paper work". They would say just "hang out this should only take a few minutes to correct". (No paperwork, no tractability, how convenient!) This is the 3rd group of Service advisors that have been cycled through since I bought this truck. That should tell you something about the organization right there!!! I think they do this so they don't get to familiar with my trucks history. How many "free detail" coupons can you give just to keep people happy? If you don't mind throwing away money go to the service department. It cost $150 to just look at it and diagnose the issue (funny, they never seem to find anything wrong yet my vehicle has been in the shop more then it has been on the road!). They use to apply this fee to the service if you had them do it, but now they are so cheap they do not even do that. It used to seem fair to me, nobody should work for free. Now, no matter what you do, expect the bill too be that much more.
I am the most easy going person you could ever meet, sometimes to forgiving. But I have reached my limit! I don't know anybody else that would put up with a lemon of a truck and the horrible service like I have. All of my friends and family have been telling me for the past 2 years to get rid of my truck. I loved this truck when I got it, now it is nothing but a nightmare for me and my family. I am fed up with this money pit, I am fed up with Autowest Dodge. I can't drive to far from home, for fear that something is going to go wrong. I give up, I will tow this piece of junk over to the nearest Nissan dealership where I know I will get a better vehicle and customer service. My last import truck (it was a Nissan) had 3 times as many miles on it with less problems and I had it 14 years!!
Submitted by: =Fed Up!!
Number of dealership visits=Too many, Last visit date=7-1-05, Date report submitted: Jul 5 15:05:25 EDT 2005

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
I recently bought a Dodge Ram from AutoWest Dodge in Fremont, CA. I wouldn't buy another car from them. Lydia DeVaughn, the fleet manager, sold me the truck. She was rude, condescending, and impatient. If I could do it again, I would pay more money at another dealership rather than let her earn my commission. I wrote a letter to Chuck Noriega, the general manager of the dealership, which detailed my interaction with DeVaughn. That was over a month ago and I haven't heard a response back from him. I'm not holding my breath. They have a reputation for poor service. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and now regret it. If any of you living in Northern Cali are thinking about purchasing a Dodge vehicle, I would recommend that you go to another dealership. Your better of taking your business elsewhere if you expect to be treated with respect and desire even a nominal amount of service. Love the truck. Hate the dealership.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=9/28/03, Date report submitted: Dec 4 16:23:40 EST 2003

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
Found this site recently, otherwise would have posted my harrowing experience with them earlier. Even after 2 yrs, I am so angry with them that I will never buy another product from this place ever. I used to live in Richmond and was looking for a Dodge Caravan (smaller version) with very specific features. I found a car with this dealer. I told the salesman over the phone that since I would be traveling 60 miles and have young children at home, I did not want to go through the hassles of haggling. I had the MSRP and knew approximately how much I should paying. I guy lured me in saying that is how he would like to deal also and had no problem. When I reached there, I took the car for a test drive. When it came to the point of finalizing the deal, he brought in another salesman. This guy courted me a price $29K (for a car with MSRP of $21K) more than the MSRP and sat down with a sheet for negotiating. When I told him that I had told the other guy that I did not want to go through the negotiations, he bluntly told me that then I could accept this price. This guys was an immigrant from Nigeria (or somewhere there) and was completely insensitive to my personal issues. He was a complete idiot and buffoon. He then went to a desk and came back saying that $27K was a final offer from the Manager (yeah right! as if he really went to the owner). I threatened to walk away and he couldn't care less. The original salesman showed his helplessness - may be that was the trick. Finally, I did walk out, gave both of them a piece of mind. They lost a customer but it seems it did not bother them. While going back, I called up Negherbon Dodge in Oakland. Explained them the car I wanted and my experience with Auto West. They had a car matching my needs. Went in there, liked the car and did a deal in less than 30 mins - got the car with additional features for $24K including taxes. Next day went and signed all paperwork.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=12/01/01, Date report submitted: Nov 20 13:33:48 EST 2003

Sales=Avoid, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
The worst part of the experience was the office manager, Debbie Hennessy, a cousin of James Earl Ray (really) - a true psychopath.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=09-15-2001, Date report submitted: Oct 2 22:08:07 EDT 2003

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid, scv_there=Yes,
Yeah don't believe the stories about Ram Tough. This Durango is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I have never towed anything with it, given it the service requested and changed oil every 3k miles. It's just a piece of junk.
Number of dealership visits=6, Last visit date=5/2003, Date report submitted: 13 Jun 2003 18:20

Sales=Poor, Service=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No,
Went in to test drive a Neon SRT4, dealer would not let me test drive it and said I could test drive it if I buy it. It's a sub-$20K NEON for goodness sakes, not the Viper!!
Mitch
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=April 26, 2003, Date report submitted: 29 Apr 2003 02:58

Sales=Fair, Service=Fair, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
Sales; I bought my truck here and I was armed with enough information from the internet about comparable pricing that I knew exactly what I wanted and how much I would pay. Once I got past the sales testosterone (lot guys) and made it to the sales manager I purchased my truck. The sales guys were pushy, and a nuisance.
Service; I haven't had many problems with this truck. I went to have new tires put on it from Big O tire stores and of course an alignment. Big O said that they saw a right front ball joint loose and couldn't align the front tires until this was fixed. So I had AutoWest Dodge double check it since this was a warranty item and they said it was fine... cost of this inspection $110.00. I took my truck back to Big O and they said the right front ball joint is still need of repair. I had them show me and sure enough it was loose. Very loose! I called AutoWest Dodge to discuss this item and was put on hold for 10 minutes before I hung up the phone. I had Big O tire stores fix the problem for $319.00.
M E S
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=3-14-03, Date report submitted: 14 Apr 2003 16:15

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid,
bought there=yes, scv_there=yes, This dealership can't diagnose a problem to save their lives. My Durango has had the engine replaced once, and had to be rebuilt a second time because they misdiagnosed the problem. The torque converter had ballooned and wore out the thrust bearing, tearing apart the inside of the brand new replaced engine. Talk about a stupid and expensive mistake on their part. They had my car a total of 37 days over a two month period. It went back in a month after the engine rebuild for leaks coming from the engine and transmission. Now, 25K miles later it has a transmission problem and a cracked radiator. Took in for service (have extended warranty) and they will not fix the transmission under warranty and they said they replaced the radiator with a new one. I didn't know radiators came new furnished with bugs, dents, gouges and all!! They are incompetent, unethical, and fraudulent. Never do business with Autowest Dodge Fremont.
Number of dealership visits=10+, Last visit date=Feb. 03, Date report submitted: 18 Feb 2003 15:01

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know,
I bought a used 1998 ford Windstar there. The salesman were rude, pushy, and offensive. The sold my the warranty from AUTO NATION (avoid this like the plague). Two weeks after I bought the van, I took my wife, 6 mo old daughter, and my paralyzed mother in law to Reno to see some friends. The transmission went out completely! Forty-four thousand miles, and it's gone! So I whipped out my warranty, and called auto nation. They never heard of me! So I called Auto West, and spoke to the G.M., he couldn't have cared less that his sales staff, and the rest of the dealership are a bunch of completely inept idiots, so I threatened to sue! After a month, they finally agreed to fix the van. They called me up afterwards saying that they had not done the pre sale smog, and that I had to bring it in when they had time (when they had time?!). When I took it in there were several people who were also having problems with this dealership, one gentleman had just purchased a vehicle that they had disconnected the odometer cable from! Don't go there, they are a bunch of money grubbing little a-holes who don't give a crap about anything but what they are putting in their own pockets. Pride, professionalism, and integrity, are words that no employee at auto west dodge is familiar with. Stay away.
Curt Pelky          curtpelky<at>lkhotmail.com
Number of dealership visits=one too many, Last visit date=May 1999, Date report submitted: 29 Jan 2003 13:44:20

Sales=Avoid, Service=Poor,
Went in to look at the new PT Cruiser, was immediately accosted by a salesman, at which point I told him that I would not pay retail for this car. He insisted we go inside and talk about it, at which point he brings out paperwork for an auto sale with a price $3,000 over MSRP. When I continually pointed out that I wouldn't pay retail for the car, he acted as if he were insulted and wouldn't give us prices on anything else. Treated us well in service on our truck (major service and tire rotation for 3500 dually), but said next time they would charge us more because they felt they got ripped off. They underbid the job. A friend took his truck in and they left off a seal on the front of the engine and left a wrench under the hood, which fell out while he was driving. 12 Aug 2002

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid,
Bought a used 1998 Jeep there. When test driving, mentioned strange noises to sales rep. He said I could bring it back after I bought it and have it checked. They checked it all right, then presented me with an estimate for over $3,000 worth of work needed to get it running safely.
Sales personnel work the "bait and switch" tactic to max. First Sales rep gives inflated price and terms, then "Manager" offers better deal. Deal still stinks.
Service Department could care less about your problems. Their bottom line is "this is what we'll charge you." Don't even think they try to use your maintenance agreement to cover anything. 08 Aug 2002

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know,
Asked a salesperson for a test-drive on a Ram 1500 4 x 4. We waited almost 20 minutes which was too long, so we decided to leave. Just because we told him we were not interested in buying today, I guess we were not worthy of a test drive. One sales person even had the nerve to say, try Hayward dodge. Note: my husband went there 2 days prior to look at this truck and the price was jacked up TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!I also have heard from friends that they think everyone in Fremont has a lot of money and will not come down an there prices . OVER ALL THE ARE RUDE. I suppose I just had to find out for my self .

Sales=Good, Service=Excellent,
Bought truck through the fleet manager. Told her what I wanted to pay and left. Got a call three days later for the sale.

Sales=Avoid, Service=Avoid,
Bought vehicle used in 96. Was sold third party warranty. When I had to use the warranty because the air conditioning died and the brakes were acting up and the warning lights kept coming on, I was told that I would have to come up with the cash up front. I wound up counting my losses and trading the vehicle in for a new Ford because they were the only dealer that would take a vehicle that I owed so much on as a trade in. On a final note, I should have known better because I got burned a few years earlier by another Autowest dealer. Mr. Torian; you need to seriously look at the way you do business. All you had to do was the right thing. Instead, your people just gave the run-around.

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid,
I had a customized intake and filter on the truck. I went in for warranty work on my differential. Somehow, my intake and filter were missing after I got the truck back from the dealer!!! They acted as they couldn't care less. Both the service advisor and manager seemed confused as to how it could happen. I think they have thieves for mechanics! I am reporting them to the BBB! (Note, I received two separate reports of this from the same person. It appears that the problem is not being resolved)

Dealership Rating:
	Good sales department, good service
	Fair sales, fair service
	Conflicting or not enough information
	Poor Service or Poor Sales Department
	Avoid like the plague!!
	Don't Know or No Experience

This page was edited on: August 17, 2007