Crown Dodge - Ventura CA

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

Sales=Poor, Service=Poor, Parts=Poor, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
My grandson just bought a 2004 new srt4 and it broke down and they said it could not be fixed? So they gave him the option of buying a 2005. He did and left 5 cd's in his 2004 car , drove off the lot called called them and told he was coming back for his cd's and they said nothing was in the car! Someone working at Ventura Crown Doge stole them!! He was not even 5 minutes off the lot! I went today to see if maybe they had showed up and the sales manger Sal said no! these were very expensive cd's! I will not buy another car or truck from there, and I am going to get some legal advice about what took place there!
Submitted by: =Dawn Sara Collins
Number of dealership visits=4, Last visit date=2-27-06, Date report submitted: Mar 2 15:17:34 EST 2006

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Maybe,
I went there to purchase my truck. The initial sales representative was very nice but he knew nothing about a diesel engine. Fortunately I did my homework before and quizzed everyone there about the engine and the truck itself. It would seem like they would know a lot about trucks since their sales are 1/3 or more trucks. The sales people need to be instructed about what the vehicle is. Later on in the negotiations part of the deal, I sat there for 3 hours and argued over what price I wanted. The thing that pissed me off is that the head salesperson LOST HIS TEMPER WITH ME and said "Fine your F***ing crazy" I have no respect for that kind of attitude and was ready to fight because of it. They later on apologized and I got the price that I wanted. NEVER GO TO CROWN DODGE!!! It might look fancy and nice but the overhead and the sales people are deceitful and corrupt. This is definitely"Avoid the Plague" type of a place.
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=4/04, Date report submitted: Apr 27 16:01:34 EDT 2004

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
Watch out for these guys. They make claims that are not true regarding cars they are selling. I was told the cars I was looking at (PT Cruisers) were listed as "rentals" but "actually were not". Instead, the salesman claimed, they were "DC company or executive cars". He lied. The car I bought turned out to indeed be a rental, documentation stating it had been acquired from a "major rental car company". This was verified later using Carfax.com. I know the risk of believing anything car dealer salesmen say, but this was a most boldfaced lie. He made the claim not just once in passing, but repeatedly - at least 4 times. Likewise, follow-up on post-sales inquiries and requests has been worse than terrible. They would make promises to fulfill specific requests, and then only partially deliver. I like my PT Cruiser, but I would NEVER buy another car of any kind from this dealership, nor recommend anyone else do so.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=March, 2003, Date report submitted: Oct 23 13:59:34 EDT 2003

Sales=Fair, Service=Poor, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
Phone operator is very, very rude and I never got through to anyone and had to drive there to speak with someone. The person answering the phones should also be able to speak english.
Francesca Berry, great salesperson but all her good work goes down the drain after the very low quality and class-less staff get done with trashing the image that Crown could possibly have.
patrick lockerman    lockerman[at]101freeway.com
Number of dealership visits=8, Last visit date=08/06/2003, Date report submitted: 06 Aug 2003 15:13:09

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Poor, bought there=Yes, sc v_there=Yes,
The service area and the body shop associates practice bad customer service skills. From the customer service managers to the cashiers; they all need to take a training course (or two) on "How To Deal and Communicate with Customers". With just a little bit of training, your business will improve immensely.
The new facility looks great, but the people who work there - ruin it. Don't be so cheap, spend money to get your associates trained - they all need a new personality and a new outlook on life.
We have several family members and friends who see it too, and because of it, they do not want to buy from Crown Dodge Ventura anymore. If we spread the word, this business will go down in a few years!
LP
Number of dealership visits=10, Last visit date=7/28/03, Date report submitted: 29 Jul 2003 18:49

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
One week to fix a steering module! It was only a little part about the size of a pocket watch. Car came back with 130 miles on it. What the hell is that?! When I complained, service manager stated the mechanic had to do "real-world" driving. For a 130 miles?!!! Car came back dirty too. Manager finally agreed to give a free oil change next time. There won't be a next time. Next time there will probably be 500 extra miles on my truck. Morons is the only word to describe them.
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=6-2-03, Date report submitted: 08 Jun 2003 15:37

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes,
Crown did some warranty work last year (5-7/02) and misread a TSB, replacing a steering box that was not supposed to be replaced; replaced the air conditioner compressor but did not charge it properly, causing me three return trips. It is a 1 1/2 hour drive each way and I now have found that they did not properly tighten the rear spring bolt and their number is coming up as disconnected with no new number!
CB
Number of dealership visits=4, Last visit date=7/24/03, Date report submitted: 27 May 2003 13:39

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
Don't even think about going to their service. What a bunch of morons. No Saturday hours either. Durango came back dirty and steering still was not fixed. Turned out to be alignment problem....when I had it fixed at another shop...it was done right! One awesome truck! I like it so much I would never think of trusting Crown Dodge in Ventura with it, what a bunch of retards.
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=4-03, Date report submitted: 03 May 2003 19:41

Sales=Poor, Service=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No,
I was at Crown Dodge dealership for almost 4 hours by the time that my fiance got his truck. It was ridiculous and they kept calling him about his credit but about a week or two later they tried to take his truck away.
Number of dealership visits=once, Last visit date=March 30th, Date report submitted: 30 Apr 2003 10:48

Sales=Avoid, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
In 98 I bought a Dodge Ram 1500 SS/T and that's when it all started. After I signed the final paperwork on my truck the salesman and I went outside to tell me what I needed to know and my truck was gone. Apparently another salesman went to the nearest golf course to show a buddy of his this new truck that that just got. Every time I had a oil change there is too at least 3 hours and it always came back with scratches and one it was dented. Every single time. I also had a head light go out on me (which was still under warranty) and they just washed the truck and didn't replace the bulb, that was two hours later. Shortly after I bought the truck they were no longer a five star dealership. I can vouch for that, they are the worst. I would recommend anyone in the world go to Crown Dodge in Ventura CA. For anything not even for the free hot dogs.
I have 60000 mile on the 98 dodge ram 5.9. I don't have a to hitch or have had a heavy loads in the bed and at 50000 mile both cylinder heads cracked on me. It cost me 3000. I called the Corp. office and they didn't care. The dealership said that it was a factory mistake but couldn't do anything about it. That is and BS.
Number of dealership visits=20+, Last visit date=1999, Date report submitted: 29 Apr 2003 00:10

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No,
I have a bad experience with the Salesperson his name Greg Hackerman and his Manager J C. They were very rude, customer relation is very, very poor. I will never step foot in that dealership again. If you don't want to be treated badly, avoid like a Plague!
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=3/25/03, Date report submitted: 31 Mar 2003 00:07

Sales=Fair, Service=Poor, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
When I dropped off my Durango for a brake light that would not turn off, I was treated like a dumb female. I wasn't giving any idea how long or what might be causing my problem. I got a call at almost five at night telling me that what it needed wasn't under warranty, I have had the damn thing 6 month.
When I go the next day to pick it up the counter girls were as rude and snotty as could be. It took them 3 months to put my windshield in that they promised I would have in a week. Reprogramed my stereo and a ton of other small annoying things. And I wondered my my daughter is a ford lover??!!.
Number of dealership visits=10+, Last visit date=3/12/03, Date report submitted: 23 Mar 2003 01:11

Sales=Good, Service=Avoid,
Wonder how they got a 5 star rating after reading all these bad comments. Parts nor service open on Saturday. They treated my like trash, lied and took almost a week to perform a simple repair. I hate them and will never return.
Erik    eisraelson<at>somis.k12.ca.us
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=Nov. 2002, Date report submitted: 22 Jan 2003 20:38:09

Sales=Excellent, Service=Poor,
I used to sell cars at Crown Dodge. And I assure you , the sales department is Honest and hardworking. Not I nor any of my coworkers ever tried to cheat anyone on a deal. But I do agree on the Service department. They are very slow with their service, and weren't even nice to me.. When I worked there!
"Britney"       Mystik_Haze<at>Hotmail.com
Number of dealership visits=enough, Last visit date=06/02, Date report submitted: 28 Oct 2002

Sales=Avoid, Service=Fair,
A bunch of crooks on the sales side. They ended up taking back (unwinding) a deal on an Intrepid because of outright lying. Service is marginal at best, although they are friendly. I still do not understand how the biggest Dodge dealer in the state, with a huge service department, isn't open for Saturday service?????
Number of dealership visits=10+, Last visit date=8/02, Date report submitted: 17 Sep 2002

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid,
Crown Dodge's service department is horrible. They lie to the customers and damage people's vehicles.

Sales=Avoid, Service=Avoid,
I took my car in to get the windows tested for air and water leaks, on a Monday morning. I was told it would be done by 5:00pm that night, I didn't get my car back until Thursday morning. The service dept. never called to inform me about my car. I called repeatedly, and was not given any answers. The service manger "promised" to call me back on Tuesday with an update and never called me. Crown Dodge is a terrible dealership!!!

Part of another report:
When I got in an accident I took my truck to a Chevy repair shop because I won't let Ventura Crown Dodge touch my truck and Fillmore is too far away for 'emergency' repairs. I shouldn't have to do that! I know several people who would like a RAM truck but will not deal with Crown Dodge in Ventura. They NEED to be fixed!

Posted to the TDR Forum:
I'll fight the traffic and drive for two hours before I let Crown Dodge in Ventura touch my truck. My old truck sat there for a week and when I picked it up it was never even looked at.

 (added to another report)
I have had a minor experience with Crown Dodge in Ventura. The service manager was somewhat helpful. I really think his hands were tied by Chrysler. I had put larger wheels and tires on my truck (19.5 Alcoa with 285 Michelins) and I wanted the speedometer adjusted. The manager hooked up the diagnostic unit and showed me what it did. I wouldn't adjust the value enough to make it right. Anyway the service staff was friendly and he didn't charge me for the time. He also said to check back at a later time as Chrysler does change the programming on the diagnostic unit and might adjust the range to allow an accurate speedometer/odometer reading some time in the future. I doubt it, but they were nice anyway.

Posted to the TDR:
I have had nothing but bad luck with their careless mechanics and runners, we're talking about dents, closing there garage door on my roof, leaving my truck with windows down in their dirt field out back, etc.etc.etc.. When I picked up my truck today and drove home It sounded a little funny, I mean my turbo was louder than ever. I live about 15 miles from there. When I got home and opened the hood, guess what no air intake hose from my air box to my turbo, it was laying down inside the engine compartment. Phoned them at 10min to 5:00 to speak with the service manager, they played phone tag with me for 20min then the girl came on and said it was after 5:00 and they went home. I told her that it would be best to talk to someone NOW!!! All of the sudden the manager was back to work. He said he would make a note of it, and it won't hurt the turbo to suck in that dirty air. Now for one last comment to piss you all off, on my last visit for warranty work I had mentioned that I'm a TDR member and I had learned alot about my truck on the internet, The service rep said "The people on the internet are self diagnosing their trucks and know nothing about what they're talking about, leave the diagnosing up to us and not the garage mechanics".

Posted to the TDR Forum:
CROWN DODGE IS THE WORST, BAR NONE! I first went to see them with cash in hand to purchase my truck. They said " you cannot order that truck anymore, But gee whiz we might sell you our lot queen" Then I need to get get the console box replaced," We can get that part but let's wait 4 weeks before we order it. Bring the truck in to get work done w/ the wife. The service writer ignores her and her questions. The yard boy jumps into the truck before the work order is complete (signed) and spins the tires leaving. I chase the truck to the back of the lot where I find a mechanic with the hood up removing parts. I inquire just what are you repairing? He advised me that customers were not welcome in the back lot. I advise him to come with me to the managers office. He backs off and asks who I am and proceeds to tell me they need "parts to repair" SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK AND TOMORROW HE WILL REPLACE MINE W/NEW! So he was planning to strand me! WITHOUT MY CONSENT OR SIGNATURE! B.S. Do not patronize CROWN Dodge... I called DC corporate wrote letters jumped up and down... To no avail... AND they are still "FIVE LIE DEALERS". PS they also chipped the paint on the hood and the console box won't open properly.

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid, no comments offered

Posted to TDRoundtable:
took my truck to the dealer to have my front end finally aligned correctly after 4 alignments with hard pull to the right. Adjustable ball joints - is what finally corrected the problem, my truck now steers straight down the road, wooohooo. Took a year to get this done. Adjustable ball joints from Ingle products. Although dealer states they had to remove the spindle and caliper every time they needed to make an adjustment to get it aligned, because the ball joint needs to be removed each time??? Fluid Leak - now my freeking front axle is leaking like a faucet. Truck only has 18k on it and there was a big puddle of dif fluid under the axle this am. They obviously damaged the seal while performing there 5 star work. Was treated like s*&% by the asst service manager when I took it back today. Threw his arms in the air and walked away from me when I tried to explain the problem. Told me they could not of caused that, that's not the area they were working on. DENT- another freeking dent in my truck that makes 3 now that need body work. Already spent a week in body shop for last dents they put in it.... Now they need to fix another one. These jerk offs are careless pieces of S*^%. I'm fed up.........Sorry just venting on you guys again. Figured since there was a few positive dealer stories lately had to ruin it. Don't go to CROWN DODGE IN VENTURA CA. if your life depended on it...... Sorry so mad.........,more like frustrated.........

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: February 26, 2007