Finish Line Dodge - Statesville, NC

Visit Geno's Garage for Truck accessories.

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

Sales=Fair, Service=Poor, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Maybe,
I have purchased 2 Dodge Rams in 2 years from this dealership. I also purchased a new 2004 Toyota from the same owner of this dealership chain for a total of 3 trucks in 3 years from this franchise. I was having my 2003 Ram 2500 serviced in Finish Line's Service Department. I made several attempts, starting at about 10,000 miles, to have them check the noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. At the 10,000 mile service the service writer told me when I picked the truck up that they had found the rear axle to be a quart low of lubricant and that they had also added a pint of additive to the axle and it should be fine. Twice more I asked them to follow up on this because the noise was getting worse and lasting longer in 2 separate speed ranges. At the 30,000-mile checkup, I was more persistent toward the service department to do something about the ring and pinion because it was definitely taking a turn for the worse. I called to check on the truck to see how i! t was coming and the service writer told me that they had replaced something in the fuel pump (I had complained about a fuel smell) and the truck was ready to pick up. When I asked about the rear axle, she told me that the mechanic had driven the truck and did not hear any noise. After some non-productive discussion with the service department, I asked for the zone reps. number so I could discuss the problem with them and I was told that the zone rep. was at their dealership that day. When I told her of my concerns, she said that she would ride with the mechanic and see what she thought. I got no reply back that day. The next day I went to the dealership to pick up the truck and was told that there was nothing wrong and not to worry because it was still under warranty and the noise in question was the turbocharger whine. I was very displeased to say the least. I started as a line mechanic in a Dodge dealership in 1975 and later became a service manager there. I have worked in Cadillac dealerships and private garages, auto parts stores! , and even had my own machine shop-custom engine building service for 6 years before I moved South in 1987 to work in Nascar and I have been doing that ever since. What I am saying is that I know the difference in a high-speed turbo whine and a 3:73 ring and pinion howling. I have let the truck set in the garage for most of a year and I still get upset every time I get in the truck and listen to that noise.
I took a chance and stopped by M&L Motors in Lexington, NC a couple of weeks ago and asked for a mechanic to ride with me and see what the noise was. I didn't tell him anything at the time, just wanted to know what he thought about the noise. When we reached 45 M.P.H. I said "There, that's what I am talking about." and he promptly said "Ring and pinion!" When I asked what we could do about it he said no problem. Today March 23, 2004 he called to tell me the truck was ready, no charge. They had it for a total of 1 day.
For the guy who said how wonderful the new Finish Line Dodge was.......well, I suppose I can't use the language I had in mind. Either their mechanics don't know the difference between a 20,000 R.P.M. turbo and a 3:73 ring and pinion at 45-55 M.P.H. or they simply have a policy not to do any warranty work on vehicles they have sold. You tell me! As for the cause of the problem, I would have to say that the rear axle lubricant was low from the beginning. There is nothing leaking at the housing area and it is likely that during servicing they didn't check the fluid levels like they are supposed to, resulting in the ring and pinion and possibly bearings to overheat during normal use. Thanks to M&L Motors for bailing me out of a bad situation. I purchased my truck from Finish Line Dodge because I thought it would be easier to get service work here in town when I needed it. I should have checked out the service department better. I will not purchase anything else from Finish Line Dodge or any of the dealerships this guy owns. Obviously, he has a no-warranty policy.
I like the truck a lot. My next Dodge will likely be from M&L Dodge in Lexington because they can back up what they sell.
Submitted by: Steve Long    Statesville, NC
Number of dealership visits=4, Date of last visit=6-7-04, Date report submitted: Mar 24 00:02:20 EST 2005

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
General Manager of the dealership quoted me a payment that I thought was reasonable. We went back and forth for a few minutes and he said he was going to submit the offer to Chrysler. Two hours later, when the finance guy finally met with me, the lowest payment price that he quoted me was $250 higher than what the general manager promised. A lot of finger pointing between the finance guy and the GM. Bottom line is they wasted a total of four hours of my time by not being honest with me up front.
Number of dealership visits=1, Date of last visit=11/24/03, Date report submitted: Nov 25 15:00:29 EST 2003

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes,
very poor tried to make me pay for something they broke!! all the Finish Line companies are a joke!!!
Number of dealership visits=10, Date of last visit=2002, Date report submitted: Mar 9 20:46:23 EST 2003

Sales=Excellent, Service=Excellent,
Hey guys I couldn't help but notice the bad feedback that Carolina Dodge got here in Statesville. I just wanted everyone to know Carolina Dodge is gone .When you get a bad reputation in the auto business you are pretty much done for. Just to let you guys know We are Finish Line Dodge and we value our customers and want the buying process as painless as possible and I want people to know that we are a different kind of Dodge dealer. As Always Thank You. We all know that Carolina Dodge had a bad reputation and We are trying to fix the problems of the past one customer at a time.
Date report submitted: 01 Aug 2002

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: March 23, 2007