- Report: #270133
Complaint Review: Texas Direct Auto - Missouri City Texas
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Why?
Texas Direct Auto
1915 Highway 90A Missouri City, 77289 Texas, U.S.A.
Phone:
832-947-9936
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Texas Direct Auto 2003 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 has Death wobble and is unsafe to tow my truck ripoff Missouri City Texas
I looked at buying a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4 wheel drive listed on eBay by Texas Direct Auto. Their ebay listing text read Buy-it-now for $13980. This is not the eBay Buy-it-now feature and if you call them to purchase the vehicle the auction does not close and you lose the eBay feedback prerogative and any eBay buyer purchase protection. This practice of selling vehicles outside of eBay is in violation of eBay policy (1st red flag)
I reviewed both the Auto-check and Carfax reports on the truck and there were no red flags. The 100% positive feedback on eBay was deceptive because of the practice explained above. People like me who are very dissatisfied and would deliver negative feedback are not able to affect the feedback scores.
I wanted the 4 door 4 wheel drive V10 engine 3/4 ton vehicle to pull my 26' 4500lb travel trailer. My wife and our 3 children enjoy camping together but the boys had outgrown my Extended cab 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive truck and so put me on the path to getting a new vehicle.
I called the Texas Direct Auto salesman, Kevin White because the listing did not specifically mention that the truck had a tow package. I informed Mr. White over the phone that I had a 26' 4500lb travel trailer that I would be pulling with the truck. He confirmed that the truck was equipped to tow my trailer.
The eBay listing specified "Tires: Matching Goodyear Wrangler" The listing also included a picture of the Safety Certification Label on the door of the truck showing the size and Load range of tires for the truck as LT265/70/R17E. I placed a $200 deposit on Thurs., Aug. 9, 2007.
The truck was picked up from the dealership Friday evening, August 10, 2007. The gentleman I had contracted with to drive the truck back performed a visual inspection. Less than an hour later and only 47 miles away, the truck's front tire hit some uneven pavement on the highway and the wheel began to oscillate terribly causing a temporary loss of control. I sent email and voice mail to the salesman Fri., Saturday, and Sunday informing him of the unsafe handling. (2nd red flag the non-responsiveness should have been enough of an indicator for me)
Research on the Dodge truck forums identified this problem as the 'death wobble', a problem with the front-end suspension sometimes related by incorrect tires.
(See URL for video - http://www.firepunk.com/videos/deathwobble.wmv)
On Saturday, the truck tires were inspected and the front tires do not match the rear tires. (3rd red flag - misrepresentation on the eBay listing) The front tires are LT265/70R17 Standard Load and the rear are LT265/70R17 Load Range C.
Page 201 of the Owners Manual states. Do not install tire sizes other than those shown in the Tire Inflation Pressures pamphlet... The use of sizes other than those listed may cause interference of suspension and steering travel and may cause tire damage. The Tire Inflation Pressures pamphlet lists the tire specifications for the ton 4WD as LT245/70R17E or LT265/70R17E. Either of these tires can accommodate the 9000lb Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the truck.
The tires on the truck now are listed in the Ram 1500 model section and have GVWRs of 6650lb and 6800lb. One Albuquerque tire dealer I spoke with said, Sir, for your safety, you need to change these tires out today. A second Goodyear tire dealer said That is the wrong application of tires. Those sidewalls can buckle. The sidewalls are the only thing holding a truck up and he would change them out right away. Another Goodyear tire dealer said that only an 8 or 10 ply tire is sufficient to handle the load of 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive. I asked him if he would sell me a Load Range C for the 2500 Quad Cab and he said no. I said how about a Standard Load tire, and he said absolutely not.
On Monday, August 13, 2007, I called the salesman to inform him that the tires on the truck were not safe and there were handling problems. He immediately referred me to the general manager, Ed Williams.
Mr. Williams told me that anyone who said those tires were unsafe was an idiot. I told him that if he would not accept ownership of the problems I did not want the truck. He said that he would not take the truck back. He said his job was to sell me the truck and his job was done. I should expect the problems I was experiencing because it was a used truck. He said if I wanted a new truck I should have bought one. I should pay for the parts, fix the truck and drive it. He said, Im sorry youre being so unreasonable and hung up on me.
The estimate for 4 tires I received from Discount Tire is $792. The estimate for fixing the front end is $2545.
I want Texas Direct Auto to pay for four tires ($750) and the cost of fixing the front end ($2545). They sold an unsafe vehicle that did not meet the specifications stated in their advertisement.
I have filed complaints with eBay, the Houston Better Business Bureau, The State of Texas Attorney General's office, the Texas Consumer Complaints Center, the Ripoff Report, and intend to send an informational letter to the Fort Bend County Chamber of Commerce (physical county where Texas Direct Auto dealership resides).
A lawyer from the Texas Consumer Complaints Center called me back within 24 hours to assist me with my demand letter. I have been instructed to send the demand letter registered mail with a return receipt requested.
Resolved
edgewood, New Mexico
U.S.A.
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
I reviewed both the Auto-check and Carfax reports on the truck and there were no red flags. The 100% positive feedback on eBay was deceptive because of the practice explained above. People like me who are very dissatisfied and would deliver negative feedback are not able to affect the feedback scores.
I wanted the 4 door 4 wheel drive V10 engine 3/4 ton vehicle to pull my 26' 4500lb travel trailer. My wife and our 3 children enjoy camping together but the boys had outgrown my Extended cab 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive truck and so put me on the path to getting a new vehicle.
I called the Texas Direct Auto salesman, Kevin White because the listing did not specifically mention that the truck had a tow package. I informed Mr. White over the phone that I had a 26' 4500lb travel trailer that I would be pulling with the truck. He confirmed that the truck was equipped to tow my trailer.
The eBay listing specified "Tires: Matching Goodyear Wrangler" The listing also included a picture of the Safety Certification Label on the door of the truck showing the size and Load range of tires for the truck as LT265/70/R17E. I placed a $200 deposit on Thurs., Aug. 9, 2007.
The truck was picked up from the dealership Friday evening, August 10, 2007. The gentleman I had contracted with to drive the truck back performed a visual inspection. Less than an hour later and only 47 miles away, the truck's front tire hit some uneven pavement on the highway and the wheel began to oscillate terribly causing a temporary loss of control. I sent email and voice mail to the salesman Fri., Saturday, and Sunday informing him of the unsafe handling. (2nd red flag the non-responsiveness should have been enough of an indicator for me)
Research on the Dodge truck forums identified this problem as the 'death wobble', a problem with the front-end suspension sometimes related by incorrect tires.
(See URL for video - http://www.firepunk.com/videos/deathwobble.wmv)
On Saturday, the truck tires were inspected and the front tires do not match the rear tires. (3rd red flag - misrepresentation on the eBay listing) The front tires are LT265/70R17 Standard Load and the rear are LT265/70R17 Load Range C.
Page 201 of the Owners Manual states. Do not install tire sizes other than those shown in the Tire Inflation Pressures pamphlet... The use of sizes other than those listed may cause interference of suspension and steering travel and may cause tire damage. The Tire Inflation Pressures pamphlet lists the tire specifications for the ton 4WD as LT245/70R17E or LT265/70R17E. Either of these tires can accommodate the 9000lb Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the truck.
The tires on the truck now are listed in the Ram 1500 model section and have GVWRs of 6650lb and 6800lb. One Albuquerque tire dealer I spoke with said, Sir, for your safety, you need to change these tires out today. A second Goodyear tire dealer said That is the wrong application of tires. Those sidewalls can buckle. The sidewalls are the only thing holding a truck up and he would change them out right away. Another Goodyear tire dealer said that only an 8 or 10 ply tire is sufficient to handle the load of 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive. I asked him if he would sell me a Load Range C for the 2500 Quad Cab and he said no. I said how about a Standard Load tire, and he said absolutely not.
On Monday, August 13, 2007, I called the salesman to inform him that the tires on the truck were not safe and there were handling problems. He immediately referred me to the general manager, Ed Williams.
Mr. Williams told me that anyone who said those tires were unsafe was an idiot. I told him that if he would not accept ownership of the problems I did not want the truck. He said that he would not take the truck back. He said his job was to sell me the truck and his job was done. I should expect the problems I was experiencing because it was a used truck. He said if I wanted a new truck I should have bought one. I should pay for the parts, fix the truck and drive it. He said, Im sorry youre being so unreasonable and hung up on me.
The estimate for 4 tires I received from Discount Tire is $792. The estimate for fixing the front end is $2545.
I want Texas Direct Auto to pay for four tires ($750) and the cost of fixing the front end ($2545). They sold an unsafe vehicle that did not meet the specifications stated in their advertisement.
I have filed complaints with eBay, the Houston Better Business Bureau, The State of Texas Attorney General's office, the Texas Consumer Complaints Center, the Ripoff Report, and intend to send an informational letter to the Fort Bend County Chamber of Commerce (physical county where Texas Direct Auto dealership resides).
A lawyer from the Texas Consumer Complaints Center called me back within 24 hours to assist me with my demand letter. I have been instructed to send the demand letter registered mail with a return receipt requested.
Resolved
edgewood, New Mexico
U.S.A.
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Randall
Garland,Texas,
U.S.A.
We Sued Texas Direct and Prevailed!
#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 07, 2007
We hailed Texas Direct into a Dallas County JP court and prevailed in our claims of Deceptive Trade Practices, Negligent Misrepresentation, and Breech of Contract. Companies should not be allowed to hide behind "AS IS" when their printed representations of the condition of the merchandise does not match the material condition of the merchandise. (I call this "AS IS Abuse") If you or anyone else would like copies of our pleadings in this case please contact me as I have them in PDF format.
