Lee Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth-Kia - Fort Walton Beach, FL

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=Don't Know, Service=Poor, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Maybe,
I broke down in Crestview Florida on a Tuesday the truck just quit and wouldn't start some white smoke from exhaust when attempting to start. I have a 2005 Dodge 3500 with a 5.9 Cummins Diesel. I also have 7,000 miles left on warrantee. I had my truck towed to Lee Chrysler Dodge in
Fort Walton Beach since they could work on my vehicle the very next morning and the dealer in Crestview couldn't get the truck in until Friday. On Wednesday I received a call from the Service Dept. stating that I had fuel contamination they were only getting 400 psi to the injectors and not the 45,000 they should. They said they needed to remove the fuel tank, drain/purge it along with all lines, replace filter and clean injectors. They stated it would not be covered by warranty due to contamination and would cost apx. $585.00. I told them to do the work and they said they would first thing in the morning. I checkout of the motel Thursday morning and drove to the dealership. They had completed the work but it did not fix the problem. They said it was doing the same thing with no changes. I then was able to view the fuel sample they said was contaminated for the first time and it appeared to be fine. There were no signs of water of any other contaminate, no visible signs of dirt or foreign material. They said it was light in color for diesel, didn't smell strong enough and get this, the mechanic said "watch this" as he stuck a screwdriver into the jar and stirred it vigorously and said "see" I said see what? He then said "see how it foams up like that, it shouldn't do that" and the service writer agreed with him saying "that's the problem, the foaming like that is messing the fuel system up". At this point I realized I was dealing with two people that had no clue. I told them that I did not think it was contaminated and the mechanic and service writer said it was and that they needed to call Dodge 800 help line for assistance in troubleshooting since they were stumped. I drove back to motel and checked in again. That night around 5 p.m. I got a call saying they had just got off with the techs at Dodge and that my truck required a COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT which would not be covered by warranty because of contamination. I demanded that they send the sample to a lab and have it tested and they refused saying they don't do that and to call Dodge customer service and they would initiate the sample test to the lab. I then found out they were going to charge me nearly $8000.00 for the fuel system replacement. I called Dodge customer service and they said they didn't get involved in these matters and to work with the dealership to resolve the issue. I explained to them the sample needed a lab test and they both, customer service and the dealer said go ahead and get it tested if you want. I couldn't believe that no one at the dealer or Dodge Customer service would help me. After weeks of calling and visiting Cummins shop and other Dodge Dealers, Customer Service finally got their Corporate Technical Department involved with the dealer and they are sending the sample to a lab next week. I have lost over $7500.00 in revenue. This truck was purchased to ensure our new company's success. We started an auto transport company 18 months ago that has been doing well until now, with possibly a month's lost revenue we may loose the business because. I met with the Service Director at the dealership for the first time yesterday he had been out with health issues and I guess his workers had no other supervision and were running amuck while he was out. He agreed that the mechanic can not determine contamination by just a visual inspection unless it were full of water or dirt and this sample had neither, was clear and showed no signs of contamination. He agreed that by the mechanics poor choice of words saying "contamination" rather than "suspecting contamination" the 800 Dodge tech reps said that only an entire fuel system replacement was required! Four (4) Cummins shops and two (2) other dealerships said it was just a Mechanical failure in the Injector pump causing the lack of PSI and that it was also not allowing enough oxygen to mix with the fuel that's why the truck wouldn't start and had white smoke from exhaust pipe. I would avoid anything over a based oil change or routine service here at this dealership especially if you have a diesel engine.
Submitted by: Withheld by request
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=August 17, 2006, Date report submitted: Aug 26 13:19:07 EDT 2006

Sales=Fair, Service=Poor, Parts=Poor, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
I brought in my 2001 Dodge Dakota for indication problems (No bus light, all warning lights illuminated.) After 2 hours of troubleshooting, they could not find the problem. I was charged for the problem and it was suggested that I leave the vehicle for further troubleshooting.
Already out over $200 with nothing resolved, I decided to take it to another repair facility. On another occasion, I needed my driver side window scissors replaced. They needed to order the part and I was required to leave the vehicle for 2 days. After paying the bill, I checked other sources for the parts they had replaced and found that I could have gotten the parts for 1/2 the price through another dealership in Gulf Breeze.
My son just turned 18 and we found a Nissan Altima at their dealership. My son purchased the vehicle along with an extended warrantee for 2-months or 200 miles. Approximately 1 month after driving the vehicle, the head gasket blew. The vehicle did not have any overheat indications whatsoever.
The only thing my son had been required to do was service the radiator 1 time with approximately 1/2 gallon of fluid. This was 1 week after purchase. The radiator overflow bottle indicated just low. After the vehicle blew the gasket, the dealership was unwilling to work with us and advised us that they do not work on Nissan vehicles which they sell. We ended up paying tow service to them and then to another garage. The total cost of repairs is expected to be approximately $2400. The warrantee did not cover gaskets or seals. The head is damaged and needs to be replaced. The warrantee will not cover the cost even though we did not have a single overheat indication until the car stopped in the middle of traffic.
Submitted by: Withheld by request
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=Feb 2006, Date report submitted: Apr 27 01:38:09 EDT 2006

Sales=Poor, Service=Excellent, Parts=Excellent, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
I've purchased 1 used car and 2 new Rams there. As in the above post I was "railroaded" to the "finance man" with a ridiculous payment of $700 for 7 years. I informed him that this was not correct and was told "you made the deal Mr. Jay, I'm just the finance man". I had to negotiate several times with the sales manager to finally get a deal(with several trips to the "finance man"). All purchases took at least 5 hours of my time and left me very unhappy. The older sales managers there seem to have this type of attitude and should be fired (all of them). I will NEVER buy a vehicle from them again. I will travel to Pensacola or Milton first. I am SICK of the games they play. Apparently Mr. Lee or whoever is the owner doesn't care about my complaints (I did call Chrysler at one time) and was informed that they are all independent dealers. There is no way to contact Mr. Lee about his terrible salesmen/managers. These people think they are smarter than everyone and can play their sales scenarios without repercussions. There is one though...you'll NEVER NEVER see my face again ! I realize these complaints seem very severe but I think someone needs to be informed of these practices. My last new Ram I bought I went to Milton buy...I dreaded going to Lee Chrysler. I just received a letter from Lee today saying to come in for a special sale...I don't believe it...I don't need the pain. On the good side I have taken my vehicles to Lee's service department and I believe their service dept. is EXCELLENT!
Make it mandatory for dealership owners to read these comments. Clean house at Lee Chrysler or you'll never see me again. I'll buy Dodge but not there.
Submitted by: Garry Jay
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=Jan 2005, Date report submitted: Feb 22 20:19:50 EST 2006

Sales=Poor, Service=Don't Know, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
I am 49 years old with over (deleted - very adequate) income per year, I also am a chrysler man for over 20 years. I received an advertisement from Lee Chrysler that they would up grade my 2004 sebring regardless of how much upside down I may be. My wife and I enjoy the sebring but wished that we had gotten a bigger car.We like the 300 limited,so we made the 40 mile trip.We were offered 10,400 dollars for our car which was 1000.00 dollars less than blue book, in spite of our car in excellent shape with leather,power windows,etc.The first quote was 850 dollars per month for 6 years, That's $59,760 for a car that listed for $29,500. We were also to pay $5,000 down cash. We told the salesman we were not crazy. I then told the salesman that I have a KIA sportage 4x4 with 100,000 miles 99 model, blue book is $4000 for trade in. The deal was we pay 5000 down we get 1400 for my kia The payments will be $610 for 6 years which means a car list price at $29500 would then cost me $43,920. I had to add the cost up with each deal offered and the salesman it's only the monthly payments that really matter. I can go to my hometown dealership and by any car I want without them sending me advertisements stating no payments for 6 months and a trip on some cruise ship. Milton Dodge in Milton Fl., They make money as they should but they don't insult, The salesman at Lee Chrysler told my wife that we had wasted his time. I still got my sebring, my Kia, my 5000 dollars and unless something happens to other Chrysler dealerships I will not be back to Lee Chrysler in Ft. Walton. Yours Truly David L. Tolbert
Submitted by: David L. Tolbert       tlbrtprc[a]aol.com
Number of dealership visits=one, Last visit date=04/29/05, Date report submitted: Apr 30 23:44:09 EDT 2005

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Avoid, Parts=Avoid, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
I was in Destin on vacation when the van I purchased 2 months earlier broke down for the 5TH time. It was a Friday afternoon about 3:00 in the afternoon. I was basically told that they could not help me (even though I had the same problem on Tuesday and Lee Chrysler "repaired" the problem) and my situation was "unfortunate". I had no car and no way to get to a rental car that my extended contract would not cover because my vehicle was not physically at Lee Chrysler. The service department went home and had a nice weekend while I was left to find a way home. My home is 550
miles away and I have to very small children. Thanks Lee Chrylser.
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=06/28/2004, Date report submitted: Jun 28 10:41:30 EDT 2004

Sales=Excellent, Service=Excellent, Parts=Excellent, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
I had been to many dealerships and the Lee Chrysler Sales Staff was very knowledgeable about their products and not pushy like other dealers. I had also been in for service work and they had me in and out. I was very impressed and would definitely recommend my family and friends to do business there.
Number of dealership visits=several, Last visit date=Summer of 03', Date report submitted: Nov 17 12:40:34 EST 2003

Sales=Fair, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
I took my 1999 Ram 1500 4x2 in for service for steering wandering. I was told that I needed $640 worth of work done. To replace my pittman arm, idler arm, and both outer tie rod ends. With only 52000 mi on the truck they told me it was normal wear. I took my truck for a second opinion and was told of a TSB on steering wandering and it corrected the problem.
If you take your vehicle here watch very carefully and if it doesn't sound right have someone else look at it.
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=16 JUN 03, Date report submitted: 19 Jun 2003 02:10

Sales=Good, Service=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No,
Did all sales dealings over the internet and never met the salesman till the day I went to pick it up. Worked out well, I had my numbers together, told them what I was willing to pay and that I was dealing with other dealers within about a 300 mile radius and was going to buy a new Ram Hemi before the end of the month. Got it for a $150 below invoice and was in and out in 45 minutes when I went to pick it up.
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=30 May 03, Date report submitted: 18 Jun 2003 09:41

Sales=Avoid, Service=Good,
Financial personnel tried to play my wife and I against each other. We were unable to sign the finance contract the same day. Told my wife he couldn't explain the numbers and had her call me at work to explain. Found out he was only showing her one of two possible contracts. The one he showed her would have benefited the dealer an extra $800-$1000. He is a liar and a crook!!!
Date report submitted: NA

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 30, 2007