Champion Of Decatur, Inc. — Local services in Decatur

Let me start by saying that giving this dealership one star is way more than they deserve. The only, let me reiterate, the ONLY bright star there would be Shawn, a service writer. This will most likely be a pretty long review, but I want to assure you that if you’re thinking about dealing with them you should read out what we went through with them.

In May of 2023 our Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit started doing some really weird things. The radio had delaminated and would randomly make phone calls, change radio stations, and just other weird things. When operating the vehicle in reverse it would just jump out of gear on its own.

We make an appointment with Champion’s service department for a Wednesday morning. We bring the car to them on Tuesday afternoon just so it would be put on the schedule and get a $158 diagnostics test. We don’t hear anything from them even by the end of the week. We call the following Monday and get the sad sack story about being short staffed and they would get it in right away. It had not even been touched that first week it was there.

After they finally got around to working on it it was determined that the transmission problem was a valve body within the transmission. We have an extended warranty policy on the drive train whereas that issue would be covered. They informed us that they did not deal with outside warranty companies. All they had to do was email an invoice to the company and they would call with a credit card and pay for the repair. Not going to happen with these clowns. We had to pay for it all ourselves and then TRY to get reimbursed from the insurance company. The main issue here was that the part was 4-6 weeks out on back order.

The radio issue was sometimes covered by Chrysler, but since our vehicle was a 2018 it wouldn’t be covered. That part was only a couple of days out so we paid up front for the parts and left the vehicle with them to get repaired. Well over a week later we had to reach back out to them to see when the repair would be complete. They have no clue what it is like to keep a customer informed about anything!! Now we are finally able to pick the vehicle up and drive it until the parts for the transmission came in. We paid for the current labor charges, we had already paid for the parts, and for the order of the parts for the transmission. We are now into this ridiculous dealership $4500, but are still waiting on the parts. We informed them that we had a vacation coming up in the middle of July. The parts were projected to be there around the first part of the month. Needless to say, the parts did not come in, could be understood, but we again were never given any details on what was happening. Fortunately we have another vehicle that we were able to take our trip in.

Now, after many frustrating weeks and useless phone calls we are finally told that the parts are in and will be installed soon. They finally informed us that the vehicle was ready, not because they called to tell us, but because we had just happened to call and find that out. We go to pick the vehicle up and take off it it. It dies 4 times within a couple of miles from the dealership. Now we take it back. After a few days they tell us that there is a problem with the shifter module. They put the valve body in the transmission, but nothing they did had to do with the shifter. I don’t know about any other reasonable person with half a brain would not conclude that the work they did caused the new problem. It was a coincidence.

Fast forward to making it through August without the vehicle and bumping up against September. We are fortunate enough to have an extra vehicle so we both can get back and forth to work and home. Now I have been waiting all year on getting scheduled to have a total hip replacement surgery. I finally get a surgery date for September 14. Our other vehicle situation is as such that the Grand Cherokee is exactly the vehicle that would fill our needs for transporting me home from the hospital and also to the physical therapy appointments. Out of...

Disclaimer This is a long review, but I assure anyone looking to get work done here that it is an important read. This review is based on the process of having my vehicle serviced.

I brought my car in to the service department to have the technicians check out what might be causing its misfire.

The First Red Flag was that the Champion doesn't list the mechanic that works on your car on your receipt—they put the front desk name. It's a small detail, but it’s a way of escaping accountability for their decisions, recommendations or performed work.

The tech isolated the issue to low compression. (Bravo) The front desk guy relayed this (from supposedly the "Man you want" (Because he has been doing this for ‘x’ amount of time): The ENTIRE engine needs to be replaced. Apparently, this guy is SO experienced he doesn't troubleshoot any further. (Their words). I was slapped with a $7000 quote and said it's that or they can direct me to a good salesperson to help me out. The car was only worth the amount of the repair, so I looked into getting a new vehicle.

Well after some research and speaking to some mechanics I know, we all agreed this issue didn’t call for the price tag they gave me (google “single cylinder low compression”). I tell them this over the phone. They become somewhat irate, but text me later that night and ask me to bring in my car for a test drive.

The following day I bring in the car. So did they get it right? To find out we walk over to the service department and speak with the other front desk guy. He agrees with me that it was a VERY quick jump to replace the whole engine.

The service desk guy tells me, honestly it probably needs (I don’t remember) but it will probably only be 3-4000 dollars. Because he is right 9/10 times and has been doing this a while. (Trend?) I asked, what happened yesterday? Their response? He was wrong. Their justification? “HUMAN ERROR”. The potential results of this 'oversight' are a bit too egregious for my taste.

I was led inside where we started to talk to see if we could find a way to make something happen. Trying to price my car, I was unable to get them to value it at its worth because they were still running under the assumption that it was going to be this fictitious fix which would cause way more than it should have. Eventually the Sales Manager comes out and “Levels” with me. He tells me, I’m not going to get a lot for my car. And his justification? “It’s just not.” I challenged this and received a statement very on brand for Champion of Decatur: “I have been doing this ‘X’ amount of years, so I know what I’m talking about.”

I tell him that everyone keeps telling me that and it doesn’t seem to be going well for them. His response? “Don’t lump me in with those guys.” We couldn't see eye to eye and I eventually left.

RECAP: There is no black and white accountability presented to the consumer for who works on the car. “Trust me”: Your car is a lemon and needs 7000 dollars to make it better. “Oh, Human Error. Trust ME”: It’s only going to be 4000 dollars to fix your car. Also, sorry we almost tricked you out of your vehicle or charged you WAY more than we should have. “Trust Me”: Your car isn’t worth what you and other neutral parties say it is because (reasons).

Moral:

To the Consumer: If you insist on getting work done here, I implore you, get a second opinion. If your car will make it down the street, please take the time to do so.

To the Business: If you have a business where a manager is ashamed to be compared to his subordinates then you have a fundamental breakdown in your organization that will lead to underhanded tactics and shady dealings.

Champion of Decatur sets such an abysmal precedent for how they do business that I could never see myself going back. Unless Management, the technicians, or both are overhauled then Champion will always retain their much-deserved perception of a business that not only specializes in selling and fixing but...

Here is my only experience with Champion, and my last. WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT BUY. FROM THESE PEOPLE THEY WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE. I wish I could rate with a negative star. We came by and Chance, our salesperson, showed us the Compass. Didn't like it, 4 cyl. and I wanted 6 cyl. (The only reason for looking at Jeep is because my wife's brother can get us an employee discount on any Chrysler product). Drove the 2018 Cherokee, 6 cyl. and liked all the features and interior, two tone leather, and commented to Chance that I would like more safety features. He then said that we should look at the Limited he had on the lot. We did and loved all the safety features, i.e. lane departure, front collision avoidance., rear and side parking assist, adaptive cruise control. We agreed that what we were looking for was a RED, 2017 CHEROKEE WITH ALL THE FEATURES THAT WE SAW ON THE ONE WE DROVE PLUS ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES WE SAW ON THE LIMITED. Chance said they didn't have it on the lot, but could find just what we were looking for somewhere. After checking with his new car manager, Ben, Chance said they found just what we were looking for in Missouri and they could have it there Tuesday. We haggled on price. It was about 6 thousand more than I have planned to pay however with all the extra safety features we agreed and sign the papers. Tuesday, Chance called and said that the car had just arrived and would need cleaned up and that we could pick it up Wednesday. Wednesday, we went to get it. It was raining and Chance was off. Another got the keys for us and said there it is on the lot. Wife got in the car, out of the rain, cranked up and drove it across town to the drug store for medicine. When we exited the drugstore, i sat down in the passenger seat and noticed that the interior was cloth, Beige ugh, and that the safety features were no where to be seen. She ask if we should return it. I said that we were late for church, so lets take it home and look it over and see if the safety features were located somewhere else. After looking, no safety features as promised, I called Chance, he said he would check with Ben and get back to me. A week later he called and said that there was nothing to be done for the car that we got but they might put us in a Limited. We would need to check with Ben about that. Wife called Ben and he said let him check with General Manager, Alex and he would get back to us. A week later, wife called back and Ben said there was nothing that could be done for the car we had but they could put us in a Limited but for more money. Wife said no and Ben said we could take it up with Alex. Made appt. with Alex. Week later meet Alex and he says there is nothing he could do about the situation as it was because we now had a USED CAR. He did offer to put us in a Limited for another 6 thousand dollars. I argued we had already paid about 6 thousand extra to get the safety features. He said we should be happy with the car we purchased for such a great price. In the end he offered oil changes for 2 years, a coffee cup, maybe a cap to satisfy us. NO THANKS. They got us once BUT NEVER AGAIN. It always amazes me that people will sell their LIFETIME CHARACTER FOR SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. Long story short, DON'T BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE, THEY WILL LIE...