Action 9: Ocala woman claims dealer sold her roach-infested car

OCALA,Fla. — An Ocala woman claims a used-car dealer sold her a vehicle that was infested with roaches, so she called Action 9 for help.

“I have to laugh or I would cry. It's such a situation,” said the buyer, Joyce Jones. She said she was so embarrassed, she couldn't tell friends about her new 2013 Chrysler 200.

“It's a severely infested vehicle with German cockroaches," she said.

She complained to the seller, Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Ocala and it treated the vehicle two separate times.

“They have cleaned it and bombed it. Set off six bombs. They've had an exterminator in, and it was sprayed and baited,” said Jones. But after all that, she claims its still a kind of "roach coach."

She showed Action 9's Todd Ulrich some of the bugs collected since the treatments.

“I'm uncomfortable driving this car. It's a health hazard, an accident waiting to happen," she said.

Jones asked the dealer to switch her into another used Chrysler 200 and she told them she would even pay more.

“I will give you $1.500 difference in the list price but (they said), 'Sorry we can't do that,'” Jones said.

So she called Action 9.

Todd Ulrich took her case to the dealership's general manager. He said Joyce's complaint  was already under discussion and it would work with her to replace the vehicle, and she would be satisfied with the solution.

“I can't live this way. I can't afford a brand new car. I bought what I could afford,” said Jones.

A roach infestation is unusual, but rat and squirrel damage to car engines can trigger big repair bills.

Ulrich said it's another reason paying for a complete inspection before buying a used car is a good idea.

Cox Media Group