Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is telling car buyers to be careful before putting down a deposit for the Hellcat version of its Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles.
Both options feature 707-horsepower V8 engines, making them the most powerful production vehicles ever made in the U.S. The vehicles have seen a stronger than expected demand since arriving at dealerships last year, despite prices that easily reach $64,000.
Dodge is having a hard time making enough engines for the Hellcats, but that hasn't stopped dealers from taking down payments from customers, according to a blog post issued by Gualberto Ranieri, head public relations executive for the automaker.
"A small number of dealers are engaging in a practice that is causing a customer relations issue for FCA US LLC and all of its dealers," said Ranieri in his blog post. "Specifically, this handful of dealers appears to have accepted large numbers of SRT Hellcat orders without regard to available supply and without advising their customers that orders may not be filled, if at all, for many months or longer.
The maximum any dealer can expect is one Hellcat a month, in either a four-door or coupe option, but not one of each, according to the blog post. Promising anything more than that to car buyers is basically illegal, Ranieri warns.
Though the automaker is hoping to increase production soon, it has created an allocation program designed to discourage dealerships marking up Hellcats to high or sitting on them for too long.
Dodge has not named any specific dealers, so it is on customers to watch out for untrustworthy dealers.
"We believe such a practice may constitute a breach of the Dealer's Sales and Service Agreement with FCA US and a violation of other applicable laws," he said in his post online. "Accordingly, we wanted our customers to hear directly from us how we are allocating Hellcat vehicles."
Any customers who believe they've placed an order that won't be fulfilled should contact your local dealer and discuss options available as protection.
Call 855-778-8326 to find your local dealer or visit Dodge.com.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
