ASHTON Wood bought a $49,000 Jeep - and hated it so much he demolished it.

Stuck with a “lemon” that Fiat Chrysler won’t refund or replace, the Wood family today staged a protest by smashing, burning and destroying the car.

Starting tentatively, they ripped out seats and shot arrows to deflate the tyres.

As the destruction ramped up, the windows were shattered with crowbars and the doors ripped off.

CAMPAIGN: He bought a Jeep and then his life turned to hell

Then it was time to bring out the heavy machinery. Angle grinders cut off the roof before a 35 tonne excavator ripped out the engine and dashboard.

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep that was a lemon from the moment he drove it out of the dealership. Bli Bli. Pic Megan Slade

The excavator ceremonially dumped the crumpled remains onto a wood pile for the raging bonfire finale on the rural Sunshine Coast property.

The Wood family organised the “Destroy My Jeep” demolition to highlight the need for laws forcing car companies to refund or replace problem vehicles.

So-called lemon laws would mean drivers who had suffered more than three faults would not be left with a useless car.

The Wood family jeep suffered 22 faults starting on the night they collected it from the Noosa dealership in 2010.

Before they had even left the showroom, the engine had stopped and fuel was gushing from underneath.

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep. Pic Megan Slade

Despite relentless breakdowns, meetings and mediation, Vanessa Wood said Fiat Crystler had refused to replace or refund the faulty vehicle.

“It has been a problem ever since we picked it up from the dealership,” said Mrs Wood.

“The kids were sitting in the car ready to go, the gentleman was showing us the controls on the steering wheel and all of a sudden it stopped.

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep that was a lemon from the moment he drove it out of the dealership. Bli Bli. Pic Megan Slade

“The engine stopped, he was looking at it and I heard this gush and all the diesel was coming out of the car.

“So it had to stay and we had to go home without a car, and here we are 22 issues later and many many breakdowns.”

media_camera Ashton Wood with daughter Romy,11. Pic Megan Slade

Mrs Wood said lemon laws would protect consumers who had been sold a dud.

“We want lemon laws like they have had in America since the early 70s, so if there are three major faults you either get your money back or you get it replaced, it’s as simple as that.

“Apart from your house, your car is your next biggest purchase.

“You buy any white goods, whether it’s a toaster or a kettle, if there’s anything wrong with it, they just replace it so why can’t they do that for cars?

“These are legitimate issues. The Jeep should have been replaced or we should have got our money back, but the law doesn’t support that at the moment and it’s not good enough.”

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported: Hammers — check. Archers — check. Karate Club- check. Excavators- check.

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep that was a lemon from the moment he drove it out of the dealer ship. Pic Megan Slade

Ashton Wood has destroyed his “lemon” Jeep after raising over $18,000 through a viral campaign.

The Maroochydore man said his 2010 model Jeep Cherokee had been trouble from the start, with a fuel line dropping the day he was meant to drive it out of the dealership.

According to Mr Wood, the 4WD has been towed four times and has 20 defects including windscreen wipers that triggered by turning corners.

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep that was a lemon from the moment he drove it out of the dealership. Pic Megan Slade

A spokesman from Chrysler Australia said the company had fixed any issues under the car’s warranty.

“We have, and always will, treat Mr Wood and his concerns in a fair and professional manner.

“Mr Wood’s concerns have been resolved under warranty, free of charge. We have also extended the warranty on Mr Wood’s vehicle an extra year as a gesture of goodwill,” he said.

“Mr Wood has also sought independent ruling on his concerns through the Queensland Office of Fair Trading. The Office found that there was insufficient evidence to require any action by them.”

media_camera Ashton Wood gets help to destroy his Jeep that was a lemon from the moment he drove it out of the dealership. Bli Bli. Pic Megan Slade

When Mr Wood asked Chrysler Australia for a refund or replacement vehicle they said they could only repair the car.

Unsatisfied Mr Wood flew to Chrysler Australia head office in Melbourne.

“We talked for two hours at the end of that time they said they’d replace the battery and I’d be good to go, that’s all they were going to offer us.”

media_camera The Jeep set to be destroyed.

The next week Chrysler offered to buy Mr Wood’s car at market price, $22,000, less than half of what he bought it for.

Earlier this year a Chrysler spokeswomen told the ABC the offer was fair and “well above the market rate” for a car that had travelled more than 50,000km.

After the Queensland Office of Fair Trading did not rule in Mr Wood’s favour, he decided to launch the Destroy my Jeep campaign.

About 150 people donated generously to the Kickstarter appeal raising $18,956 to fuel Ashton’s fire.

Supporters were rewarded with special wrecking privileges like using a hammer to create dents or smashing the headlights with a crowbar.

The Jeep has also been covered in the names of pledgers, drawn on with permanent marker.

“I have been totally consumed by this,” he said.

“I travel a lot for work and spend a lot of time wondering if my wife’s going to get stranded again while I’m away.

“I want some closure on the weekend and I want to put this behind me.”

Mr Wood hopes the stunt will ultimately result in the creation of a Lemon Law in Australia.

“Since I went public I’ve had a lot of vehicle owners come to me and say good on you fight the good fight for us, we’re all in the same boat,” he said.

“I think I have to go through this to make a very, very big point and get people talking about it and get the State Government to seriously consider making the law.”

It is estimated over 100 people will turn up to watch and participate in the demolition today.

The three-hour spectacle will see the tyres slashed, interior torn up, and arrows shot throw the metal.

A karate club will also be unleashed on the lemon and a number of people will take to the car with hammers and crow bars.

Finally, excavators will pulverise the vehicle before it is set on fire.

A man has already bought the wreck for $200 on eBay.