ComplaintsforC J Auto Sales

• Initial Complaint

  11/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On June 9th I purchased a 2014 ***** cruze from ********* Sales located at *******************************************************************. I payed $8082.74 for the car. On the way home the check engine light comes on. I called ******* Sales the next morning to complain about the light coming on. They told me that I knew it was a used car when i bought it. Yes of corse i know it was a used car however, something shouldn't go wrong on day one of owning it. I was worried that this dealership had given me a lemon. So on June 16th I took the car to be checked out by my local ***** dealership mechanics. Around 3:00 that afternoon ******* from the dealers shop calls me to tell me that there is a number of major things wrong with this car, that it will cost me over $4000 to fix. Plus she said that there is no way that the dealership didn't know about these problems, and that they probably just reset the check engine light hoping that it wouldn't come on during our test drive. I was furious, and heartbroken. I just spent $8000 on this car and did not have another $4000 dollars that I could put into it at that moment. I trusted that when I paid that much for a vehicle it was going to last me a while and not need these kind of repairs done. Basically ever since then this car has given me nothing but problems. It was overheating and needed a new thermostat. The serpentine belt shredded off and was hanging on by a thred. That belt breaking left me without a vehicle for about 3 weeks and I lost my job because I was unable to get to work on time everyday. Then on September 17th the car just died while I was driving and I haven't been able to get it started again. I am incredibly upset and I don't know what to do. That dealership obviously knew that the car had all these issues and sold it to me anyway. One of the reasons that I felt comfortable buying a car from them is because they have an A+ rating from the BBB. So I am really hoping that you guys can help me. I was definitely sold a lemon.

  

  Business response

  11/30/2022

  Thanks for the correspondence.  It's disappointing to hear about the problems with your 2014 Chevrolet Cruze.  This vehicle was test driven by you and everything was in good working order when the vehicle was purchase.  It also passed smog and safety inspections.   We require a test drive just to make sure our customers are comfortable with their purchase which was completed to your satisfaction.  As this is 3+ months later I don't recall the conversation, but in general if a check engine light comes on we have the customer bring the vehicle back to scan the code.  Then it's reset to see if the code comes back. This is just to make sure it's not a one off. If the light comes back on then the problem is addressed at that time.  In this case I don't see any documentation of this process being followed or even a note on what code was present. Please remember this code didn't come on after one day in service for this vehicle, the vehicle is 8+ years old and has 145K miles on it.  As to the dealer giving a quote of ****, I don't have any documentation on that either.  Dealerships can be expensive on even the most basic tasks.  For example my transmission service for my VW was quoted at 1373.19.  *****'s quote was 299 plus tax and waste fees. This repair quote from the Chevrolet dealer should of been presented back in June when you had them check out the vehicle. We could of assessed the quote and determined if assistance could be given. Three plus months later is was too long for this to be done now. The comment about playing with the light from the Chevrolet dealer is just FALSE.  2010 year model vehicle have to have all monitors set and exceed 200 miles to be smoged, meaning this vehicle had no errors for at least that long. In addition the vehicle had no signs of overheating as you drove the vehicle on the test drive long enough for the thermostat to cycle and show it was working in ****** degree heat.  The fan belt is just a routine item to be looked at and replaced like spark plugs, brakes, tires, etc. and was not frayed at the time of purchase.  I would prefer all vehicle go a million miles with no required Maintenace, but the reality is that all machinery has a risk of breaking.  A warranty wasn't purchased so this vehicle was purchase AS-IS No Warranty which is disclosed in writing on 3 different documents so that no confusion happens. Now it would be an unfair business practice to give you the benefits of a warranty for free when others pay for the benefit.  In this case no assistance will be given.
  
  Tell us why here...

• Initial Complaint

  08/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Bought a **** **** escape on August 19. 3 days later it was non-operational took it to two different mechanics who told me it had clogged catalytic converters. I reached out to the dealership to see if they would take the car back or at least repair it they are refusing to do either .this is a mechanical issue they were most certainly aware of and they sold the car anyway I want my money back or I want it repaired

  

  Business response

  08/30/2022

  Tell Thanks for the correspondence.  It's sad to hear about the problems with your **** **** Escape, with that being said it's 17 years old.  Since we have already talked I will be short.  The vehicle was purchase 08/13/2022 not 08/19/2022.  This vehicle was test driven and everything was in good working order when the vehicle was purchase.  As you stated you KNOW and ackknowledged a warranty wasn't purchased for the vehicle and as such was purchase AS-IS No Warranty which is disclosed in writing on 3 different documents so that there is no confusion.  Now it would be an unfair business practice to give you the benefits of a warranty for free when others pay for the benefit.
  This vehicle was purchased for your son.  When you first called and we talked about the issue, you said the vehicle popped a check engine light and your mechanic said he thinks it's a bad ***, but didn't want to pursue the repair.  After talking with both you and your son, your son stated it started to miss while running, but instead of stopping and investigating he kept driving until the vehicle lost power and had to be taken to a shop.  After multiple conversations you are convinced that the problem is a plugged *** causing the vehicle to loose power.  Since we know there was no perfornance problems when it left we know if happened after purchase.  We also know that running a vehicle that is missing puts a huge strain on the *** and can damage it, i.e.plugging the ***. As we discussed there will be no assistance as the damage was caused by continued driving with a missing condition that you acknowledged.us why here...

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I bought a vehicle June 12th from CJ Auto Sales Drove it less then 2 days and less then 300 miles and now am facing repair costs ranging from 4k-8500 $. Due to a crank no start issue that happened the following day after getting it home. The vehicle drove nicely with no lights on and I had zero reason to believe the vehicle had any concerns. In fact I had my master mechanic with me who looked over the vehicle which seemed to be very cleaned up. I was told the dealer does inspections and cleanings on all vehicles. While I understand signing an as is deal having a vehicle break down one day after buying it from what should be a reputable dealer is quit disappoint, and very stressful on my one income family. This has caused very much stress. When I called the dealership I was told the car only got a headlight off it's inspection. I work for a GM dealership myself and actually had someone else come in with a new to them vehicle that through check engine light she had rodents nests, a catalytic converter code and leaking oil pan which confirmed that this dealership is not inspecting vehicles.

  

  Business response

  07/29/2022

  Thanks for the correspondence.  It's sad to hear about the problems with your **** Fusion.  I really wish vehicles would last a million miles without a problem of any kind, and require no maintenance.  But the reality is that all machinery has a risk of breaking. With that being said, the vehicle you purchased has been in service for six years and has 142 thousand miles on it.
  You state that you checked out the vehicle and your master mechanic checked out the vehicle and both of you gave the vehicle a green light.   We had the vehicle inspected as well and they gave it a green light.
  So we all agree the vehicle was running and driving as expected when purchased. A warranty wasn't purchased so the vehicle was purchase AS-IS No Warranty which is disclosed in writing on 3 different documents so that no confusion happens.  Now it would be an unfair business practice to give you the benefits of a warranty for free when others pay for the benefit.
  The issue with the vehicle was not brought up to us until much later and today we are 1 1/2 months later.  We did talk a week back and you didn't know what was wrong with the vehicle other than it drove home fine and wouldn't start the next day.  I'm curious how you know the repairs cost 4k-8500, if you don't know what is wrong with the vehicle.  With all this said we did agree on the following VEHICLE "AS-IS" AGREEMENT - NO WARRANTY in writing:
  The seller assumes no reponsibility for any repairs regardless of any Oral statement about the vehicle.  The buyer hereby accepts the above-described vehicle in its present "AS-IS" condition and waives all warranties including the dealer's implied warranty of merchantablity and the dealer's implied warranty of fitness.  EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTY OF THE MANUFACTURER, IF ANY, the eintire risk as to the quality and performance of the vehicle is with the buyer, and if the vehicle proves defective after purchase, the buyer and not the dealer, distributor or retailer assumes the entire cost of al necessary servicing or repair.
  #1 What is wrong with the vehicle?  
  #2  What does it cost?
  #3 Why do you think and inspection which was done by two mechanics didn't "see" the issue?
  #4 Why do you feel we should repair your vehicle?
  
  At this time since the vehicle is sold AS-IS, CJ Auto Sales will not be offering any assistance.Tell us why here...

  Customer response

  08/02/2022

  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  I am rejecting this response because:

  
  I actually called CJs the very next day which was the day it broke down. Only 71 miles after purchasing. I also reached out to you through your website days later when ** the an who sold it to me called me and I explained at that time that I was having to have the vehicle tore down to inspect engine failure. Attached you will find tech diagnostics, and pictures of findings. The reason I pursued help is because of the burden and stress placed on my family by the fact that a little no start issue has turned to repairs more then what the car is worth. While yes, I stated that I understand it as an as is sale, I also understood that you advertise reliable vehicles for sale on your lot. 71 miles is not very reliable, I came back to CJs as a second time buyer sadly my first experience was much better. There was no extended warranty option provided to me at time of purchase. While yes the vehicle is used and has higher mileage no one and I mean no one would be okay with purchasing a vehicle under the assumption they are paying cash for a reliable used vehicle then one day later have it break down on them followed by being faced with large diagnostic fees to tear down the engine then find out that the repairs more then cars value. The right thing to do would be to help your returning customer and buy back the vehicle. The amount of stress that has been on my shoulder since this vehicle broke down is unfair when I purchased what was to be believed as a good car from you. I did have a mechanic with me however on a Sunday it's not like I could get the vehicle rack ad inspected further then just visual.  Had I not purchased this vehicle from you it would have been your problem when the car broke down on you during a road test with a perspective buyer. Knowing that other people are having issues soon after their purchase from your lot is discomforting and shows you are being a careless car salesmen.  At the least you could pay for repairs.
  Initial diagnostic 
  "partially removed the timing belt cover & the timing belt does not appear to be broken, rotated the crankshaft by hand & found the timing belt, intake, & exhaust camshaft gears turn but when looking down the oil fill hole while hand turning engine over the intake camshaft does not turn recommend tear down & inspection to find cause of camshaft concern, possible head removal needed if valves have contacted pistons, looking through the spark plug holes of each cylinder with a borescope there looks like there may be one spot on cylinder #1 piston where the valve may have contacted the face of the piston - will need to tear down and inspect "
  

  It appears if this message is too large it will not let me send please see attachments for detailed continued diag. Please consider being in my shoes as a single income Mom who wasn't able to drive a vehicle for more then 71 miles and one day and now faces large repair costs that simply are not even an option. 

  
  

  

  Business response

  08/04/2022

  Tell 1st) I bought a vehicle June 12th from CJ Auto Sales Drove it less then 2 days and less then 300 miles and now am facing repair costs ranging from 4k-8500.  2nd) Now it's "I actually called CJs the very next day which was the day it broke down. Only 71 miles after purchasing." Still 4k-8500?
  3) You are saying the vehicel failed within 71 miles, but it didn't... it failed at 6 years and approximately ******* miles, this is a used vehicle not new. If indeed this was a new vehicle then we would certainly take care of it, just as if the vehicle broke in our care we would fix it and not go back to the previous owner who sold it to us, as it ran and drove fine when we purchase it.  If we send a vehicle out for repair and a repair we commissioned failed we would cover that as well, but we do not cover an unforseen issue that is what warranties are for.
  You chose a used vehicle, rather than a new one and something broke on your car. There was NO red flags on the vehicle, it's unforseen. The simple answer is to fix the issue. I'm sure this is not what you want to here, but this is used merchandise. We have to deal with it as well and the fiancial effect us as well. This is ALL explained BEFORE purchase and in writting there is no surprises.
  A good engine mechanic at a resonable rate should be able to find out what is wrong quickly and assess the situation.  Hopefully there is an inexpensive fix, with that said I took a look at lower mileage used engines and they are 2000-3000.  CJ Auto Sales will be following our verbal and written agreement and not providing assistance. If you want help with finding what I consider a good engine mechanic at a reasonable rate I will assist.
  
  us why here...

  Customer response

  08/05/2022

  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  I wish I wouldn't have wrote my original complaint from my phone while very upset. Because my estimate of mileage was just that an estimate. I drove the car home from your lot. Drove it to work and home the next day and then it would not start hints the two days. It's sad that all the things I am hearing about your business it true. You are not reputable, you are okay with selling junk cars and letting people get strapped. Yes I bought a used car but I'd hope if your daughter or wife was in this situation you would understand why I am here asking you to do that right thing. Either the previous owner knew the vehicle was close to failure and filled it with oil to cover it up to be your problem or you covered it up to be mine. I have the vehicle in a reputable shop. The vehicle needs a turbo, engine, intake and cooler due to it's failures. The tech noted this was clearly an issue before I bought the vehicle and that the vehicle had been topped off with oil. I think it is very dishonest of you to stand behind your inspections and stand behind your "as is" safety net, clearly a man with no morals and happy to run his business this way. I have a lawyer involved that will be contacting you. 

  
  

  

  Business response

  08/10/2022

   

  Wow who is being honest?  CJ Auto Sales puts everything is writing and doesn't change our agreement after purchase. If this happened to me, my wife or family, I would ALWAYS honor my agreements.  Next you can't fake a good running vehicle and then magically make it break at a specific time.
  
  A turbo, a bad intake, a bad intercooler, all will not prevent a vehicle from starting, and all oil levels were correct before purchase; and checked by YOUR master mechanic! It sounds like your mechanic is trying to take advantage of you.  It's easy to fix an engine issue by replacing every part from the Intake to the Exhaust. Still no diagnostic of what caused the no start issue.  It's an unfair business practice to give you the benefits of a warranty when others pay for a warranty. No assistance will be offered.
  

  Customer response

  08/10/2022

  I am rejecting this response because:

  Based on your response I assume you are the less then friendly man I spoke to at CJs the day it broke down and you told me it was likely a starter issue even though I explained there was fuel codes present a starter would not send fuel codes. The mechanic is not taking advantage of me. I have seen the vehicle myself and have pictures and videos of mechanic failures. You are quick to jump to conclusions sir. **** findings on initial inspection of my vehicle being towed in "partially removed the timing belt cover & the timing belt does not appear to be broken, rotated the crankshaft by hand & found the timing belt, intake, & exhaust camshaft gears turn but when looking down the oil fill hole while hand turning engine over the intake camshaft does not turn recommend tear down & inspection to find cause of camshaft concern, possible head removal needed if valves have contacted pistons, looking through the spark plug holes of each cylinder with a borescope there looks like there may be one spot on cylinder #1 piston where the valve may have contacted the face of the piston - will need to tear down and inspect " then after i approved tear down which indeed took me a few days to figure out because this was so unexpected and stressful.

  tech diagnostics upon tear down "Checked engine oil level and found it to be full. Also found excessive amounts of sludge inside valve cover. Vehicle has been filled with oil since the turbocharger has started to fail. Turbocharger failure causing excessive amounts of oil to fill the intake system. Found cam sprockets to spin freely on camshaft and not be locked out as well as be able to move in and out. Due to excessive oil in intake manifolds there is a good chance of bent connecting rods and bottom end damage as well as cylinder head damage if any amount of hydro lock has occurred. Recommend replace engine, turbocharger, intake, intercooler and all other gaskets and components to replace engine. "

  This can not be made up. And trust me it's not what I want to be dealing with as you clearly don't want to either. You are loosing business daily. Are you a bonded business? If so please provided your bonding license number. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩