ComplaintsforBlack Diamond Auto Sales, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 4, 2023, the dealer, "Black Diamond auto sales", sold my son a blue **** Prius. I was present as well, his father. However when we bought the vehicle, it was showing alarms and I was told that it was the regular small 12V battery, and that when it was re-connected, the alarms would clear. The warnings did not clear, so I had two auto repair shops check it, and both confirmed a problem with the hybrid battery. If codes had been checked, this would have been found. The car was unable to run for long distances without shutting off, so we had to purchase a large refurbished hybrid battery for $1,850 plus installation. So added to the base cost of $6,300, that comes to about $8,500. Also, the compartment that holds the small 12V battery was full of water, so the person who connected it at the dealer could obviously see that but did nothing about it, or tell us.I have attached an image of the receipt for the hybrid battery that we had to purchase just a few days after the purchase of the vehicle. We are seeking a settlement from the dealer to help defray the cost of the hybrid battery which was not part of the final agreed on price.

  

  Business response

  05/22/2023

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  I am writing in response to the complaint filed by the customer who bought the **** ****** Prius, regarding their purchase of a blue **** Prius from our dealership, "Black Diamond Auto Sales." We appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns raised by the customer and provide our perspective on the matter. First and foremost, we would like to express our regret for any inconvenience experienced by the customer and their son. However, it is important to clarify some significant aspects of this situation. When the vehicle was purchased, it was sold "as-is," meaning without warranty or guarantee. Our team communicated this information clearly during the purchasing process, and both customer of the **** ****** Prius and their son acknowledged and accepted the vehicle's condition in its current state. Furthermore, they declined to purchase the additional contract cancellation (cooling period), indicating their confidence in the purchase decision. The customer did not reach out to us regarding the issue with the hybrid battery. When we were made aware of the issue with the hybrid battery we attempted to reach out to the customer several times and we could not get in touch with them. I also attached documents as proof. 

  Manager

  Black Diamond Auto Sales

  **************

  Customer response

  05/23/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

  Thank you for the opportunity to correct some responses from the dealer. The dealer mentions that the vehicle was sold "as-is", without warranty or guarantee, and that we accepted the condition of the behicle in its current state, and did not purchase the optional contract cancellation option. The paperwork we filled out isn't the issue. We declined to purchase the protection because we were lied to. Two separate auto repair shops, ******************* in ********************* and **************** in Sacramento, checked the computer codes which indicated errors in the hybrid battery, not the smaller 12V battery as claimed (see attached file... the price shown is just the installation). The salesman who gave my son the test drive told us verbally that hybrid batteries never really "go bad", they just get less gas mileage, and that the error showing was due to the smaller 12V battery. Obviously this is incorrect, as the vehicle was shutting down on its own while driving. Also a reminder that there was a lot of water in the 12V battery compartment, which was not addressed in the dealer response, indicating further lack of care for the consumer.

  Since we trusted the sellers, of course we did not purchase extra protection as we were assured the vehicle was fine (error would clear on its own). The consumer shouldn't have to guess if they are being lied to. If the dealer had simply checked the codes to make sure, instead of assuming, we could have looked for another vehicle and been satisfied.

  The dealer states they reached out to us, however I do not have any voicemails or emails from them. My number is ************, email *********************************.

  Also, the dealer is requesting a payment of $73 to take care of fees with the **** This is outrageous as we have already had to pay an additional 35% more than the base cost of the vehicle just to return it to good condition. 

   

  
  

  

  Business response

  06/08/2023

  we did call customer many times and left voicemail. Customer never respond, and never came back to our car dealership to talk about the car issues he have. We did call him and we can proof phone call log. 

  Customer need to understand this is Used Car and and the car is over 20 year old. Neighborhood Garage located next to us and why after they check the car he never came to us and show us all the paperwork and point to the problems??

  We care for our customers and we could help him with his issues. We can provide any documents BBB need. When Customer was buying car he had chance to take and do pre purchase Inspection. Now he blame us. Maybe customer did something after purchase because car pass smog and we neve had check engine.

   

  Customer response

  06/09/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

  The business claims that the car was sold as-is. Again, I repeat, I was told by an employee that the error code was due to the smaller 12V battery, which was a lie and the dealer obviously NEVER checked the code which turned out to be the bad hybrid battery. The dealer also refuses to mention the standing water found in the 12V battery compartment.
  
  I do indeed blame the dealer for NOT checking the codes properly, which TWO other shops were able to, and continue to lie to me about the car being in decent condition upon sale. The fact that it is 20 years old doesn't matter... it had a check engine light which I was lied to about. The dealer also blames me for "doing something" to the car after purchase... WHY or HOW would I do something to ruin the hybrid battery as was obviously the issue, based on documents I uploaded? These are sad attempts at deflection from the issue. The dealer could easily check with Neighborhood Garage, which is right next door as they have the vehicle on record.
  
  I asked the dealer to reach out via email, ********************************* and received no response. This response through the BBB from the dealer just confirms their unwillingness to help customers, because the dealer hasn't offered ANY help yet. However, the dealer is jumping to the conclusion that we, the purchaser, did "something" to the car right after spending money on it. WHY would we ruin a vehicle we just purchased? This makes no sense.   

   

  See attached diagnostic 
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Customer response

  06/14/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  This response from the dealership appears to be a simple copy or restatement of their last response, which has no new information and again does not address the issue at hand, which was not telling the truth to the consumer at purchase. Details on previous communications.

  
  

  

  Business response

  06/27/2023

  We did send papers that Shows buyer bought As Is and also Decline to Purchase Contract Cancelation Agreement(Cooling Period). Buyer Never came see us for the problem and contact us after few weeks true BBB. I personally Left voice massage and got not Respond. 

  Customer response

  07/04/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

  As explained before, I was lied to during the sale. I accepted the dealer's information as truthful and honest when sadly it was not, regarding both the hybrid and smaller 12v batteries. 

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchase a Dodge Magnum on November 29, 2022. I was given the carfax report which showed the car had 1 owner and no accidents and a clean title. I took it for a test drive and the vehicle ran well. I noticed rust in different parts of the car and was told by the sale person that it was all cosmetic and the vehicle was merely stored outside. I started noticing more rust in and around the vehicle. One morning the window was foggy and you could see what they auction that the dealership purchased it from had marked on the windshield " Low mileage, **Rust**" I took the car to a mechanic to assess the amount of rust. The mechanic showed me holes where the rust was eating away at the body. The chassis, axles, suspension and other parts. Why is it that when I asked about the rust spots that I was told not to worry about it and it would sand out. The dealership knowingly sold me a rusted and possible unsafe car. I want my money back.

  

  Business response

  03/02/2023

  Hello,

  We purchase the car from Car Auction and did Smog Check and everything pass good. Customer came with Family member inspect the car and decide to purchase the car. On they complain they wrote  'vehicle ran well". They had option do Inspection before buying! we can Attach any paperwork BBB Needed. Customer Sign Document he understand its used car car and the car comes AS IS. They had option to purchase Contract Cancelation Option agreement and they Decline.

  Sincerely 

  Black Diamond Auto Sales

• Initial Complaint

  09/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a car from this dealership on Saturday January 29, 2022. While filling out the paperwork, I was sold on the Extended Warranty through ************** I asked questions about what they would cover and it wasn't until I got home with the paperwork did I read the warranty contract in full. It did not cover much of the stuff I was wondering about (replacing cracked windows) and it covered far less than was advertised (only a handful of oil changes that don't line up with the recommended oil change schedule). On February 22, 2022 I sent the required documentation via email to ************** cancelling my warranty within the 30-day full money back period.A few weeks later, it was confirmed that Black Diamond received the check from ************** It was in March of 2022 that I spoke with ***** who assured me he had sent it out the night before to go to the ************ where I had my loan.That did not happen. When I called back in May or June, he said it would be sent out the next day.It is September 2022 and that check has not made it to my ************. And in both July and August, I reached out to ***** at Black Diamond in good faith trying to get this resolved, and was unable to get through. I left multiple voicemails and nothing.This is unacceptable. Total Timeline of the Warranty has been ongoing from February 22, 2022 (nearly 6.5 months at the time of writing this complaint.)

  

  Business response

  09/16/2022

  we did send check to the customer few months ago and its came back we did proof to the customer mail came back. customer request us to mail to the bank and we did.

• Initial Complaint

  08/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I purchased a car and extended warranty from Black Diamond on 4/30/21. I canceled the extended warranty in May 2022. The warranty company *************** explained that they would issue a refund check to Black Diamond, and Black Diamond would take the check to the lien holder (Golden 1 ************** The check was issued and Black Diamond cashed the check on 6/21/22. Black Diamond denied receiving the check for weeks. ************* confirmed that Black Diamond cashed the check. I contacted Black Diamond several times, however, they continued to say they would deposit the money to Golden 1, but never did. At one point, I was told that the owner of Black Diamond was out of town for a couple of weeks and nobody could write a check to Golden 1. It has now been 2 months and they still have not provided the refund to my loan (Golden 1). I have contacted the police department but was told that this was a civil issue. Black Diamond has now stopped returning my calls. The amount of the warranty refund was $2145.96

  

  Business response

  09/06/2022

  We did mail refund check to the bank and for some reason the bank didn't got it.

  we went to the bank and give warranty check to US Bank. we sorry for inconvenience our customer had. everything was resolved.

  Sincerely

  Black Diamond Auto Sales

  Customer response

  09/06/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  To whom it may concern I bought ****** prius 2013 on 3/25/22 Friday They posted this vehicle as prius 3 with back camera and more advance features but they sold me without all these features. 3/28/22 on Monday I went to ********** started overheat red light on dashboard.I called them they said call to your mechanic. we cant do anything its As is car. but when they sold me this said it doesnt have any issues. Car overheats when we go above 60.I took this car to ****** dealership and they said it will cost me 4200$ its head gasket leak issue .I called them again if we can solve this issue but they are keep ignoring me. Making false promises like they told me our owner will be here on Monday but when I call to ask what time I can come no response at all. Sun wiser was also broken when I opened for sun it came out. I know I declined the warrenty that they offered me for 250$ but upon on their words this car not have any issues.These people are so rude they feel so proud when they deceive the customers.

  

  Business response

  04/26/2022

  This issue has been resolved. He traded the vehicle back to us.
  

  
  

*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. ↩