Customer ReviewsforCloninger Ford of Hickory

I went into this dealership for a truck priced at $8991. $500 trade in and ***** down somehow left me owing over $11,000 BEFORE financing. They had me to drive for 2 and a half hours for a part that wasn't there, they said was. They put very little gas in my truck to go back on bc it was already almost full. Mind you they wouldn't comp my warranty milage that I drove on their "miscommunication", is what it they called it. They are extremely aggressive and will lie to you to your face. They stonewall and gaslight. The service woman who spoke to me was rude, aggressive, passive aggressive, and short in speech. I wouldn't recommend these people to anyone. STAY AWAY.

Customers need to be very careful in purchasing a vehicle from this dealership. They are very aggressive in adding fees ($899 document fee) and services ($799 appearance protection) to the price of the vehicle. Be especially wary during the ***************** part of the sale, because the business manager also will get you to sign for maintenance contracts ($707) and extended warranties ($2500) that you may not be fully aware you are purchasing during those stressful few moments. I signed for everything without fully understanding what I was doing, and I ended up paying an additional $4905 over the sticker price of my vehicle or 18%. The dealership offers "Free" Maintenance and "Lifetime Powertrain", but you pay for these services. Don't be fooled.

Most unprofessional Dealership I have ever dealt with. No communication, not even from the Supposed General Manager. I was not smart in the fact that I gave all my information regarding credit and our Trade in because I was told that had to be done prior to the car we were interested in purchasing. It has been a week with numerous messages sent to various employees there including the General Manager and Financial person to get absolutely no response. I found out on my own that the vehicle we were interested in had issues and that they had replaced a part in the car themselves twice. I was lied to and told the car was a recent trade and was still in the service department going through the initial inspection. I saw on Carfax that they had had that car for 9 months and it had already been through inspection. They also are priced higher than other dealerships for the same vehicle. I would advise looking elsewhere if your in search of a vehicle. They are not truthful and have no communication skills and apparently have no use in selling vehicles. Very very unprofessional!!

Frustrated and feeling swindled. I purchased a vehicle in November. Paid the *** fees at the time of the purchase. By December, my expiration date was approaching and I had not received my tag. I called twice and left messages with the finance department. No return call from December to February . I had to drive back an hour away to get a new temp tag as mine would have been expired the next day. A call to ** DMV reveals there is an issue with tag and they didnt know who long it was going to take for them to clean it up. I call back to the dealership they claim its the holiday disruption. I get two addition temp tags for *** and Feb. Now, its February and finally get a tag. Its a temp 60 day tag where I have taxes due. I call the dealership and ask for the finance the department. I get a salesmans who proceeds to tell me that is not what I paid. According to ** DMV temp 60 days are issued to new vehicle owners when the the taxes are delayed. I paid the taxes at the time of purchase. You reference the documents they give you a flash drive everything is bundled and not itemized. Beware, get an itemized print out of you paperwork, document and record all conversations.

I can't even give one star rating, only selected because had to to make this review!! They need to be put out of business..RUUNNNN, DO NOT BUY FROM THEM!

I purchased a used car from this dealership 5/31 & when I test drove it, I pointed out a couple of concerns & was told they would take care of it by the sales person. They had the car for a week & delivered it to me at work (as I live an hour away from the dealership). When it was delivered to me nothing they were supposed to have done was completed & the check engine light was on. I didn't get a copy of my paperwork. This dealership has a 72 hour buy back program so I let my sales person know what was going on. He told me I could take it to their sister dealership in Salisbury since it was closer so I did. They took care of the couple of things that were supposed to have been done prior to delivery & advised what was causing the check engine light to be on but the Hickory dealership would have to get Hickory to give permission to fix it. Since the day of delivery, my husband and I tried to get in touch with Hickory to let them know we wanted to take advantage of the buy back program. We called multiple times in the first 2 weeks with no return call. Once they did call back, they have said they aren't going to honor the buy back. I am fighting the fact that had they returned our calls within the first 72 hours, they would already have this call back. I am waiting on their call back today to give them one last chance to make this right. Either fix the issue we are needing fixed or honor the call back. 2 bent wheels on the care. This means that when I put new tires on the car I can't rotate the tires or I can rotate them and have to deal with a serious ***************** not wearing right on the bent wheels. If it was one of their family members that bought this car, they would've already taken care of this or took the car back.

I purchased a 2022 **** escape from them and paid way over the amount that I was told the car would cost. When discussing the payment, they told me that it increased due to a different interest with the finance company but after carefully reading the information I found out that the car price was changed in the end. Do not buy a car from these people. They are very unethical and could care less about the customer. They also took my trade-in under the amount. We discussed prior as well. I called to speak to them about it in regards to the issues and they told me that there was nothing I could do because I have already signed the paperwork , and basically to call an attorney. I am ashamed that I fell for their tricks and didnt read the fine print while they scrolled through the contract quickly and just had me signing at the bottom. The vehicle has been an OK vehicle but unfortunately I got screwed on it. Well never purchased from ******** again.

Got my new 2023 **** F-250 delivered from Cloninger **** on 4/28/23. I paid 3k over sticker for a new truck but received a truck with **** miles on it. The general manager took it to the Outer Banks on a fishing trip prior to delivery. They also sold me a Rhino Liner with the truck that is not a Rhino Liner, but rather a cheap knockoff. Shame on me for buying from Cloninger ****.

When you first walk into the dealership everyone is very welcoming and friendly and seem to be willing to help you in any way that they can. Do not be Fooled by Wolves in Sheeps clothing - it is only an act to get you hooked. You can ask any questions you want, and they will answer them in any way that they think will please you. But beware when you call back with a complaint and need help, they will assure you that was a verbal conversation and that you signed paperwork that contradicts the conversation, and you have no way of proving the conversation existed. So be sure to be versed on your legalese and read and understand everything you sign and remember if it sounds too good to be true - it probably isn't true. When they say they will do Anything to get you in a car - they mean it (ethical or not) and you will be the one regretting the transaction. I will never venture into their dealership again and would advise anyone else not to do so.

Very unprofessional, they sell lemons for top dollar and could car less about customer **********************. Run run run from this dealership if you don't want to deal with problems. Will be filing lawsuit.