Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/04/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I bought a for Nissan Maxima for 11k dollars from Empire Automotives on February 10, 2025, and was told today that the engine may need to be replaced. When I purchased the car on 2/10/25, I noticed the car had a bunch of white smoke pouring out the back exhaust an hour after pulling off the lot. The owner told me to bring the car right back and they would fix it for me. I returned with the car and waited 4-5 hours for the repairs to be done. They showed me a "new" hose they put on the car and showed me that the smoke issue was resolved, so I continued with the purchase. However, last week 3/25/25 I went to get an oil change, and the company told me that the car did not have an engine filter, so I had one put in. Yesterday 4/3/25 my check engine light came on and the car started acting funny. I asked my dad to check it, and he realized that "new" hose that the company supposedly repaired, was actually not even needed, because all they did was put a cap on the PCV valve and a hose over it, to make it look like they fixed the issue. When in reality by removing the engine filter and putting the cap on the PCV valve, all it did was make the smoke stop, but it ruined the engine even more. I was told today; I am probably going to need a new engine in a car I bought not even 2 months ago.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/09/2025

  The customer came to the dealership on 2/10/25 to check out the vehicle. She brought someone with her who checked out the vehicle for her prior to her purchasing the vehicle. Once she decided to purchase the vehicle it was explained to her that the vehicle was sold AS IS and she signed the AS IS Form before any money was exchanged. When she called about the vehicle smoking she was told that the dealership could not do anything to help her but recommend her to a mechanic that could check the vehicle out for her at her expense (in which she agreed and he checked it out and made some repairs). 

  It's no way possible for a vehicle to be driven 2 months without an engine oil filter, and she didn't have any issues with the vehicle until after she got an oil change. An oil change consists of changing the oil and filter, so the company that changed her oil probably forgot to put her oil filter on and that's why she needs a new engine.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/10/2025

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: on February 10th hours after purchasing the car, I was told to bring it back to the shop so they could repair the issue. They pulled my car across the street and had their shady mechanic repair it (For some reason they said they couldn't do repairs in their own lot).  I did bring it back with my mom and sat around for 4 hours in a back room of Empower waiting. I gave attached a text that my mom sent asking how much longer because it was taking so long to be done. His response is "He doing it now".  This gentleman is clearly a liar.  He does not belong in business. He has multiple people putting complaints in. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/05/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was sold a 2006 Honda Odyssey April 6th, 2024. Empower automotives LLC has failed to provide me with a title and tags for my vehicle for over 90 days. I have been issued multiple temporary tags for the car with no proof of ownership. We paid cash and have nothing to show for the vehicle.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/14/2024

  I explained to her that when ****** mailed the title to the dealership that it was delivered to the wrong address and being that it was a trade in from North Carolina it will be a time consuming process to get a duplicate title. She recently came by the dealership and we gave her a copy of the bill of sale and affidavit that shows she purchased the vehicle. I have made sure that she isn't riding illegally by updating her temporary tag when it expired. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/14/2024

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

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/02/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On Febuary 16th, 2024, I bought a 2013 Nissan Altima for $3700 plus $215 for registration and my title and license plate which i was told would come in the mail, and NEVER received. It test drove fine and everything, I drove it home, and the next day the check engine light comes on and it's acting up. I called Empower but also take it to Dick Smith and they say it's the Transmission and Catalytic Converter. So I call Empower and talk with the OWNER, Cedric Knighter(Pure Scam Artist) who says bring it in and they will check it out, and when I told him I was taking it in, he said I didn't need to do that and it was a waste of time and money cause nothing was wrong. I bring it to Empower and they test drive it and run their code machine and say it's just and O2 sensor and reset the code. I say "Can you fix it cause in the add, it said absolutely nothing was wrong with the vehicle" he says "no you can pay to get it fixed". A few days after that, I'm at work and see a wet spot under the vehicle. I touch it with my fingers and it's a redish liquid coming from around where the transmission is. I spent all my money on this vehicle to help me get to and from work, now I'm back using uber and lyft cause I can't even drive the car 1 mile. And can't fix it rn cause I'm spending money on rides to work. Overall this place needs to be shut down. Now I have a $3915.00 piece of junk just sitting in my yard that I can't drive and is gonna cost more to fix than what I paid or it's even worth and barely got 100 miles out of it.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/02/2024

  Picture of the Ad stating that there were no issues with the vehicle purchased.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/07/2024

  The customer had the opportunity to go take the vehicle and get it checked out but didn't. Instead the customer test drove the vehicle and the vehicle didn't have any issues. It was stated verbally to the customer that the vehicle is sold as is and we also provided a written AS IS form for the customer to read in which he signed before completing any other paperwork. 

  Business Response

  Date: 05/08/2024

  The customer had the opportunity to go take the vehicle and get it checked out but didn't. Instead the customer test drove the vehicle and the vehicle didn't have any issues. It was stated verbally to the customer that the vehicle is sold as is and we also provided a written AS IS form for the customer to read in which he signed before completing any other paperwork. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/16/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I bought a 4 door third row seat 2014 GMC Acadia in February. I called to get in touch with the owner/seller to inform them about the vehicle they sold me stopped driving after a week. I had multiple mechanics look at it to tell me the issue that I was facing. The motor blown. In the car after I had it only a week. I called multiple times to speak to them about it and they told me they wasn't going to help me out. I lost $5605.00 in a vehicle to help me and my children get around and now I have no way of going. I need to at least get refunded or another working vehicle or if their willing to fix the issue that's fine. I'm a single mother of three and I need away back and forth.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/17/2024

  The vehicle was sold as is and you took the vehicle on a test drive prior to you purchasing the vehicle. It's no way for us to predict the future and tell when something something will go wrong with any vehicle. It's sad to hear that your vehicle stopped on you but you signed an "AS IS" form prior to you purchasing the vehicle. So the dealership can't do anything to help you with the matter at hand because that would void the "AS IS CONTRACT".

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/19/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I’m a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg and was looking to purchase a car. I saw an ad for a 2002 Toyota Sequoia posted by Empower Automotive’s account on ******** Marketplace, and on Sept. 22nd, 2023, a friend and I drove down to their dealership in Columbia, South Carolina to check out the SUV. After test driving and looking over the vehicle I decided to purchase it. I sat down with Vince D and signed the paperwork needed and paid 4500 cash. I asked him if he could give me tags for North Carolina because I am stationed there and he said no, he could only get tags for South Carolina, but he came up with another option. He gave me a paper tag that only had the name and logo of his company (no identifying numbers or letter) and told me that should get me back to North Carolina where I can register it myself at the DMV. I had never heard of this before but I decided to trust him and go with it. I left that day with the vehicle and the paperwork he told me I needed to get it registered. On Sept. 25 I took all the paperwork they gave me to the DMV to register the vehicle. The DMV told me they could not register the vehicle because there was a missing link between dealer assignments in the paperwork they had given me at Empower Automotive. The DMV told me to come back when I had paperwork to prove the link Your Best Choice Auto Sales to Empower Automotive. I messaged Empower about this and they mailed me the paperwork they said I needed. I received a bill of sale between Your Best Choice Auto and Empower Automotive, so I went back to the DMV on October 10th and tried to register the vehicle again. The DMV told me the paperwork they sent me was not enough and that I needed a document called a Secure Dealer Reassignment between the two dealers. I messaged Empower Automotive about this that day and have yet to get a response. I have messaged them several times which I know they have been receiving and choosing to ignore. I need a solution to get my car registered.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/25/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  May 1, 2023 I did a down payment of $1,800 on a red 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. I spoke with Vince D**** a few days before going to the car lot to even look at a car telling him what I needed and how much money I was dealing with. I told him I didn’t car how the car look or how long I just need something with no problems because I drive to Georgia,Orange-burg, and Elgin to do hair so I need something reliable. Long story short I get to the lot he shows the car I love it, it’s everything I asked for but it wasn’t a 5 speed which I was totally fine with. He told me to hold on while he grab the key for me to test drive it. He returns with the key and handle it to me I crack it up everything’s fine. Mind you the car didn’t have a test driver tag, dealers tag nothin so i didn’t drive it but around the corner cause I wasn’t goin to take no car with no tag and looking not at it’s best on the highway to get pulled over I wasn’t doing it. But the ride was ok around the corner. So I get there and they have everything ready for me to sign and stuff so we did that. I leave and otw home the car started shaking and the windows and sunroof was stuck and wouldn’t close as well as the gas tank wouldn’t open this happened before even 24hrs I notified him. Went back on May 2 he wasn’t there a guy that works there asked me what was the problem I told him, his reply was I don’t know about the shaking and windows but if you need gas open the tank like this, he took his key put it in the split of the gas tank door n popped it open. Mr. D**** then pulled up looked at the problems and said he was going to send me to a mechanic on Shakespeare Road to get my spark plugs and doors and sunroof, looked at all. When I got there, the mechanic call Mr. D**** and Mr. D**** changed his story till just telling him to put a fuse in, and I had to pay out of pocket for the spark plugs the wires as well as pay to get someone to put it in for me. I then asked can he take something off my remaining he then put his brother on the phone with me