Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased 2005 ***** Silverado listed with 49kmiles on it 11/30/24 from PAMMI MOTORS. Paid $13,273.07 after taxes for vehicle. Vehicle was described by dealer as dealer mechanic inspected and fully functional with no issues besides some undercarriage rust and a small barely visible dent. It looks pristine externally and the engine bay had been thoroughly cleaned etc. I explained in explicit detail the necessity of a reliable vehicle to travel out of state to attend ongoing family health issues and was assured of the condition of the vehicle. I noticed that the rust was more severe than originally indicated and we negotiated the original price down accordingly. Video posted on ad that stated that it drives at 80mph wonderfully. Dealer took me on test drive but did not have me go above 50 mph. I later discovered that it shakes above 70mph. Within a few days started undisclosed brake issues, strange noises, and fluid burning smells. Contacted dealer about this within first week he encouraged me to pay for the $1400 warranty/insurance. I expressed concern that the warranty would not cover the issues and that I would bring to my local certified mechanic for a multipoint inspection. I stopped by the local mechanic who immediately expressed concern about the safety, and relayed this to ****/ ***** ***** to tell him that I required a return as these issues were far from transparent during point of sale. He responded telling me that I bought "as is" and everything that happens off the lot. I wrote further to no reply.I brought the truck in for my appointment with the mechanic (who services the fire department fleet ) and he stated that the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT had been disabled and that it had several codes prior to my purchase that it would have failed emissions at my point of sale which is illegal, and several other unsafe issues. I never would have purchased this vehicle if the codes were visible. This is deceptive and fraudulent and I require a refund immediately.

  Business response

  12/21/2024

  After reading this complaint, while we do not wish for our customers to be dissatisfied with their purchase, we do want to clarify the facts here.  First, this Silverado was inspected by mechanics.  The only issue discovered was the vehicle required an oil change and a new gas cap.  Otherwise, it was in excellent condition.  Second, this client took the time to inspect the vehicle, himself, while on the phone with his own mechanic.  He also crawled underneath the vehicle to inspect its undercarriage as well.  Third, we always aim to disclose everything that is known about a vehicle.  This vehicle is 20-years old and has visible rust--all of which was discussed and disclosed to this client.  We took him on a test drive and encouraged him to take it at higher speeds so that he can test out the vehicle properly.   After his test drive and inspection of the vehicle, the customer insisted on purchasing the vehicle that same day.  He purchased the vehicle "as is," and as such, we suggested that he purchase an extended warranty given the age and nature of the vehicle.  A week after purchasing the vehicle, the customer complained that the vehicle did not pass emissions, however, a government-issued Vehicle Inspection Report clearly states the vehicle did pass emissions.  This report was provided to the customer.  Nevertheless, this customer began suggesting we engaged in fraudulent practices.  This is simply not true, nor would we engage in such activity--or could we--especially amidst the regulation that revolves around this industry--and this fact is clearly established by the documentation provided to the customer.  Again, we do not wish for a dissatisfactory experience, however, we cannot control how a customer handles a vehicle and do not wish to be defamed as a result.

  Customer response

  12/21/2024

   
  Complaint: 22687664
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  It is diverting and distracting from the actual deceptive and illegal act and offering no resolution.

  THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISABLED AT MY TIME OF PURCHASE AND WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED EMISSIONS. This put me the purchaser in massive personal danger as I would have no way of knowing of a dire malfunction, and is fully illegal. I had no idea the engine was indicating malfunction and would not pass emissions at the time of sale. If it is argued that the check engine light worked during my purchase this would be patently and provably false as the vehicle has engine codes stored prior to my purchase mileage which would have illuminated the light and I obviously would not have purchased a vehicle with the check engine lights on, on a  $13k vehicle and there obviously was no disclosure of codes in my purchase paperwork or communication. The engine has codes stored that existed at my time of purchase which were invisible to me.

  As dealer claims it was mechanic inspected: Every mechanic has a code reader and would have been aware of the codes that were already present in the vehicle, and either would have been aware that the check engine light was disabled, or disabled it themselves. Its the first and most basic thing a mechanic does when inspecting a vehicle.

  Secondly, the dealer argues that the vehicle passed emissions, according to the papers later provided to me it did a few hundred miles prior to my purchase, not at my time of purchase. It put out codes 43 miles after it "passed" that would fail emissions, which was 200 miles prior to my purchase.
  

  Additionally, although less importantly; the dealer got in the vehicle with me for the test drive and told me where to drive, and there was no area where it was even legal for me to drive above 50mph and told me I could drive up to 55. This shaking starts at 70mph (original ad video by Pammi now removed talks above how well it drives at 80mph) This is besides the main point but just another detail of micromanaging the sale to divert me from known issues. Also I was not on the phone with my mechanic, I was on the phone with my uncle, who happens to be a metal worker, to discuss whether the undercarriage rust was an issue or not. Just an additional detail of the narrative being manipulated.

  EDIT: I made a mistake in my response as a replied quickly and pre-coffee. The hidden engine codes engaged 13 miles prior to my purchase, not 200. this does not change anything regarding my point as there were still codes and a disabled engine light during purchase, but I wanted to clarify my mistake regarding this detail and I couldn't see a way to edit or add an addendum to my response.
  

  Sincerely,

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

• Initial Complaint

  05/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I BOUGHT A VEHICLE HERE AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS CAR WAS CLEAN AND IT IS NOT AN OKAY VEHICLE HE SOLD ME A "WARRANTY" THAT WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE ISSUES I HAD CONCERN WITH. AFTER CONTACTING THE WARRANTY THIS CLAIM WAS FALSE THEY DO NOT COVER WHAT IS STATED IN OUR PAPER WORK. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK FOR THIS WARRANTY *******

  Business response

  05/07/2024

  Im always disappointed to read this type of complaint after trying our best to help our clients.  While we appreciate transparency in the complaint process, we also want to ensure the facts are reported correctly.  First, ***** purchased an 18 year old vehicle which had surface rust that was disclosed to him.  Accordingly, we provided a discount upon his request.  ***** then accepted the Jeep as is since he was extremely familiar with ***** from owning another one and also from working at an automotive dealership.  Second, we also offered him an extended warranty providing additional coverage for the vehicle through a 3rd party warranty company.  Anything that occurred after that point was out of our hands, and a result of communication he had directly with the warranty company (though we always try to assist to the extent we can even after a purchase).  Yes we did contact the warranty company on his behalf to assist in getting him a refund, however, the warranty company notified us that the warranty cannot be canceled because a claim was filed by him and his mechanic despite the grace ****** required for the warranty, which was clearly stated on the documents provided to him by them.  We are sorry to hear he had a negative experience as we always try to go above and beyond for our customers.  We hope that he finds a resolution with his situation soon.

*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. ↩