Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My son saved and bought his first car from Settler because we were referred by a family friend.We test drove a few cars and thought the ****** Forester would get him through the next 1.5 years of school.We knew it was an older/high mileage vehicle but never thought we would have engine issues after only 2 weeks of ownership.It was at about ******* miles or so when we bought it.The second day of owning the car we put a new battery in.The 2nd day I did call *** and ask him when the last time the oil had been changed.He chuckled and said he did not know.I told son to make an appointment for an oil change.There was oil in the car as we did check the dip stick.He had the oil changed on 1/20/24 at ****************.The associate there advised ******* that there was an oil leak at that time.On 1/28/24 the check engine light was on.We checked the oil dip stick and it did not appear there was much oil in the vehicle.This is only after a week of having the oil changed. My husband ***** put a quart of oil in it.This meant that the car had an issue with oil and pressure with the camshafts.the dealer on 1/29/24 at 9:55a.m.I explained to him that my son had used his savings to buy his first car and we had expected the car to last at least a year but it was burning oil and leaking oil after only having the vehicle for 2 weeks and driving just to school, work and home.I explained that he did not have the money to invest into the car and we would like to have the car fixed.The salesman said he would call by the end of the day with a response. He then informed us he was unable to get in contact with the owner and the owner did not come into the office.I called at 5:40p.m. and *** answered.The owner *** would not do anything as "there were several people looking at the vehicle and they had financing fall through. The mechanic last put in a new windshield, muffler, paint job and bumper and had addressed the something with the steering column

  Customer response

  01/31/2024

  Hello,

  I am the one who had to be listed on the Bill of Sale as my son is a Minor.  He is 16.  Would you like the Bill of Sale?

  Thank you,

  ********

  Customer response

  02/05/2024

  Hello,
  I would like to add to my complaint that we have the car at a mechanic and the issues that are wrong are the following :
  2 Front tires are not driveable - wire showing through and the other is ready to fall off
  Alternator Bad
  Water Pump Bad
  2 Head Gaskets Bad
  Hole in the Exhaust
  
  I will have a written estimate next week.  However at this point we are looking at refund on the vehicle and to return it.  We have not guarantee that the vehicle will run correctly even after we do all the work.
  
  Thank you,
  *****************************
  

  
  

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  Hello.  My name is *** and I am the manager at Settle Auto Sales.  **************** purchased a ****** Forester on the 15th of January, 2024.   I have included documents that she signed stating that it is a used vehicle and is being sold "As Is". Having said that, she didn't experience extreme oil and anti-freeze leaks until nearly two weeks after purchasing the vehicle.  The vehicle was not leaking like that at the time of sale.   It would have been impossible to drive for more than a day or two, let alone 2 weeks.  The fact that both problems occurred at the same time, two weeks later, leads me to believe the car ran over something or hit a pothole causing it to then have problems holding the fluids.   That is what commonly happens when the bottom of the car come in contact with a hard object.   I have attached the three documents showing that she was aware that the vehicle was being purchased "As Is" along with this statement.  If there is anything else I need to do to resolve this please let me know.  

  Thank you,

  Joe 

  Setlle Auto Sales

  Customer response

  02/06/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  the above repairs do not happen from hitting a pot hole which did NOT happen.

  When we test drove the car, the car did not start - *** jumped it.  I thought well it's freezing cold out this was why.  

  When my son went to drive his new car home, the car had to be jumped, this time I thought bad battery.

  We replaced the battery the following day.  You see the alternator was bad and this would cause the car to have issues with starting.

  The car was not gushing oil but a leak.  It was also burning oil.  *** did tell me he could not smell.  I did ask him to come out and smell the burning oil.  He did not.  I thought well maybe the car has sat for a long time and the oil just needs to get through the system.  NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS would I think we were being sold a car that was in disrepair.  

  ***, I told you before to fix the issue is to repair the issue and make it right.  Shoot, we will even take care of the tires.  But the mechanical part of the car is not something that was caused as you are stating.  You know this was my son's first car and he used his savings to buy it.  You think you would want to make this right.  When I signed the car "as is", I signed that in good faith hoping that this car would be the car to get him through high school.

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I bought a car from settle auto sales on 4/14/22 I put a down payment of 2000.00 because my bank had a cap on how much I could spend day. They let me take the car and I was to return the next day. I returned and payed another 1000.00 dollars. The total cost of the car was 3913.15 One of my cards wasn't working so I owed 1400.00 still I was to return that following Monday and pay the rest. I was very busy that day with work and classes so I was unable to make it. I called 2x and got no answer I am went to there website and hit contact and left an email. The next day as I was walking out to go pay I saw my car was hooked up to a town truck. They were towing my car. Mind you I've payed over half for the car and it's been 1 day. I tried explaibg I was on the way to pay it now They were very adamant and said nope we are towing it. As I went to grab something out of the car the tow truck driver pushed my hand away stating I couldn't get anything out of it. I was livid so I didn't give then the keys. I had to walk to the business which isn't even a mile down my road to get my car back. I walked in and the lady at the desk ******, said I owed an extra 400.00 to my already 1400.00 bill. Why? 200.00 for the tow and 200.00 for not surrenders the keys. This is a scam absolutely unheard of. The tow wasn't even a mile down the street. And 200.00 for keys. This business is greedy and I shouldn't of had to pay that extra money. I'm behind in my other bills now because of this incident. Not only did they steal my money the driver put there hands on me. I want something done about this. The car wasn't even worth what I ended up paying for it. Things have already started going wrong. Ac don't work they only gave me 1 key the locks don't unlock unless you manually do it and the underbody is making noises. I will NEVER recommend this business or deal with them again. I plan on contacting a lawyer as well.

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