Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased a 2004 Ford from ALLEN AUTOMOTIVE ( **** ****** ***** ******** **.) on Nov. 11, '22 along with a mechanical warranty. I (*** ****** * ***) was asked to be a co-signer on the loan, which I agreed to do. *******, my son, was in-person at the dealership and was told we could complete co-signing paperwork via email since I am located in Joplin, MO. I signed paperwork, email back & ******* signed. We understood this was be *******’s loan & I a co-signer. Later I received copies of the loan (Credit Union of America) listing me first- not just a co-signer. This was done without our knowledge & without my approval. The truck was driven approximately 600 miles since purchase. Dec. 6, '22 truck would not start, taken to a mechanic for diagnostic & estimate of $5,905. On Jan. 3,’23 truck was repaired, however, warranty only covered $3,000 of the cost (payment plan for the remaining agreed to). Truck was driven 2 days & broke down. On Jan. 6th, the truck was smoking, parked & towed ( $240) back to ****** ******* & we were given a 2nd estimate for repairs, ($4,875) needed to get the truck drivable again. We were told Allen Auto inspects all their vehicles & does needed repairs before putting them on their lot. The warranty we purchased added an additional $2,000 to the purchase. The first round of repairs it only covered $3,000 of the total. On the 2nd round of repairs, we were told the warrantee maxed out it’s coverage at the $3,000 on the first repair. We were not told of a cap on the warrantee at purchase nor is it noted in the paperwork we were given. So far this $11,000. purchase has cost ($5,000.out of pocket) + a $9,000. loan & a truck that doesn't run. Can you help us?

  Business response

  02/15/2023

  To whom it may concern,
  I am sorry you are having problems with the 2004 ford F350 you purchased, We had no knowledge that any repairs needed done before Jan 10, 2023 when you email me. No one ever contacted us during our warranty period which is 30 days or 1000 miles whichever occurs first. That time period had been up for over 30 days and the miles are will over 1000.
  The truck ran just fine when we had it and when they bought it or ******* and ******* would not have bought it. It did not overheat on your way home so it did not have a head gasket problem when you bought it or it would have overheated on a long drive home.
  Head gaskets are usually caused by the driver letting the vehicle overheat while driving.
  It is a 19 year old truck with well over 200,000 miles on it. You alway hope they will run forever with little or no maintenance to them, but that is not the case.
  A new truck like this would cost in the neighborhood of $80,000 dollars, so you saved $71,000 by purchasing an older one with a lot and lots of miles on it. With that $71,000 dollar saving come at a price sometimes.
  Unfortunately, our 30 day/1000 mile 50/50 warranty has expired, with you not taking advantage of it. I wish you would have brought it in here to get it fixed the first time it would have been much less money for you. The warranty coverage you did purchase caps out at $3000 which it right there in the paperwork of the warranty on page two.
  This was the best warranty we could get you with the age and miles the truck has on it. There are not a lot of warranty companies that WANT TO COVER A 19 YEAR OLD TRUCK WITH WELL OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT.
  This is NOT A NEW TRUCK.
  You had this paperwork for several hours before you signed it. You signed all the paperwork where you needed to sign it after you read it all. You signed in the first spot on all the paperwork, so you knew you were not a co-signer. You knew exactly what you were buying and exactly how you were doing it and you could not seem to get it done fast enough. You guys had a big plan for this truck and you were very excited to get it.
  For what you paid YOUR MECHANIC they should have fixed it correctly the first time. The driver of the vehicle apparently overheated the truck and got it very HOT TAKING OUT THE OIL COOLER, HEAD GASKETS AND OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST.
  As an older truck with a lot of miles you should expect to pay to replace parts, as they are all 19 years old with hundreds of thousands of miles on them.
  Usually when you need head gaskets, the car has overheated at the fault of the DRIVER.
  I also noticed that someone was spraying starter fluid in the air box, that can mess things up also and lead to more repairs, which it did.
  I would recommend that you trade it in for a new one with a new Truck warranty that covers the whole truck with NO limits if you don't want repair bills on a old used Truck.
  You bought the truck at a very good price (of only $9000) or you would not have drove 200 miles to get it and wait in our waiting room for 7 hours to get the loan done,
  ******* and ******* were very clear with us, they are going to buy this truck even if ******* can't be on the loan at all. Then ******* was going to buy it herself. It was explained to ******* that she would need to be listed on the loan first, which she was. Which she agreed to when she signed the paperwork to buy the truck. ******* never signed any co signer paperwork. IT DOES NOT MATTER WEATHER YOU ARE A CO SIGNER OR LISTED FIRST ON THE LOAN YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENTS AND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE LOAN JUST AS YOU WOULD BE AS A CO SIGNER ONLY.
  You are also responsible for maintaining the vehicle and doing the require maintenance on it if you break it.
  If you overheat it you will have to fix the head gaskets and the other items listed on these invoices you sent.
  I am sorry to say that our coverage of this vehicle is expired with our 30 day/ 1000 mile warranty.
  Ford the manufacturer of the truck stopped THEIR WARRANTY covering the vehicle 170,000 miles ago and 16 years ago.
  Sincerely
  Allen Automotive
  

  Customer response

  02/16/2023

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Assumed Answered]
  Complaint: ********
  I am rejecting this response because: Response is not accurate, & I have made a counter offer.
  Regards,
  
  ******** ******

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