Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  03/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On February 23, 2023, I purchased a 2014 Chevy Traverse from Altoona Auto for $13,725. Within one week, I took the vehicle through the car wash and immediately noticed a severe water leak near the front sunroof. The next day I returned to the selling dealer to explain the leak. She sat in the passenger side and acknowledged the leak, stating it was a manufacturer warranty issue and that I was responsible for damaging the vehicle thus causing the leak. The next day I visited my personal mechanic for a water leak diagnostics test. Results of this test revealed there was a leak in the rear sun roof. Wanting a second opinion, I visited an auto glass specialist and they revealed the same results. The specialist applied silicone to the suspected leak area with no positive results. After the next rain storm, the leak was not fixed so I visited the car lot's mechanic seeking resolution. He took several pictures of the leak and subsequent damage and was told he was sending the pictures to the dealer. Contacting the dealer again, she stated she never saw any pictures, and reiterated that it was not her problem. Asking the dealer what she could do for me, she said her hands were tied. I pleaded for her to either repurchase the vehicle, or allow me to trade for another vehicle from her lot--to which she refused. At this point, I am stuck with a vehicle with water damage and no foreseeable solution in sight. I would like her to repurchase the vehicle for the original selling price.

  Business response

  03/28/2023

  i will send u a letter i repond to for the same customer that turned use into the attorney general here is everything u need and once again he used a power washer on the sunroof he told me and my mech and its all in the letter. thank you here it is. Tell us why here...

• Initial Complaint

  08/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Bought a car and the frame and whole rear end of the car is all rusted out and is a dangerous situation I drive my children and myself around and we could of been killed due to someone else trying to make a buck! I am not the only person who has been rooked by this person.

  Business response

  09/26/2022

  I'm writing regarding ID # ********.  Mr and Mrs. ******* ****** and ****** * ******.  They came to Altoona Auto Inc to purchase a 2007 Honda Pilot VIN#***************** Miles: 156,681.  Mr and Mrs ******* took car for a ride and check the car out and had no issues with the Honda at the time of the purchase.  I received a email on Aug 22nd 2022 around 1109 about the car she was to drive the car out so we could look at it and she never showed there were a few times they were to bring the car and never showed was going to hae it towed and still nothen received a call from her husband 09/22/2022 that they are trying to get it out to use but still no show with the Honda we do have picture of the under carriage of the Honda I will sumit them with this letter and we are not wheeling to give them 900.00 dollars back we can trade there car in and try to get them finance for another vehicle.  We have gave them several chances to bring it to be looked at.  So, we are not wheeling to give money back.  They bought car as is I do have the forms to send u they did get a warranty with wynn's warranty.  attach it the cod they both signed buying it as is and Altoona auto inc is not responsible for anything

  Thank you

  Management

  Customer response

  09/29/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  She Lisa M***** has sent pictures to you and they are not of the same vehicle that I purchased what vehicle that is I have no idea. I had it towed to the garage and my tow truck driver was not going to take it because he was afraid of it falling apart then when their mechanic put it up on the lift to see if it could be fixed he laughed at the tow truck driver and told him that it’s not fixable. Also in her response she said we could “ trade it in “ and get us refinanced. I took that as she will give me nothing for the car and have 2 loans I just want the loan canceled and go elsewhere for a vehicle. I am over this person all together. The photos she sent were dated 8/22/22 the car was in my possession on that date and I didn’t file the claim until 8/28/22 so what are these pictures of? I have documents from my mechanic who has said that the vehicle should of never been sold at all if needed I will send it to you. I am very stressed out and my anxiety is through the roof. 

  
  

  Sincerely 

  ******* ****** 
   
  Regards,
  
  ******* ******

  Business response

  10/04/2022

  first of all that's not true at all about the tow driver he was not even there when car was on the lift he told use he doesnt under stand why she had a full exhaust put on the car that they must of bottom the car out to have that put and and could of cause this issue. i did talk to them on sat the 10/01/2022 and over to give them a car to make them happy and they can keep  them one but since we seen the exhast and stuff was redone we are a little concern if they bottom the car out and also if the car was not driverable why was there over 2000 miles put on car, so at this point im taking to a few people to see what can be done. i do have picture of the car before it was sold two them if u need them please let me know thank you . 

• Initial Complaint

  07/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  on 3/17/2022, i purchased a '02 mazda mpv, vin # ****************** the sale price was 6995.00 with a 1500.00 down payment on a buy here/pay here lease. it was marked sold as is. around the beginning of 5/2022, i drove up to my sisters, but i had to pull over because the vehicled started to smoke under the hood and out the front passenger side tire, it was overheating. the next day i called altoona auto, and told them about the problems, a couple days later i took the vehicle in to be looked at, because they were having trouble with their mechanic not always being available. after looking at the vehicle, the mechanic noticed a hole in the radiator and one of the hoses to the engine had a tear in it. the owner of the car lot informed me that these things happen and it was purchased as is. ok i understood that. the total for repairs was added to my balance because i did not have the money to pay for that in addition to my biweekly payment. then it was only inspected till 6/22. so i made an appointment for the inspection at their garage. my appointment was on 5/25/22, i dropped the vehicle off. a couple hours later the mechanic called me and said that the vehicle would not pass inspection. it needed, front brakes, right front sway bar link, rear bumper support replaced, fixed left frame rail and a rear tire to pass inspection, which the owner informed me it would be around $500 for everything. i told her that i just got the vehicle that i understand as is, but i didn't expect all of this for the price i was paying for the vehicle and the age of the vehicle. the owner once again informed me that this stuff breaks at any time and is normal. so they ended up fixing and inspecting the vehicle. tacking the charges onto the remaining balance. well i was a little upset with that, so instead of waiting for anything else, i had extra money to have the vehicle checked over by my mechanic, because i trusted him and he would honestly tell me if it needed anything.

  Customer response

  07/15/2022

  additional comments:
  
  on friday, 6/24/22, my mechanic went over the vehicle saying everything looked ok, but on the driver side rear frame there was a spot that needed fixed, it should have never been inspected, it will need fixed before next inspection.
  
  so i called altoona auto and told her about the frame.  she states if it was like that she would never had inspected it and she personally inspects each vehicle.  so to bring the car in and she can take a look at it.
  
  on 6/28/22, the vehicle would not start, so i got it jumped and let it charge for some time.  i shut off the car and next day, went out and it would not start.  so i figured i needed a new battery. i waited till 7/1/22 till i got paid to get a battery.  went to advanced auto they tested the battery, saying it wasn't that.  it was either electrical or the starter draining the battery.  
  
  later on that day i called altoona auto.  she was saying my payment was 13 days late, and after 12 days its up for repossession.  i told her to come get it, its been sitting for days and wont start.  she said she cant fix it, if she doesnt know its broke.  bring the vehicle in and shell check the battery and go from there.
  
  i told her to come and get it.  i didnt have the money to keep putting into it and still pay $7000 for it.  i told her she needed to knock $5000 off the price because kelly blue book, says its not worth more than 1500.00.  she was telling me last week she purchased a brand new vehicle, fresh off the lot, 0 miles  and drove it off the lot and the alternator went.  these things can go at any time.  and if she took that much off, she might as well not open because she wouldnt make any money.
  
  on 7/8/22,at around 11:30 am, they finally came and repoed the vehicle.  then i received a letter in the mail which is attached.  i was sold a lemon and she refuses to admit to it.  im am looking for a full refund of my down payment.  the vehicle was very unreliable and should not have been sold and i was taken advantage of. 

  Business response

  07/29/2022

  BBB Complaint ID: ********
  TO WHOM IT CONCERNS. 
  07/23/2022 

  
  I'M WRINGTING REGARDING ID# 17560373. *** ******* DID PURCHASE A 2002 MAZDA MPV VIN# ****************** WHEN SHE CAME TO PURCHASE A VECHILE WITH HER FRIEND ***** ********** WHO DID PURCAHSE A VECHILE THROW ALTOONA AUTO INC before. SHE ONLY HAD SO MUCH TO WORK WITH DO I SHOWED HER WHAT I COULD GET HERE INTO AND SHE TOOK THE VAN FOR A RIDE AND SAID SHE WANTED IT. SO SHE DID A BUY HERE PAY HERE ON IT ON MARCH 17TH 2022. SHE WAS GIVEN A WARRANTY 1YR 16,000 MILES. WHEN SHE PURCAHSE THIS IT WAS LOOKED OVER BUY ARE GARAGE AND SAFE FOR THE ROAD *** *******

  **** ****** called use a few weeks after she purchase car and said it was overheating, we fixed her car for free at that time because she said she didn't have money to fix it. **** ****** was late on her first payment 11 days, and she was late the next time it was due; I feel she could not afraid this from day one. She did not ever tell use about the battery going did we tried to call her text her and all threw are dealer center about being late. When she finally called back she said about her care not starting I told her to bring it into use to have it looked at and we could work with her she said she was going to by a battery but did not have the money to buy one and I told her about being late and stuff I did tell her she was do for a repo because she was being very rude and stuff, we was trying to work with her and help her out because I knew the problem with her and she did tell use to come get the car so we did repo it on 07/08/2022. We picked the car up with old battery in it and we did not have to jump the car we got in started the van after we knocked on her door to let her know we was taking the car.

  So the van did start up we did not have to jump it and the old battery is still in the van. She knew the price when she bought the mpv van. I feel she was not sold a lemon she was sold a safe vehicle it was that she did not have the money to afraid the payments and if u look at her payment schedule u will see was late all the time. So we are not wheeling to give her anything back on this matter. I have a attach copy of her late payment history. 
  

  Thank you 
  

  
  

*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. ↩