The WORST & FRAUDULENT experience I have EVER had with a dealership - not exaggerating. Here's why, in detail. 3+ months of looking at trucks to buy and on 6/17/20, I get a call from a sales rep at AutoNation Tempe because I filled out the "what's my truck worth" on KBB.com. Salesman asked what I was interested in and I said a 2018-2019 Ram 2500 diesel, low miles and he said, "we have one in a California AutoNation in transit to another California AutoNation dealership!". I get the details, it’s a 2019 Ram 2500 Limited, diesel, top-of-the-line, low miles and great price! I said yes, filled credit app AND sign sheet that agrees to price terms. I am told I am “100% committed to this truck” and next step is that the Used Car Sales Manager, Nick, will get with Corporate to "intercept and have it sent directly here". 3 days nothing, 5 days, 8 days. 11 DAYS later on 6/28/20, I get a call. "Sorry, the CA dealership sold the truck"... WTF. I’m promised the truck, sign the form agreeing to finance terms, supposedly “pulled from inventory” and now it’s gone… SHADY to say the least! BUT it gets worse… 6/28/20 I meet with the Sales Manager Rudy Curtis; explain the situation and to “make this right” we look at other trucks available comparable to the other one. We find one in Texas at the AutoNation USA. Several days and Corporate “having to get involved and pull some strings,” it was supposed to go through a FULL Recon inspection and then get sent out. 7/8/20, finally arrives in Tempe. I test drive the truck. Tire Pressure Sensors are not installed, they say they will call TX. Um, ok. 3 hours and many signatures later, I drive the truck home. Couple days go by and I thoroughly inspect the truck. What I found SHOCKED the hell out of me (SEE PICS): - Engine air filter, bad. - Cabin air filter, bad. - 3 old Hornets Nets in the engine bay - RUST under the truck: front drive shaft, power steering gearbox, harmonic balancer, transmission brackets, frame welds, brake hydraulic control unit, even the driver seat bolts! SAFETY concerns and a huge liability to say the least. Clearly was NOT “50 Point Inspected” minimum, as the AutoNation.com website clearly states. 7/15/20, I contact AutoNation they said, “we’ll run it through full inspection.” Appointment set for 7/20/20 7:30am and was told, “inspection should only take 1-2 hours.” I get email confirmation stating, “review the inspection we performed in Texas.” I show up early, talk to Eddie Alameda, show him the photos, explain the situation and how I was told by Rudy Curtis that it is to go through entire inspection. I also asked to see the Inspection Report from the Texas dealership. He said “We don’t have that. We can’t get that.” Wow... 3 hours go by and Nick, the other Used Cars Manager says, “let’s get you into a loaner.” Followed by Eddie saying it will be “done by tomorrow morning.” Ok, fine. I get a loaner and drive back to Avondale. About 3:45pm I get a call “truck is done”. Back to pick it up the same day. Eddie sends me over to the cashier to get the final inspection paperwork. HERE WE GO again. The inspection was NEVER DONE! WTF #2 I get with Rudy, he says, “come talk to Eddie.” Everyone plays dumb for 15min. I had enough! I get my keys and tell Rudy this is ridiculous. Rudy says he sent the photos to the Regional Manager, Brandon (no last name) to have a meeting about this issue on 7/21/20. Late afternoon, 7/21/20, phone call from Rudy Curtis saying there are 2 options. Option 1: I give the truck back and we kill the deal; mind you, I already traded my truck in to them, they ran my (good) credit multiple 3-4 times to my surprise and I had already been searching/waiting for months and didn’t want to go through the process again. Option 2: Deal with it…. NO OWNING UP to multiple mistakes or attempts to make this right. 7/28/20, 12,500 miles now (I put 600 on it) decided to get the oil changed. I pull the oil filter (NEVER changed, though the dashboard indicator said 99% Oil Life) and Surprise. RUST on the Oil Filter inner ring. WORST EXPERIENCE EVER buying a vehicle!
Bryan Young
Aug 12, 2020
