ComplaintsforAmerican Legacy Motors

• Initial Complaint

  10/04/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Purchased 2006 HHR Sept 14. Today is Sept 28th barely put a 100 miles on the car since purchase. I specifically asked ****** the owner if it had any transmission issues. And he said NO. He stated I had a heavy foot and that HHR had a small motor and transmission so I needed to let up on the gas and it will shift. Well 13 days later and less than 100 miles I take it to AAMCO Transmission. And yes it needs a transmission! I've tried talking to ****** but that didn't help. Only frustrated me more. All he kept saying. "I never claimed to be a transmission expert." But ****** is not a man of his word nor is he honest. Needless to say my mother who is on a fixed income and is elderly is possibly stuck with a lemon. There's only a few things worse than taking advantage of elderly seniors. ****** knew I was purchasing car for my elderly mother and he also knew her financial situation.

  Business response

  10/16/2023

  On 9/13/2023 she came to my car lot expressing interest in a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. I allowed her to test drive the vehicle. An employee goes with potential buyers on all test-drives. During the course of the test-drive she was driving erratically, violating speed limits and driving our car in a harmful manner to the point that I had to instruct her to slow down. After the test-drive she did not want to make the final decision. On 9/14/2023 she brought her dad with her to check it out mechanically. I accompanied her dad on a second test-drive, he drove the car reasonably and proper and gave his approval for her to buy it. She did purchase the car. A sales contract/bill of sale was created that clearly states the  purchase "as is" in multiple places: see attached "As Is Sales Contract 1 and 2." Additionally, she was provided with a "Buyers Guide" expressly setting forth the fact that there are NO DEALER WARRANTIES on this vehicle (which she signed); see attachment "Buyers Guide 1 and 2". Complainant, after purchasing the car, personally drove the car from my lot, on a route consisting of city and highway driving, from *** to ******* **. After this third test-drive she did not attempt to contact me regarding any issues with the car. Then on 9/28/2023, some 2 weeks later, she contacted me regarding a transmission issue with the car. Quite frankly, if she continued to drive the car in a manner even close to the way she did on test-drive (1), I am not surprised the car could not handle that level of abuse. At the signing of the contract, I went over the terms and pointed out extensively the terms; which are and were clearly "as is" and "no dealer warranty. On the day of the sale, if a transmission issue existed, I believe her dad, who served as her mechanic, would have said so and recommended she not buy the car. I do not warranty cars 2 weeks after sale where the customer signed in agreement to an "as is" sale. Her complaint is wholly without merit.

  Business response

  10/17/2023

  My response failed to point out a very relevant fact. That car is controlled by a computer (ECM). If a transmission issue is present (for example faulty shift solenoids or torque converter) the sensors will send a communication to the computer asking it to turn on the "check engine" light. The fault code will tell you what the problem is. At no time while American Legacy Motors owned that car did it have the check engine light on and no codes, transmission or otherwise, were present when she bought the car.

  Customer response

  10/17/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The owner is lying! I absolutely did not drive erratically! He never once had to tell me or did tell me to slow down. This invidual is lying! He is not being truthful. I have a clean MVR and I am a cdl holder! He lied about the transmission being in good condition! My father asked him about the transmission also and he clearly stated the transmission was fine and in good condition. Regardless of the as is purchase. Seller told us there was nothing wrong with vehicle & it was a sound purchase. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  10/27/2023

  The complaint should be denied on (1) Fact, (2) Principle, and (3) ******** Law.

  Fact. The Customer's Response distorts reality. In the Statement she somewhat admitted (in a minimalistic way) to driving the car in an improper manner when she stated I told her she had a heavy foot and needed to let up on the gas. Then in the Response she falsely claims to have been driving reasonably. The fact is: she was being abusive to my car on the test drive and I had to insist she slow down. Fact: I never told her the car did not have a transmission (or any other specific) issue. I did tell her there were no mechanical issues that I was aware of (and there were not). Fact: there were no transmission codes present and the check engine light was not on when she bought the car (for her claim to be true, there would necessarily be transmission codes. Fact: Her Father did NOT ask me any questions about the transmission (no issue was present on the test drive so there was NO reason to). Fact: she drove the car for TWO WEEKS without issue. Fact: I looked her in the eye when we were signing the legal documents, explained the terms, and she signed in acknowledgement. Fact: I am NOT a liar.

  Principal. I make every effort to be forthcoming and honest on each and every sale and with every detail regarding every customer and vehicle. Failure to do so would result in a multitude of bad reviews that would surely bankrupt a small dealership. Even then, as you see here, complaints still come from the occasional unreasonable customer.

  Law. She knowingly and willfully signed the Buyers Guide (as is, no warranty, no free repairs). She also signed and initialed the Retail Sales Contract in multiple locations, acknowledging and waiving any recourse to complain, as she is attempting to do here. I explained it; she signed it; she needs to take responsibility for whatever happened to the car two weeks after the sale. See Buyers Guide and Retail Sales Contract. I respectfully deny responsibility here.

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