My3cents.com - Odometer Tampering / False Advertising

Review by airbus737 on 2001-12-09

BARBOURSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA -- As an honest consumer from your state, I felt it was my responsibility to bring to your attention the following incident.

Last week I purchased a 1994 Cadillac Seville via the Internet on EBAY.COM from an auto dealer in Wood Lynne, New Jersey. That dealer, Imperial Motors does business on EBAY under the sellers name USMOTORCARS.

Imperial advertised the car as, 'motor and transmission like new,' 'mechanically sound,' 'don't let the high miles scare you,' and 'bid with confidence, no surprises.'

I paid for and picked up the car on Saturday. The air conditioner freon leaked out within 2 hours of leaving the dealership driving back to WV, and the transmission went out the next day (Sunday). The local mechanic indicated the transmission had been doctored with a substance having the consistency of sawdust, which was added to hold the transmission together for a few hours driving (long enough to get it out of the sellers area).

After those problems I obtained a report from CARFAX.COM that indicated the odometer had been rolled back on the car. With that in mind a thorough examination of the vehicle revealed that perhaps 100,000 miles had been shaved from the odometer.

That dealer (USMOTORCARS) has blocked EBAY feedback from all previous buyers who have purchased cars from him on EBAY. Thus, he probably has more fraudulent transactions to hide than this one.

May I respectfully request the assistance of your office in obtaining satisfaction from the dealer in this matter. If jurisdiction will not lie in WV, and I believe it will, please put me in touch with the appropriate contact in the office of the New Jersey Attorney General. In either event, I believe an examination of the dealers transactions will reveal a pattern of dishonest dealing and false advertising in transactions with internet purchasers.

Thank your for your assistance.

As a resolution, I would like the following:

1. Seller to pay for all repairs and reimburse my reasonable expenses in this matter; or,
2. Seller pick up the vehicle and reimburse my purchase price along with all travel and time expenses; or,
3. If the seller will not agree to either resolution 1 or resolution 2 above, civil suit for treble damages arising from fraud, and criminal investigation for odometer / title tampering and EPA violation for intention discharge of freon.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like more details regarding this incident.