ComplaintsforEmpire Auto Sales

• Initial Complaint

  01/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 07/11/2022 I purchased a 2016 ******* sonata, the auto salesman made me believe it was a good car, and I made sure to maintain it properly, I got an oil change three months after buying it, then last month I was driving and it suddenly started knocking, and the engine completely seized up. I had it towed to a ******* dealership, who informed me that the engine was blown and it would cost me **** to replace it. Now I'm stuck with a vehicle that has a blown engine less than 6 months after purchasing it for $15,000. The ******* dealership said it was from lack of maintenance from the previous owner. I believe the dealership was aware of these problems when they sold it to me, because I told them I wanted a car on their lot that was only $10,000 and they convinced me that the lenders would only allow me to finance the 2016 sonata for $15,000 . I've contacted the business to try to get them to either exchange the vehicle for a different one, or in some way figure out how to fix it in good faith. But they aren't willing to work with me or correct the fact that they sold me a vehicle for $3000 over the *** value. and now I'm stuck with a auto loan, that I still owe $15000 for , that I've only had for four months and the car was is inoperable, I'm missing work because my vehicle that I used all of my savings to pay for car payments and tags and insurance for, with a blown engine .

  Business response

  04/18/2023

  Hello,

  *********** has retained an attorney.

  empire auto sales has been advised with their own attorneys regarding this matter.

   

  Customer response

  04/18/2023

  I am rejecting this response because: this matter isn't at all been resolved, the business isnt willing to work with my attorney, and the business will not even right their wrong doing, and just replace the car and take this one back, they also haven't been willing to even replace the engine on the vehicle. The business is crooked, and has no remorse for selling a vehicle that they knew had an engine issue. I will not accept the business response until they either 1: pay for the engine to be replaced, or 2: replace the vehicle. I don't want any more or any less from them. I just want them to acknowledge that they left a family , without a vehicle , but still stuck with a $16000 loan in my name, when the car didn't run for even four months after purchase. They need to right their wrong doing. 
  

  Business response

  06/12/2023

  We sent a letter stating our position to complaints attorney and send associate documents also, As of 06/10/23 we have not heard back, except about 2 months ago when the attorney asked where *********** can make his payments, but no payments have been made as of yet.

  Customer response

  06/12/2023

  I am rejecting this response because: my attorney has sent a rubuttal to empire auto sales and proof we have received an oil change before engine failure and the business is ignoring our attorney, we are not making a payment until the business replaces the engine or the car. 
  

  Customer response

  06/14/2023

  I am rejecting this response because: my attorney and I are still waiting to hear back from empire auto sales, we actually sent them a rebuttal with proof that we did have an oil change done,  everything clearly shows that 1)  empire auto sales , sold me a car that wasn't properly maintained,  and had an engine that was about to fail. 2) we had an oil change done at the proper time frame and milage. 3) the manufacturer even refused to replace the engine under extended warranty since it still had less than ****** miles, they refused because  they said the previous owners didnt properly maintain the car. (Proof is attached)  4) empire auto sales sold us this faulty car with a bad engine, for $4000 over what the car is even worth , in good condition, and acted like there was no problems with this vehicle at all and said it was in great condition (which is actually consitered auto dealership fraud) and  took advantage of a customer who put good faith in their car lot.

  All we asked was for them to fix the engine or give us a different vehicle , and make what they did to me right. I have no problem making my payments for a car that is running with a good engine in it. But they aren't being cooperative with my lawyers, instead they are dragging this out  as long as they can to avoid having to accept responsibility. 

  We don't want a money from this business, we don't want a free car, we just want them to make what happened to me right. I do understand there's a possibility that the owner of this car lot may not even really know what exactly is going on, but his employees and car salesmen, are not making a good name for empire auto sales. When I showed up to purchase a vehicle I told them I only wanted a car that was $***** **** and they claimed they could only get the bank to finance us a car that costed $15000. But assured me that it was a reliable vehicle and was in "amazing condition with low milage" this car only drove ***** miles, before the engine blew. And I had a oil change done a month before this happened. 

  I don't want money from them. I just want my car fixed. Or replaced. 

  Or we can go ahead and take the hard way and they can end up paying lawyer fees, damages  for every day I've been without a car, and the engine. 

  But this is going to get resolved. Thats why I hired auto fraud lawyers.  Have a good day. My attorney will be waiting to hear from you

   

• Initial Complaint

  11/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased 2016 ******* Sonata for ****** cash paid ****** on 8/7/22 and paid rest and picked up car on 8/8/22. On the way home noticed white smoke out the tailpipe when accelerating. Called Empire Auto when I got home. Spoke to ******* who said call back the following day and talk to **, the manager. Took the car back they did an oil change. Still smoked. Took car to mechanic at **s suggestion and he said he is surprised it passed smog with it smoking when reviving the engine in park and repairs would cost a lot of money. Called ** to give him the info, he said bring it back. Took it back. ** connected a code reader and no error codes. He took the car to ******* where they suggested carbon cleaning and fuel injection cleaning. He said they wont pay that and told me they sprays carbon cleaner in the car and to keep using fuel injector cleaner and it will go away. I did this for a month and no change. I also was adding a quart of oil each week the whole time. I changed spark plugs and saw the old ones were covered with gunk. Took car to mechanic he said probably bad valve stem seals and suggested take to ******* and show them to be sure. I told ** and he said no problem lets see what they say. Appointment was 2 weeks out. ******* said engine is not performing as designed and the replacement of the engine is inevitable and will be needed in the near future. Texted ** he said he didnt work there anymore and to call. I called and told ******* the issue who was unaware of ** no longer working there. He said he would tell the owner and we would get a call back. Called twice and nothing then called again and got ** who eventually said the business was purchased and gave old owners email and said deal with him. Old owner said is we have warranty deal with them and if not its as is. Since day one we tried to work with them and now have a car we cannot sell unless we put thousands of dollars in repairs in and we just got it.

  Business response

  05/11/2023

  Empire auto sales is being advised by attorneys on this matter and can not comment further, please contact me directly at ************ if you have additional questions, thank you. 

   

  Customer response

  05/11/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

  I feel this response is generic and will not resolve anything regarding the issue.  A phone number was provided that was not provided before and I do not know who it belongs to, if anyone will even answer, or if I will get the same runaround as before.  Where was this number when we attempted to call multiple times to speak with someone in charge to resolve this over a many month time frame?  Im stuck with a vehicle I cannot sell due to it not being able to pass smog due to the issue that was pointed out within 5 minutes of driving it off the lot.  The business has my contact information and can call me if they would like to do the right thing and resolve this.  

  
  

  Business response

  06/22/2023

  As always we do our best to work with our customers, but we will not accept someone cursing or threatening our staff. Employees are not there to take abuse and /or threats from customers and that is the reason we can not work with these customers after several attempts to communicate. 

  Customer response

  06/22/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:  There must be some confusion on which customers we are. We made many attempts to peacefully resolve this issue and were lead to believe your team was very willing to help for quite come time, then given an excuse the business was sold and we had no options. At this point we turned to BBB after being shut down.  We did not curse at the employees or threaten to do any sort of abuse or harm. We are not confrontational people and just want the business to do whats right in this situation. As stated in our first compliant, the vehicle was checked by multiple mechanics do to oil burning and smoke coming out of the tail pipe since minutes of driving it off the ******** mechanic very soon after purchase said he was surprised it passed smog and we need to return the car. Another saying the engine needs replacing.  We trusted Empire Autos word the many times we spoke with them on this but feel we were lead on long enough to miss opportunities for resolving the issue.  We really enjoyed the purchase experience with the team and thinking we were working with them to reach resolving the issue. We were given hope that they were doing their best. Then given a runaround of a manager quitting days after being told a conclusion was coming.  Then he returned working there. Then us given an email of someone to contact that was said to previously own the business and the new owners would not honor a resolution.  The whole situation, us still having hope and not being aggressive, but then to finally get a response from this email of a previous owner saying nothing we can do, after months of being lead on.  What can we do here to resolve the situation?  Are we once again being told nothing will be done?  Why couldnt this be said when I called the 5 minutes after driving off the lot trying to resolve the problem?

  
  

*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. ↩