ComplaintsforVinart Dealerships

• Initial Complaint

  02/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On January 10, 2023 I went to pick up my honda from the service department and spoke ************************'s. She gave me my keys and repair order and I went to drive home. When I went to start the truck, the battery was completely dead so I tried to jump start it. When I opened the hood, I noticed the fusebox cover was missing and I couldn't get the truck to start. I also inspected the Ridgeline safety recall repair and found that it was a botched attempt of a structural repair to a unibody frame. I expressed my concern to *******'* and asked to see the welding certificate of the person that did the repair. She stated that she was sorry for the inconvenience, she didn't know if the person had a certificate and that she would let her manager know of the situation. She also stated that she would locate or replace the fuse box cover. I received a text message from the dealership the following Monday that the truck was done. On January 20, 2023 I went for the second time to pick up my truck to find that the battery was still dead, fuse box cover still missing and botched frame repair not corrected. *******'s was not there and I the advisor was *************************. ***** was extremely rude, he had told me that he had spike to *******'s on the phone and that I was lying about the fuse box cover and that the repair to the frame had been done. I was extremely offended that ***** had called me a lier and that I demanded to speak with his manager. I also told him that if he wanted to speak to me with in that manner that we should step out into the parking lot. He told me that his manager was not there. I told him to get any manager on the premise and after 20 minutes he came back and said that there was no one there. I demanded that he notate the repair order to reflect the need for a manager to call me and that nothing had been done to resolve the botched frame repair or the missing fuse box cover. This was not done. My truck is still there and it should be part of the Honda but back.

  Business response

  02/16/2023

  In response to the complaint referenced, this vehicle was in poor maintenance and mechanical condition (2007 with 155k miles on it and not maintained) when it arrived to us for a factory recall. None of the recalls had anything to do with the fuse box and/or cover and therefore was not touched as part of this recall process. There was no reason to remove the cover or the battery in regards to the recall, and therefore was not part of what our team was working on. There was also no welding involved in this recall and therefore was not done in our shop. When the customer became unruly and in a very direct proposition asked our team member to "step outside" to take things further, that is where we had to draw the line and ask they cease this conversation/complaint with us in person. The vehicle was picked up by the customer. We stand behind the work that was done to Honda factory standards.

• Initial Complaint

  01/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a vehicle on March 4, 2022 with the dealer warranty from this dealership and am extremely dissatisfied. This vehicle has had issues since the purchase and not even the dealership could pinpoint the actual problem. I had taken it in for another problem which they did repair under warranty. This problem was reported to them while the warranty was still in effect. I’ve been to the actual dealership and various repair shops no less than 7 times. All the problems have been with the electrical codes and the catalytic converter. The codes are coming up as ***** (catalytic system efficiency below threshold), P2638 (automatic transmission – torque management feedback), ******** (PCM malfunction – powertrain control module code). These codes have been repeatedly coming up with no resolution from several dealerships/repair shops (Invoices attached). I’ve replaced the catalytic converter and the O2 sensors – codes are still coming up. This has been since I purchased the vehicle and this was not disclosed to me at the time of the purchase. One of the repair shops advised that the problem could potentially be the O2 sensors, or the computer chip itself. Because the O2 sensors have been replaced twice it most likely is not the problem. I’ve had to pay a total of $2,303.62 to date, again with no resolution to the problem. I’m hoping for an amicable resolution and have reached out to the dealership to find out if they were willing to will repair the vehicle at their expense, or another comparable resolution – but my preference is to have this repaired.

  Business response

  01/31/2023

  In response to message from *************************, we have been in touch with customer as recent as 1/25/2023. Customer is aware that there is no current warranty and we would need to diagnose the vehicle here to proceed with a repair route recommendation. The customer agreed to making an appointment to bring the vehicle in. Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  11/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid the Lehigh Valley ***** dealership to install a remote starter system in our 2015 ***** *****. The installment was purchased ($838.28) and thought to be completed in December of 2021. However, the remote starter system worked for a few months. I returned to the dealership to in early to mid 2022 to get the issue resolved. The dealership told me that it was just a dead battery, billed me for the battery and its installation (which I paid, about $56). However, a few weeks later, the system again was not working. I returned tp the dealership to again try to resolve this issue, but they weren't 100% sure of why it was not working. They again tried replacing the battery, and said that it should work. However, it again failed to work shortly after. I have already taken 3 days off from work to have this done. My recent phone calls to the service and sales managers have not been returned. I have no desire to take time away from my job or my weekend with my children. I just want to be refunded the price I paid for the remote starter system. I paid for a service that they have continually been unable to successfully provide, and I just want my money back. I know that dealerships generally are more expensive to have work done to your car, but that the typical benefits of that are the appropriate parts to work with your car as well as good customer service. Unfortunately, that has not happened here.

  Business response

  11/15/2022

  Hello,

  *******'s remote start concerns are able to be addressed by the warranty that came with the installation.  However, ******* does not want to return to the dealership to have this addressed, rather, he wants a full refund.  Unfortunately, circumstances do not warranty a full refund because he has warranty coverage to address his concerns.  We will be more than happy to work with ******* to find a date and time that best meets his schedule requirements.  Please have him contact us at ************ to schedule.

  Thank you

  Andrew W*******

• Initial Complaint

  08/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  So it all started that I had originally went to Lehigh Valley Honda, Acura, Hyundai dealership at 675 State Ave in Emmaus PA 18048 number 610-967-6500 or www Lehigh valley Honda.com and take my car in for an oil change on May 28, 2022 on that date they charged $63.59 for the oil changed and did an Multipoint Inspection on the vehicle. I was told I needed services done to the car which was (6 Critical safety) Tire condition Tread Depth, (Break Condition) Lining Thickness, (Custom Recommendation) Clean and Lubricate Front Break Caliper Slides, Fuel Induction and Injection Service, Replace Spark Plugs 6Cyl, General Diagnosis, (7 items that requires attention soon) (under hood) Check Engine Coolant, Check Power Streering Fluid, Check Brake System Fluid, Check Automatic Transmission Fluid, (Tire Condition) Tire Wear Patterns, Alignment, Rotation, (Under Vehicle) Suspension rear, Fluid Leaks. And also a Timing Belt, Water Pump, Drive Belt, Coolant. The total for those service's I was told $899.95 + $280.00. When I brought the car in for service it turns out that I needed more services done to my car and the bill went higher to $2,343.25 and I had informed the dealership that I live in my van (I had turned it into a camper van) and I was working out of state at the time and I need my van because that's were I've been staying due to having extreme debt so they offered me a loaner car and did not care what I had informed them all they want was the money. They also said I needed Vehicle Inspection so they took my Insurance information, and vehicle information the inspection was scheduled for June 25, 2022 and that's the same time it took me to pay the bill so it took me a month to pay that unexpected bill. After I paid them and picked up my van, it broke down again and said it was the Alternator with a new bill of $1,108.23 dated August 01, 2022. It's been four months later and I still don't have my van, and there's still problems with it. I lost my job because of them. Etc

  Business response

  09/26/2022

  Good Morning:

  ********************** is upset with us because she doesn't have the money to make payment for the things that are wrong with her vehicle, which is in a state of disrepair.  As a result, we extended her complimentary loaner car agreement multiple times in an effort to help her out with the understanding that she would be prepared to make payment.  Once she failed to meet the extended deadline for payment, we were forced to ask for our loaner car back, which prompted this complaint.  We've done nothing wrong.  We tried to accommodate this customer, but in the end she was unable to make payment for the services.

  Thank you

  Andrew W*********

  President

• Initial Complaint

  07/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I purchased a Certified 2018 ***** ***** ** August 2021 with a platinum 96 month warranty. The vehicle broke down in July 2022 The vehicle was towed to the ***** dealership. The car was never taking inside to be properly checked. The vehicle remained in the parking spot where the vehicle was left by the tow company. I was contacted a few days later stating that the clutch was burnt out and my warranty will not cover repairs. The estimate amount is about $4,300. I had the vehicle towed again to my home. The car had 036,000 miles when purchased and it currently had 040,000. The vehicle is still under financing. I looked up to see if anyone had the same issues and there are more ***** ** owners that experience the same problem. Vehicle is parked in my garage disabled and cannot be driven. Its unsafe.

  Business response

  08/30/2022

  Good Morning,

  The vehicle is question does have a warranty but the terms of that warranty do not cover burned out clutches.  We have abided by our responsibilities under the terms of the sale.  We understand that the customer is not happy with the situation and has made inferences that he believes the product is defective.  The best we can do at this point is attempt to advocate on his behalf with Honda for some goodwill assistance.

  Thank you

  Andrew W********

  President

  Customer response

  09/06/2022

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is not satisfactory . No one from the ***** Dealership has reached out to me. I have had to send the vehicle to a certified mechanic currently waiting on a diagnostic. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I took my 2016 ***** *** to be serviced by *****. I made them aware of all my issues. They gave me a breakdown of what needed to be fixed. My **** came out $2100. The next day after getting my car back the same issue I had with my car was still present. I explained to Acura what's going on. They told me I would have to bring my car back to the shop but they can't give me a loaner in the meantime while they are fixing my car properly this time. I am disgusted with this dealership. I paid $2100 for a problem to still occur. I feel like I'm not being treated or getting the proper service for what I paid for. I had to pay out of my own pocket to get a car rental just so I can get back and forth to work. I never have experienced anything in my life like this. I thought taking your car to the actual dealer who makes the car was the best idea boy was I wrong. This has been a nightmare and I still don't have my car back. So what and why did I pay $2100 for my car to still be messed up

  Business response

  04/13/2022

  Good afternoon,

  ******** came in on 3/22/22 on RO ****** with the following concerns:

  1. Customer states a bunch of warning lights on dash parking light / VSA / hill assist / power steering warning
  2. Customer states when changing gears the transmission seems to slip
  3. State inspection
  4. Emissions test
  5. B service (oil change / clean and lubricate brakes)
  6. Minder 1 (Rotate and balance front tires)
  7. Minder 5 (Coolant service )
  8. MPI
  
  Our technician worked on the vehicle and found trouble codes for the Electronic parking brake (*****-**) and Right rear wheel speed sensor (*****).  He did not verify any concerns and documented this on the MPI, he made the recommendations based off the trouble codes stored in the system. He also recommended wipers, transmission fluid, 2 tires, front pads and rotors, rear pads and cut rotors from the MPI. ******** approved everything except the tires.  All but $270.83 of the repair order was maintenance work and was not related to the lights on or transmission concern.
  
  Once work was completed the ******** picked up and did call back within a few days to say the lights were back on so we instructed the customer to get the car back in asap. The customer requested a loaner and at that point we were booking out a few weeks and could not supply one immediately. After multiple calls with the customer, her son and her uncle in Florida, ******** brought the car back in on 4/1/22 to have us look at it.
  
  We found the same codes stored in the system so we rechecked our work and started digging further to find evidence of a water leak under the dash causing a possible short. We could not verify if the water leak was active or fixed previously but did note the windshield was aftermarket. ********  purchased this vehicle at ******* and it is common practice for them to use aftermarket windshields when one is needed.  Not sure if they are the source of this windshield in this particular case, but it is aftermarket nonetheless.  We cleaned the connector pins, applied di-electric grease to the harness and road tested. Lights did not come back on and we advised the customer there could still be electrical issues since there was evidence of water in the car.  
  
  We did not charge the customer anything for the second RO and have not heard back that there were any issues since.  So at this time, we feel that we've done everything we can to properly address her concerns.

  Sincerely,

  Andrew W*******

• Initial Complaint

  03/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Mach 5, 2022 my ******* ****** 2018 stopped while driving on the highway I was able to get it to get it to Lehigh Valley Hyundai and it they have had the car since then. I have not been given a loaner because they claim that the service has to start before I cant get a loaner. Hyundai has asked me to provide paperwork and I have. I keep getting the run around corporates is reviewing paperwork . Our daughter suffers from a brain tumor also partially blind so we have to take her to appointments, MRI;s and any treatments she needs we are going in to financial debt because of this "reviewing process" we cannot afford another car at this time and the cabs are taking a financial blow and rentals are too expensive. We are getting no where with corporate the engine is 4 years old and its part of there extended warranty service a/k/a recall that oil doesn't get to engine properly and yet they make they make the consumer jump through hoops to get the repair done on a 4 year old vehicle. I had contacted them several times when their recall campaign started only to be told not my vin. Then the car loses breaks and engine while driving on a highway. I need a resolution this is unfair to me as a consumer to prove that the repair needs to be done when this is a nation wide campaign

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  Good Morning.  We were contacted by ****** and subsequently arranged for alternative transportation for her that started on 3/23.  The warranty repair on her engine was approved by ******* on 3/22 and is in process subject to parts availability.  We will keep Brigit informed as the process continues.

  Sincerely

  Andrew W********

  President

• Initial Complaint

  03/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I bought this 09 ****** ******** on January 27th A week goes by and then I have nothing but problems with this vehicle and I have taken it back 4 times and they could not fix it. Then they tell me I need to take it to ****** to get it fixed. They won't even honor the warranty that they sold me for $2500. This is a horrible dealership do not do business with this dealer. Lehigh Valley Honda

  Business response

  03/29/2022

  Good Morning - Upon receiving this notice, Iad, Junior and Dan from our management team engaged the customer.  We issued him a check for $500 which resolved this concern to our knowledge.  Please advise if that is not the case and we will engage in further follow up with the customer.

  Thank you

  Andrew W*******

  President

• Initial Complaint

  01/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On December 7, 2021, after much back and forth and LV ******* trying to deny a valid warranty claim through various means such as "forgetting" our car was there despite 4 calls by me to the dealership that day, claiming there was a 72-hour time limit to submit documents (there wasn't it's a mileage-based warranty), and claiming records were required which go directly against their class action settlement on this warranty replacement my wife and I finally got the engine replaced. We received no call or contact from the dealership just a text to confirm any optional services we may want. One of the options on the list was the replacement of the cabin air filter. It was noted that there was some debris and that we should replace it. We decided to forego most of their suggestions as it was things that we could have done by our regular mechanic at a later date and were not urgent. Upon receiving the car back there was a chewed-up cabin air filter on the floor of the passenger's seat. We thought that possibly they had replaced the filter anyway and not told us. Yesterday, we took my wife's car in for inspection and I asked them to complete or review the list from LV ******* and particularly asked them to check the cabin air filter as we weren't sure it had been replaced. Upon inspection, ****** ********** (our regular mechanic) found no cabin air filter installed. This is extremely detrimental to the car's HVAC system. So I asked them to replace it and figured I'd fight it out with ******* later. When they looked to replace it, all the mounting hardware was gone as well. This is now a repair that will cost several hundred dollars for all the parts and labor needed.LV ******* refuses to return any calls and I have left 5 messages so far with no response.

  Business response

  02/03/2022

  Good *Morning
  
  Our Service Director Dan C************ has made multiple attempts to contact this customer over the past several weeks.  The customer called *** back yesterday but he was in a meeting.  He called the customer back right away and it went straight to voicemail.  Please advise the customer to email me (************@vinart.com)  or Dan C*********** (**********************@vinart.com) with his desired date, time and best number to call so we can get this resolved.

  Thank you

  Andrew W*********

  President

  Customer response

  03/16/2022

  Despite numerous attempts Vinart ******* seems completely unwilling to fix the issue or schedule a time to speak. We are consistently sent to voicemail on every single call never reaching a real person. This seems clearly a scam to defraud customers into more services. If you read their ****** reviews you'll see several others with similar complaints. 

  Business response

  05/13/2022

  Good Morning

  ************** contacted us approximately one month after a visit with us claiming that we didn't put a cabin filter back in his vehicle.  We have record of him leaving three voicemail messages for our service director, Dan C**********, who subsequently called ************** back everytime but calls to his phone always go straight to voicemail, almost like there is a block on our phone number.  If ************** would like to set up a specific date/time for us to meet or schedule a phone call, we would be happy to do that.  If he could email Dan at *********************@vinart.com with his preference, we will be happy to accommodate.

  Thank you

  Andrew W*********

  President

• Initial Complaint

  09/27/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I brought my car to Lehigh Valley Honda service Center on August 20, 2021 to have my front struts replaced. This was discussed in detail over the phone and in person when I dropped my car off. They had told me a few months earlier that my struts will need to be replaced within the next few months and I made this appointment accordingly. I then picked my car up that evening and drove back to New York where I'm going to school the next day. A week later I realized that my car was still making the same noises it was before I had my struts replaced. I brought the car in to a mechanic nearby in New York who stated that my struts had never been replaced and were bad. I paid $580.90 to have my struts replaced and it was never done. I called Lehigh Valley Honda to have them fix the problem and they stated that they only replaced the strut boots and that it was a miscommunication but they have not refunded me any money or offered to fix the problem I came in with to start.

  Business response

  11/02/2021

  Hello and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.  In discussing this issue with our Service Director ***********************, our records indicate that this matter was resolved for the customer back on 10/16/2021.  *** attempted to contact her this weekend, leaving her a message on her mobile phone number but he did not hear back from her.  If further assistance is needed, she may contact *** at ************ or via email at ********************************************************.

  Thank you

  *************************

  President

*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. ↩