Reed Auto Sales

Review: I bought I used Honda Accord from Reed Auto Sales on January 25, 2014. I felt something odd while test driving the car. Seemed like slipping and mentioned this to the owner [redacted]. He assured me it was just the way the car drove and that the car was great. I purchased the vehicle and immediately the next day I felt the same slipping. I called [redacted] that Monday and arranged to drive the vehicle to Oakdale that Friday to have the transmission fluid changed by [redacted]. He told me that the fluid was very dirty and now everything should be great with the clean fluid. The car was still slipping on and off and I called [redacted] again. He arranged to come to my job in Pleasanton to pick up the car and keep it for 3 days while he changed the fluid an additional 3 times and drove the car. When he brought it back to me he promised that there would be no slipping and also promised to stand behind the car and make sure everything was right. He also suggested that what I was feeling was the traction control. Give it a few more days and the car is still slipping. This went on through the month of February. On March 9th my check engine light went on and the next day I had the code read. It was an internal transmission code. I called [redacted] and he wanted to pick the car up again. He said that he had made an appointment with the local Honda dealer to have recall items performed. I thought that I should call the dealer also to let them know what had been going on and to have them fax me their findings. There was no appointment. When I spoke with [redacted] and let him know this he became very defensive and told me that I was calling him a liar and I had no business going over his head. Also that he doesn't work for me and that he doesn't have to do anything for me. I had no choice but take my car to a transmission shop. When I received the estimate for my car for the bad transmission that would have to be rebuilt as well as a motor mount I called [redacted] to discuss, he did not return my call. I them emailed him the estimate as well as pictures of the faulty parts proving that this had been a problem long before I purchased the vehicle. I also invited him to call the mechanic and gave him every opportunity to make this right as he said he would. Again nothing. I also emailed him the final invoice and asked him to stand behind the car and make it right. Again nothing.Desired Settlement: would like [redacted] and Reed Auto Sales to simply pay for the repairs to my car. I think that is fair business practice. He promised to stand behind his product and also acknowledged that there was an issue by trying to fix the car himself. The final bill was 2600.00 which is a huge amount of money for a car I just purchased I have attached the final invoice for documentation and can provide any other documentation that you may need, phone records, pictures, emails and car information.

Business

Response:

While we strive to have the best customer service possible, as you can see we went well out of way to help the customer. But that being said all vehicles in the State of California are sold “AS IS” and all of our customers sign not just one “AS IS” form but several. I encourage all customers buying a used vehicle, to purchase the service contract when you purchase a used vehicle this will only protect your purchase. I’m sure the majority of consumers understands that ALL USED VEHICLES ARE SOLD “AS IS” and it is in no way the seller’s responsibility to fix any repairs or maintained after the vehicle leaves the lot, whether implied or not implied.

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because:

When buying a used car in the state of california there is also an "implied warrenty" of working mechanical order. This vehicle was not in working mechanical order as the problem presented itself during the test drive. Trying 3 seperate times to "band-aid" fix the large problem lets me know that there was a concious effort to mask it.

Please note that I was NOT "encouraged" to buy a warrenty contract as the seller is stating. I full heartedly beleive that I have enough documentation and proof that this was not a good buiness transaction.

Business

Response:

Again as stated before, all customers sign 2 different "AS IS" documents. In the state of California if you do not purchase a contract cancellation agreement or a service warranty then it is the customers responsibility to make any and all repairs after the sale of the vehicle. The customer can also look this up on the DMV website, which is very clear to that fact. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/consumer/invest/inv172.htm here is the web address to where it can be found.