South Side Auto Mart

This is in response to complaint # ***. The complainant also contacted the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle. They sent out their investigator. After further research the investigator found that there was no wrong doing by Southside Auto Mart during or after the sale of this vehicle to the complainant. The DOT contacted the previous owner to find out why they got rid of the car. The investigator saw that we had made repairs to those issues before we put the vehicle up for sale. As far as the accusations of sabotaging the complainant's starter. These are absolutely ridiculous. Never in years of serving the community would we ever take such actions. We work with our customers to resolve any situations. If there are any other unhappy customer please have them contact me directly. The customers statement of only having a flat tire is not true. When the car was brought back to us at the time of the flat tire my mechanic brought it to my attention that the frame was bent and the tire was pushed back several inches as we stated in our first response. The customer is not being truthful when they accuse Southside Auto Mart of years of misconduct. We have always worked with any complaints and always responded to the Revdex.com. Any further responses can be directed to me, Mark ***

I am writing this in response to Complaint # ***. Dawn *** purchased a Saturn on 12-30-(See Purchase Contract). The car was purchased for her son to drive. The Toyota Corolla that she says she traded in had no title, and was not present at
the time of the purchase. Since she had no title we could not show it as a trade, all we could do is junk it. Which we did (with no title) to *** *** *** * *** ** *** **. The Saturn that she purchased was bought by Southside Auto Mart thru the *** *** *** (See Buyers Copy and Title). Take notice that there are no announcements of any issues including no announcement for frame damage. It also shows actual miles. The car needed a few minor repairs and checked out good during our inspection (See Southside Auto Mart Repair Order). The Saturn was brought back to our shop on January 8, 2016. At this time we put it up on our rack. The customer said that the transmission wasn't shifting properly. We checked the fluid and noticed that it was low. So, we filled it. We also noticed at this time that the Right Front Wheel had been recently pushed back several inches and the frame was bent. We asked Dawn what happened and she said that she wasn't sure because her son drives the vehicle. After filling the trans fluid we redrove the car and it was shifting properly. The son came in and picked it up. We asked him what happened and he mentioned something about a snow bank. We explained to him that whatever happened had bent the frame. The car was then towed in about a week later with a blown motor and low transmission fluid. Again, we explained to Dawn that her issues all happened after this vehicle had been involved in some sort of accident. She stated that she wanted a different car for her son to drive. Unfortunately, after the frame was bent and the motor was blown the car was worthless. And now she wants a refund? We feel she should have made an insurance claim after the frame was bent. We are not interested in giving her a refund

Please be advised the DMV did get ahold of (1) of the former owners but that owner no longer held documentation of all the issues and chronic leaks thus, trading car in as too much money to fix.  There claim as "1 OWNER" the DMV also found to be false.These vehicles on website indicating "FULLY INSPECTED" with owner again stating Buyer's Guide is "just a piece of paper". DMV had indicated they have been to SOUTHSIDE AUTOMART many, many times due to complaints from various consumers.  Southside Auto did NOT fix the problem nor did they offer anything in good faith.  The car sat for weeks with no communication and almost daily calls from me for status.The evidence will be forthcoming and if this business acted in good faith and ethics and would not have gone as far to contact Revdex.com and DMV.  This was a resort due to no communication nor any resolution of a vehicle with a 4 tows, multiple leaks, warning lights and a blown engine starting within 1st week.No acknowledgement shows business ethics and many reviews of multiple consumers being "taken" by SouthSide Auto. Mark [redacted]' response at screaming at customers and DMV staff is pathetic and should have raised the first flag when they were badmouthing family members, former co-workers and prior customers.  Spoke to a former "employee" from Southside Automart and was indicated the poor ethics/business and even sold a faulty car led this person to quit Southside Auto in good conscience.

Review: Four days after purchasing a used 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, the vehicle would not start while my husband was in Milwaukee, an hour away from our home. We immediately called Southside Automart and explained our issue. We explained that considering we only had the vehicle for four days, this should not be happening. We also brought up the fact that we asked for the vehicle to have an oil change, any routine inspections completed and we asked specifically for the eletrical system to be checked before we bought it. When we went to purchase the vehicle we were shown paper work that this had been completed and all points passed inspection. Now we were extremely frustrated to find out that the issues that went wrong with the vehicle, the alternator and the battery, were both apart of this inspection that the vehicle "passed." When we asked them to replace the parts at no charge because we were assured they passed inspection, we were told that because the contract includes a 50/50 agreement that we would have to pay half the cost. I believe that Southside Automart should have to pay full cost because of their inability to properly execute inspections and their complete failure at customer service.Desired Settlement: My husband and I would like the parts replaced and paid for in full by Southside Automart and no charge for labor.

Consumer

Response:

Consumer states that the issues have been resolved.

Review: On March 3rd 2014, I contacted [redacted] at Southside Auto Mart regarding a vehicle that I seen online. I went in the same day to do a test drive. I drove it around the corner and notice that the brakes were not in drivable condition. [redacted] assured me that it would be fixed immediately. I put a deposit of $900 down. On March 10th approximately 4pm I came into the office with the remaining balance $3060.82. I drove off the lot and less than 2 hours later the engine light came on, I immediately called [redacted] and explain that the engine light was on, he told me to bring it in the next day. On 3-11-14 I return to South Side Auto, the mechanics took a brief look at the car, and [redacted] explained the engine light is off now and that the car was sitting in the lot for over a month and just need to be driven. After leaving the car lot on the 11th the engine light came on again within an hour. I called [redacted] back to explain the engine light is on again. He told me to bring it back later in the week. On March 17th I brought the car back, but he said that they would not be able to look at the car and to bring it back when they were not busy. The same day I took the vehicle to two different Auto Zones to get a free evaluation concerning the engine light. Both Auto Zone’s diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the car have a faulty Idle Air Control Valve & the Air Flow Meter/Mass Air Sensor. The next day on the 18th the vehicle starting making a loud noise, I called [redacted] and explained to him that the engine light is still on and the car is making a really loud noise. He told me to bring it in; I brought the vehicle in on 3-20. On 3-20 [redacted] explained that the engine light was off and that if I have any more issues with the engine light, I would be responsible for the cost and that the exhaust was welded. When I drove the car off the lot the loud noise was reduced but not gone and within an hour the engine light was on again. This morning on 3-21-14 I contacted [redacted] and explained that I have been very patient with this situation but is becoming frustrated, he in return became annoyed and said the only thing he can do is offer me an in-house warranty and that I will be responsible for paying half of the cost of the repairs. I explain that I didn’t think that was fair because the repairs needed were preexisting.Desired Settlement: Repair the vehicle completely and accurately in a timely manner or if I have to take the car elsewhere for repairs, I would expect Southside Auto Mart to reimburse me for repairs that were preexistent before the vehicle was purchase.

Best option would be to return the vehicle to the dealership and get the majority of my money back.

Business

Response:

On March 3, 2014 [redacted] test drove and subsequently put down $900 on a 2003 Kia Rio. She bought the car AS-IS with No Warranty. On March 10, 2014 she came and picked it up and paid the remaining balance. Their was no check engine light on. She called me later in the day and stated that the light had came on. It is not unusual for a vehicle that has been sitting for a period of time to trip a check engine light on once it begins to be driven regularly. I told [redacted] to bring it in and we would scan the light to see why it came on. I reiterated that it was bought AS-IS but that we would try and help her out. So, she brought it in and we scanned the light. It came up as a Mass Airflow Sensor. In an attempt to help her out we cleaned the part and cleared the light at no cost. She called me a few days later and said that the light came back on and that the car seemed loud. So again, I had her bring it in. We welded the exhaust where it was leaking from (at no cost) and got her the price on the Mass Air Flow sensor. At this time I told her that even though she didn't have a warranty that I would be willing to split the price of the repair with her. She told me that she wasn't going to pay for the repair and became very accusatory with me. I told her that if she changed her mind that we would still be willing to split the cost with her, which still stands. She bought the car AS-IS and I felt like I was going out of my way to help her. My offer still stands, I will split the cost of having the repair fixed in my repair shop.

Good Selection of Vehicles, Great Customer Service. Very satisfied - - They go the extra mile!!

Review: On Tuesday, February 11, 2014, I purchased a 1996 Isuzu Trooper from Southside Auto Mart, located at [redacted] for $3940.82. According to the Wisconsin buyers guide window tag there was NOTHING wrong with the vehicle, when they completed their inspection on August 20, 2013. Prior to leaving the lot, I was informed by [redacted] that he would have a mechanic change the battery due to the battery needing to be jumped to start the vehicle.

However, to my surprise early the morning of the February 12, the vehicle would not turn over it was just "clicking". So, due to the issue that I was under the impression was corrected prior to my departure from Southside Auto Mart, I purchased a brand new battery from Remy battery for $115.09. Once the battery was installed and it didn't appear to resolve the issue I contacted Southside Auto to notify them of the issue. I spoke with both a mechanic and [redacted]. They instructed me to try various things to try and get the vehicle started so it could be "brought back to Southside Auto Mart for inspection of the electrical system", per [redacted]. My husband finally was able to start the vehicle and we took the Isuzu back.

Once we arrived back at Southside, we notified [redacted] how the muffler blew off half-way back to West Allis. He stated he would inspect the vehicle to resolve the battery issue, and replace the muffler at no charge. He requested I leave the vehicle and he would call me upon completion. I received a call later that morning informing me that they were replacing the muffler and replacing a brake line that broke, discovered upon inspection.

I returned on Thursday, February 13 as agreed upon Wednesday evening.

Then on Monday, March 3 the "check engine" light came on, I stopped at Advanced Auto to attempt to determine the issue. I was told the code indicated a catalytic converter issue. I contacted a mechanic, at [redacted] in Wauwatosa, who told me to bring the vehicle in on Thursday March 6. He confirmed the code was a "catalytic" issue. At this point, my husband told him he wanted it fixed and place new shocks all the way around. The mechanic put the Isuzu on the rack for inspection of the shocks and converter, when he noticed that the frame on the drivers side was cracked. He then continued with the inspection and found that the frame on the front passenger side had prior damage, which was repaired with welded plates. The mechanic at [redacted] stated that he would not work on the vehicle due to structural damage, and possible liability issues.

I called Southside Automotive and spoke with [redacted] who told me to bring the vehicle to him. I notified him that I didn't feel safe continuing to drive this vehicle with structural issues. He then had the vehicle towed to his shop for inspection. He contacted me to come and show him, because he didn't see the crack. He only saw a hole in the rear passage frame, and the welding on the front passenger side.

When we, my husband and myself, arrived at Southside, [redacted] led us to the bay where the Isuzu was on a rack. My husband showed him where the frame was cracked on the front driver side. Then [redacted] showed him the hole in the frame in the rear passenger side due to rust. He stated he could weld the frame, but I explained to him this is still a structural weakness. He then told me they knew nothing about the welded plate or frame issues. He stated if he knew he would have disclosed the information, as he did on another vehicle currently on his lot. My husband stated and showed him the inspection window sticker which shows nothing. He then hit the welded plates on the front passenger side with a sledge hammer, and stated they could this to the other side. I then expressed again my concern of the structural damage which causes multiple weaknesses, and he replied he has nothing he could trade me right now. He continued to state his best mechanic could weld it. I again stated this was not an option due to the fact that I would not have even purchased this vehicle if I had know of the structural damage/frame repairs. He stated he understood. After asking him how are we going to resolve this he again stated he nothing else he could do about it. I then contacted the Revdex.com of Wisconsin for assistance with resolving this issue.Desired Settlement: At this point, I would just like a cash refund for the purchase price of $3595.00 and be completed with this ordeal.

Business

Response:

Company states that they have refunded the consumer's money.