Posted by Shodna
I purchased a used 2016 Ford Fusion from your dealership on Wednesday July 20, 2022, from Lafontaine Volkswagen. Prior to purchasing the vehicle, a salesperson reached out to me to sale a vehicle to me. I explained my situation, which was I had a vehicle since 2012 Ford Focus that was giving me issues and needed a reliable vehicle and that I recently converted from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. I told her I needed a new vehicle for work and to get my son back and forth to school and sports. She understood and helped me. I came in, they ran my credit and told me I was eligible for a 2016 used Ford Fusion. Then she told me that's all I was eligible for due to my credit score. I test drove it and while driving I heard a small ticking noise which I addressed and the saleswoman told me, something was in the tire. Also, the passenger side visor was missing, so I asked was the visor going to be replaced because I don't feel comfortable taking a car without a visor. I believed everything she told me, and they did the paperwork. Then the vehicle was so dirty inside I asked are they were going to clean it and she said they would and gas it up for me.
The day I picked up the vehicle I put 500 down and my trade in. The vehicle was NOT cleaned, it had a brown/orange substance on the seats and floor, candy, dirt, food in the seat where you fasten the seat belt. Dirt is all on the ceiling of the car, the rugs dirty and missing, the console was so dirty I used a whole pack of wipes to clean it, the lining inside of the vehicle is coming apart, and the middle console is damaged. I explained to her how dirty the car was, she said they cleaned it and then told me to get it cleaned and give her the bill. I never did, because I felt it was the dealership job to take care of it. Then I had car mats, she couldn't find them, so she purchased some for me.
When I drove off with the car, I called back and explained that the vehicle didn't ride right. It's hard to accelerate, so I was told to take it to the service department with all my concerns.
On that same day of purchasing the vehicle I explain to her all the issues on July 21st, which was the radio doesn't work, the phone sync doesn't work, the media doesn't work, the car says it's 50 degrees all the time, the vehicle doesn't accelerate right, and the vehicle is dirty. I understand it's a used car, but I shouldn't have these issues. So, I made an appointment on July 25th to have the issues looked at. I was told there was nothing they could do they needed a part for the visor. So, then I got a call to come back on Aug 3rd. The only thing they were concerned about was the visor, even after I explained all the issues twice. So, on Aug 3rd they had the vehicle the whole day, they Uber me home. They had no loaner vehicles at all. Towards the end of the day, they said it was ready for pick up, so they sent another Uber. Once I got there, I was told the visor was still not complete, was told not to touch the visor, to be careful because it's not sturdy and they will call me back once the part is in. I'm still waiting on that part for the visor and it's Aug 28th, almost a month later. Then that day I was told by the service manager it's nothing wrong with the acceleration to keep an eye out on it and the radio they couldn't help me with that, to go to a Ford dealership and I must see what the warranty is if there is any for it. On Aug 11th I contacted the saleswoman about my title. I was still waiting on my title, and still had the dealer's plate on my vehicle. She said they just got it that day. I went back to the dealership after work to sign the title and get my plate placed on the vehicle, so I asked her when the last time was the car had an oil change. She said "I don't know, but the vehicle passed the inspection so I'm sure they changed the oil " I'm like I still hear that ticking noise and I don't have a sticker telling me about the next oil change, and the car still hard to accelerate. She said I know another customer told me that too. I told her the oil light came on, but she didn't do anything.
So, I kept hearing the ticking and it's louder now, so I took it to get a quick oil change or get it checked to see why the car ticking is, because I know if it's ticking that mean it need an oil change or it's an engine problem. I went Aug 27th, and I was told the oil is low and dirty, then I was told that the vehicle needs a valve gasket, and oil gasket, and now a light popped on saying Engine oil pressure low.
Also, the salesman I signed the paperwork with told me to always come to them to get oil changes. I didn't understand that one, I figured maybe they knew about the car or maybe it was a discount, but clearly the oil was never changed.
So on Aug 29th my I was driving and the vehicle start making a very louder lawn motor noise, and wouldn't accelerate pass 30 miles. I called the dealership service department and they towed the vehicle back to their shop. I was told it was the engine, and they don't know why the engine went when it passed all its inspections. I am not a dumb person, I have been explaining about the ticking noise, the oil, and the acceleration since I got the vehicle and at that time didn't even have it 3 months. Since I had warranty, they covered it under my warranty. So they had the vehicle from Aug 29th until Sept 29th. The day I picked it up, I believed everything was okay. The car starts up very hard and rough, when I turn right, at times the steering would lock up. I explained that to the service department manager and he told me, give it 1500 miles to get everything working use to the new used engine. I gave it some time, then I took it back to the dealership on Oct 17th. I explained that the hard starts up rough and hard, and the power steering locks up when driving. They took the vehicle back to service, then came back 25 mins later, states that everything is fine. No engine lights, no other warnings. He said that the car is perfect. I asked if was a tune up, because once you switch to another engine, everything else starts breaking down. He said yes, everything is great! He said his guy drove the car and everything is good. When I pulled off the lot, I turn the car right, and the power steering locked up. I called him back, and he said how about we do a test driver together. I told him, the steering doesn't do it all the time, so I am sure if someone rides with me it wouldn't do it. He got upset and said what do you want me to do! You won't let me help you. He said warning lights would have came on. I told him that warning lights didn't come on when my engine went out. I never got a warning light days before, I got a warning light the day it died. I told him I would come back for a test drive, but I never came back because I have been getting lied to since I got this car. So the power steering locked up 7 more times since Oct 17th. Today November 1st my power steering locked up while turning right into my sons school, and I got a warning sign, that states, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, which means my power steering going out. My son even said, hey it seems like when you turn right it locks up. THIS IS UNSAFE MY SON AND MYSELF!!!! NO ONE CARES ABOUT OUR LIVES!!! I AM SICK OF THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE CONSTANTLY EXPLAIN TO THEM FROM DAY ONE ABOUT THIS VEHICHLE AND NO ONE HAVE LISTENED UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED!!! THIS IS A NIGHMARE!! I never experienced anything like this. My last vehicle died due to having it for 13 years, not 2-3 months!!
I believe I was racially profile due to my credit! I believe since I am an African American female, I am treated this way!! I understand this is not the dealership for this vehicle but this dealership sole me this vehicle from their lot and knew it was from an auction (which the service guy told me) and it was in horrible condition.
The small issues I can deal with but major issues like this I shouldn't have to. I am a single mother that work two jobs and all I wanted was a reliable vehicle to get me to work and take my kid to school and his games. Now I understand my credit score was low due to my bankruptcy, but that vehicle shouldn't have been sold to me in that condition. Not any major issues like that with the engine and power steering. I was previously in an unsafe vehicle and now I'm in another one. I explained all of this to the saleswoman. When she implied that my credit score was the reason, I got a vehicle such as that or I wasn't going to get nothing at all, I felt racially profiled. I rather she said we couldn't do anything for you then to stick me with an unsafe car.
I will be taking this to corporate because I feel I shouldn't have to deal with this kind of situation. I have pictures of the conversations I had with the saleswoman, pictures the day I got an oil change, and the pictures of the warning lights. I am looking for a resolution for all these issues. I had this vehicle a few months and I have been questioning the issues but never received any resolution and now I am scared to drive a vehicle that I feel is unsafe. I need help!!
