Dealership Sold Me a Car with a Transmission that Went Out After a Year

I am writing this post to warn others about a terrible experience I had with a local car dealership. I purchased a used car from them a year ago, and the transmission went out a few weeks ago. The dealership has refused to help me, and I am now stuck with a car that is worth less than I owe on it.

The Purchase

I purchased the car in question from a local dealership in March of 2022. The car was a 2016 Honda Civic with 65,000 miles on it. The dealership had the car listed for $15,000, and I was able to negotiate the price down to $14,000.

Before I purchased the car, I asked the dealership about the condition of the transmission. The salesman assured me that the transmission was in good condition and that there were no known problems with it.

The Transmission Failure

A few weeks ago, I was driving the car when the transmission suddenly failed. The car started to shudder and jerk, and then it lost power completely. I was able to pull the car over to the side of the road, but it would not move when I put it in gear.

I called the dealership and told them what had happened. The service manager told me to bring the car in, and they would take a look at it.

The Dealership’s Response

I took the car to the dealership the next day. The service manager inspected the car and confirmed that the transmission had failed. He said that the transmission would need to be replaced, and that the cost of the repair would be $3,500.

I was shocked. I had only had the car for a year, and I had not put many miles on it. I asked the service manager if the dealership would help me with the cost of the repair, but he said that they were not responsible for the failure of the transmission.

I was furious. I had purchased the car from the dealership under the assumption that it was in good condition. The dealership had assured me that there were no known problems with the transmission, but now I was being told that I was responsible for the cost of a new one.

My Options

I am not sure what to do next. I cannot afford to pay for a new transmission, and I am not sure if I can get the dealership to help me. I have considered filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but I am not sure if that will do any good.

I am at a loss. I am stuck with a car that is worth less than I owe on it, and I do not know how I am going to get out of this situation.

Advice for Others

I urge others to be careful when purchasing a used car. Do your research and make sure that you are buying a car from a reputable dealership. Get the car inspected by an independent mechanic before you purchase it, and be sure to get everything in writing.

If you do have a problem with your car, be sure to contact the dealership immediately. Keep a record of all of your communications with the dealership, and be prepared to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau if necessary.

Conclusion

I am still trying to figure out what to do about my situation. I am hoping that the dealership will reconsider their decision and help me with the cost of the repair. However, I am not optimistic. I have learned a valuable lesson, and I hope that others can learn from my mistake.