ComplaintsforSanta Motors, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was sold a car under false pretenses and when I left the lot I signed a contract that wasnt final and wasn’t aware The loan wasn’t final and after less then two weeks they repossessed car after I offered to bring them the vehicle bc I wanted cancel contract but the bank said they cancelled it the following day after it was towed. They refused to give me back my downpayment so the bank and I had arranged I would keep the loan and discuss issue with Santa the following day at 1 and call them back Santa was aware of that too but they came and took the car while I was at work and are charging my almost 3000 for the repo.

  Business response

  07/26/2024

  ********* ***** signed a contract to purchase a vehicle with ******** ********* ******** on June 26, 2024.Once ******** ********* ******** received the contract, their funding department attempted to verify employment and tenancy to finalize the contract. The ******** ********* ******** funding department tried several times but were unable to complete the verifications because ********* ***** would not provide the verbal authorization to her employer and would not provide the verbal authorization to her landlord. There were several communications to ********** stressing the importance to provide the requested authorization, not only from ******** ********* ******** but also from Santa Motors, but she did not comply with the multiple requests (Attachment #1, Attachment #2, Attachment #3, Attachment #4) among others as well as I personally called ********* and expressed the urgency to her verbally. During the verbal conversation with *********, she promised these verifications would be completed by Monday morning, July gth.At 5:03PM on July 8th, ******** ********* ******** stated the are returning the contract due to being unable to complete the verification of employment and verification of landlord (Attachment 5). At that point and as reiterated to ********* multiple times,Santa Motors had no option but to take the vehicle back as the signed contract between ******** ********* ******** and ************** was no longer valid. Since there was no valid contract at that time, ********* lost the rights to the ownership of the vehicle The statement on the email that reads "please resubmit once the employer and landlord received consent" has to do with resubmitting a new application and signed contract to the bank, in essence re-initiating the car buying process, but this could not be done as the verifications were still not in place as had been requested for almost 2 weeks.At 12:48 on July gth, ******** ********* ******** stated the tenancy verification provided is almost 3 months behind on rent so they could no longer consider signing a new contract with ********* *****.Regarding the statement made by ********* of having been sold a car under false pretenses, the facts regarding the sequence of events and supporting documentation have been outlined above.The contract did not become final because ********* would not provide the necessary authorizations for verifications the bank had requested multiple times. And, once the landlord verification was provided, it showed ******** was behind on her rent almost 3months and ******** ********* ******** declined any attempt to re-initiate the process.The attached invoice was provided to ******** which contains the expenses incurred as a by-product of *********'s own actions.These were expenses that Santa Motors, Inc had to cover as a by-product of ********* not being transparent regarding her situation.Sincerely,Mary R****-S*********Santa Motors, Inc

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I financed a 2017 ******** ******** from them an within 2 days the check engine light came on something is wrong with the converter also the transmission is slipping the vehicle jerks revvs when driving. After over a month of complaining and getting no help they finally agreed to fix it so I take it in. They were suppose to get me a loaner after 2 weeks of them having it they say we can come get the loaner I get there and they give me my vehicle back unfixed saying the part still hasn't came in the vehicle is drivable. This is outrageous converters can catch fire I have children. And they still haven't contacted me back to get it in to fix it. I had to spend money on rentals for 2 wks. I feel they sold me a bad vehicle and I would like it exchanged for something better or completely fixed with no issues.

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  Omissions control device order was delayed by ******** which was out of our control.  As soon as the part arrived, Santa Motors contacted customer for installation.  The part was replaced on Wednesday March 27^th ,  and customer left dealership happy.

  Customer response

  04/04/2024

  Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. ] Regards, ********* ***** They claimed to have fixed the problem after I brought it in but now my check engine light is back on again. I've had nothing but problems with this van I purchased from them and it was recently smoking in front of them

  Business response

  04/26/2024

  We spoke with Mr. *********'s wife prior to the latest response below.  We confirmed the initial issue was resolved.  We believe the issue stated below may be an ignition coil which is covered under the extended warranty.  We let the *********s know they can take the vehicle to any certified service center or to ours if they wish.

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Purchased car 7 months ago car has been in shop 4 times for same issue they did not stand by warranty first 2weeks of having car. Said work was done 2375 dollars was paid work was never done now they say I need transmission .the secretary lies on my application saying I made more then what I told her refusing to tell me or give me any paperwork or receipts of parts .I asked them 2 weeks into having problems with car to put me in better vehicle owner says I gotta make 18 payments first it's all a scam .now I cant get car worked on because I don't trust them and they knew I needed a dependable ride because my doctors is in a whole different county. They lied about milage on paper work .26 thousand for a car I can only drive in my city .not fair and you guys are letting them get away with this

  Business response

  03/15/2023

  ***** ********* purchased a 2012 ******** *** on July 19, 2022 (Attachment #1). With the purchase, Mr. ********* has an extended warranty for 24 month / 24,000 miles whichever comes first (Attachment #2)  Prior to the purchase, the vehicle passed the New York State inspection (Attachment #3).  On July 22, 2022, Mr. ********* complained about the breaks and while they did not need to be replaced, Santa Motors continued to do so at no charge in order to make ***** ******** happy (Attachment #4).  On November 28, 2022, Mr. ********* complained vehicle was stuttering when turning and accelerating. Santa Motors continued to replace back end components at no charge to Mr. ******** (Attachment #5).  On January 20, 2023, Mr ********* complained vehicle was clinking in the rear, and Santa Motors proceeded to replace the R/R upper control arm at no charge to Mr. ******** (Attachment #6).  As of January 20, Mr. ********* had driven the vehicle for 5,882 miles. As of March 13, 2023, Mr. ********* has not made any car payments to the lender that financed his vehicle (Attachment #7).    Mr. ********* has the option to take his vehicle to any certified service center to address any issues covered by the extended  warranty. It is Mr. ********' responsibility to make his car payments to his lender. It is Santa Motors' opinion the complaint filed has to do with not having made a single payment to the bank which were due starting August 19, 2022. (Attachment #8) as Santa Motors had addressed all issues raised by Mr. *********. 

  Customer response

  03/27/2023

  Better Business Bureau:  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.  Received a call from the consumer stating that he arrived at the business with the police and the business would not give him any type of receipts for parts purchase in which they stated they previously repaired vehicle. Consumer feels that they should have been able to give that to him so that since he had to fix the vehicle again for the same thing, the parts may be defective, and he could go back to where they were purchased and get replacement.  Or the business did not fix it in the first place.   Regards,  ***** ********* **

  Business response

  04/24/2023

  Mr. ********* has the option to take the vehicle to any certified service center.   While Santa Motors has tried to amicably address his complaints, Mr. ********* continues to aggressively harass Santa Motors on items that are not wrong with the vehicle. 

• Initial Complaint

  06/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a vehicle from Santa Motors on 3-32-2022.Vehicle has been down since 06-12-2022.On 06-07-22 the service center to the dealership claimed to have repaired multiple issues however it's been verified thru **** that the work was never done,when in actualityall they sos was erase the engine light code .Now there is an issue with the pcm computer which costs $1350..I was speaking with the owner about getting this resolved because I dont feel I should have to pay for a pre existing issue with the vehicle.Upon speaking with him he informed me that it was my problem now.

  Business response

  07/26/2022

  **** *************** purchased a 2012 **** ******** on March 30, 2022 (Attachment #1). Prior to the purchase, the vehicle passed the New York State inspection by ********* (Attachment #2). At the time of purchase, there were 0 recalls on the vehicle (Attachment #3). On June 08, 2022 **** brought the vehicle to the Service Center, and all completed repairs are listed at no cost to **** (Attachment #4). During the repairs, **** requested to have a loaner vehicle which could not be accommodated as **** is not a licensed driver (Attachment #5). After the vehicle had been actively driven for about a week post June repairs and about 3,000 miles had been placed on the vehicle since the purchase on March 30th, the vehicle was towed to the service center and determined to be a PCM issue. The PCM issue is not related to the work completed by Santa Motors, Inc and is determined to be the responsibility of ****. 

• Initial Complaint

  02/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went to a dealership and bought a car for $12000 and two weeks later the head gasket blew up. I then called and asked them to fix it since its been only two weeks and they told me it's on me and there are no warranties. If I want it fixed I have to drive 2.5 hours to them and pay to have it fixed. I bought a lemon and I now have a $11000 loan on something I cant drive or afford to fix.

  Business response

  03/08/2022

  ****** ******* purchased a 2013 ********* ******* on January 22,2022. At the time of the purchase, ****** ******* was given an option to purchase an extended warranty which she declined (Attachment #I). The vehicle passed the New York State inspection by ********* (Attachment #2).On the following week from the purchase, ****** ******* called to ask whether all the timing chains for the vehicle could be replaced by Santa Motors for no charge. Santa Motors offered to diagnose the vehicle and explained to ****** ******* that if the timing chains needed replacement there would be a check engine light with a code specifying a bad timing chain. ****** ****** sstated there were no codes nor check engine light and that her friend told her they needed to be replaced.To date, ****** ******* has not provided any diagnosis from a certified service center that there is anything wrong with the vehicle.Sincerely,Mary R*************** Santa Motors, Inc

*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. ↩