NHTSA Complaint #10204605 — 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE MARKET FOR A USED CAR. SHE FOUND A CAR ON THE WEBSITE FO CITY AUTO AUCTION OF CHICAGO, PRICED AT 1500.00. WE ARRIVED AT THE AUCTION AND INQUIRED ABOUT THEIR BIDDING PROCESS. I WAS TOLD TO READ AND SING THE BIDDERS PADDLE. WE INQUIRED ABOUT THE CAR LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, BUT WE COULD BID ON ANOTHER LIKE CAR. WE BIDDED 2800.00 FOR A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. I ASKED THE SALESMAN IF WE CAN SEE THE CAR FOR INSPECTION. HIS INSISTED I PUT A 600.00 DOWN PAYMENT TO HOLD THE CAR. I DID. WE WAITED 3 HOURS BEFORE THEY CALLED US INTO THE OFFICE. THEY PRESENTED US WITH A BILL OF SALE TOTALING 3858.00. I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE CHARGES, AND TO SEE THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WERE ANY DEFECTS. THE OWNER BECAME IRATE AND TOLD ME, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME THE CHARGES, HE CALLED SECURITY AND I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, MY DAUGHTER WENT BACK, I WAS TO MEET HER AT THE DEALERSHIP. SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD INSPECTED THE CAR. SHE WAS TOLD SHE HAD TO PAY THE REMAINING BALANCE FIRST. SHE DID. THE SERVICEMEN BROUGHT THE CAR OUT, LOCKED THE DOOR AND REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY OF HER QUESTIONS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR HAD NO RADIO, NO REAR VIEW MIRROR AND WAS KNOCKING. I HAD HER BRING THE CAR TO ME. THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PASS 50 MPH. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR THEN SLOWED TO 10 MPH. SHE EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO MY OFFICE, WHERE IT DIED, AND WOULD NOT START. I CALLED CITY AUTO, TALKED TO MR. AL, WHO TOLD ME THE CAR WAS SOLD "AS IS" AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *JB