NHTSA Complaint #10373639 — 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I INITIALLY CONTACTED MAGIC AUTO CENTER AND WAS DEALING WITH [XXX] REGARDING A 2001 TOYOTA LAND ROVER THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN. [XXX] TOLD ME HE COULD GIVE ME $1000 FOR MY TRADE AND USE THAT FOR MY DOWN PAYMENT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY THE 29TH, I SPOKE WITH [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE I WAS INTERESTED IN HAD BEEN SOLD BUT THEY HAD A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER PRICED SIMILARLY. AT THAT POINT, I SUBMITTED ALL OF MY CREDIT INFORMATION BY E-MAIL TO [XXX] ADDRESS ABOVE. ANTHONY CONTACTED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THE OWNER WANTED $1000 CASH AND WOULD GIVE ME $500 FOR MY TRADE. I AGREED TO THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD CAUSE ME A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BECAUSE I NEEDED A MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE THAN WHAT I HAD. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP A BIT BEFORE 8PM ON THE 29TH AND ADVISED THEM THAT I WAS IN A HURRY AS I NEEDED TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP BY 9PM. WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS THEN ASKED TO PROVIDE $750 CASH, $250 ON 11/2/2010 AND AN ADDITIONAL $500 ON 11/18/2010, PLUS MY TRADE. I HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT EVERYTHING BE IN ORDER BEFORE MY ARRIVAL SINCE THEY ARE LOCATED FAR FROM MY RESIDENCE. I WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND UNTIL ALMOST 8:30 PM. I DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR (MY FAULT) BECAUSE I WAS SO RUSHED, BUT WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS IN EXCELLENT RUNNING CONDITION BY BOTH [XXX] AND[XXX]. I SIGNED THE PAPERWORK, PROVIDED THEM WITH A CHECK FOR $500 DATED 11/18/2010 AND AGREED THAT I WOULD BRING $250 ON 11/2/2010. I TRANSFERRED MY BELONGINGS FROM MY TRADE TO THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WITH MY SON\S HELP, TOOK THE 4RUNNER, MY SON, AND OUR DOGS AND HEADED FOR THE FREEWAY. WE GOT ON THE 170 SOUTH, TO THE 101 SOUTH, AND THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON...WE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS ALREADY AFTER 9 AT THIS POINT. WE GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY AND INADVERTENTLY GOT ON THE 10 FREEWAY WEST, AT THAT POINT A LOUD POP CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A HUGE PUFF OF STEAM, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *