I have been a customer of Cars Plus for three years, but after the way my recent situation…read moreinvolving three vehicles was handled, I do not feel that my loyalty--or the safety of me and my family--was valued.
I originally had a 2007 Acura MDX through Cars Plus. Around my birthday in August 2026, I traded it because I wanted a better and more reliable vehicle. What followed was one of the most stressful experiences I have had with a dealership.
On August 20, 2026, I received a 2015 Dodge Journey with approximately 145,837 miles. The dealership's paperwork marked the inspected engine and drivetrain items and overall serviceability as satisfactory. Nevertheless, almost immediately, the Journey shook badly, struggled to start, and displayed a check-engine light.
My significant other returned it to Cars Plus for inspection. They released the vehicle without giving us a clear explanation of the problem. Later that same day, the Journey would not start, leaving me stranded at work without transportation. Cars Plus then informed us that it had a blown head gasket and needed to be switched.
During this ordeal, I personally heard a Cars Plus representative say, in substance, that they only drive the vehicles long enough to smog them. Hearing that was deeply concerning because customers rely on the dealership to make a reasonable effort to determine whether a vehicle is safe and dependable before putting someone and their family in it.
On August 25, Cars Plus switched me into a 2014 Buick LaCrosse with approximately 115,519 miles. The Buick was also represented as satisfactory, but it soon began jerking while driving, particularly around 20-30 mph. Its electrical and interior lights flickered, and "Service Power Steering" appeared intermittently.
The Buick also displayed warnings for the airbag, tire-monitoring system, adaptive cruise control, and automatic collision preparation. The driver's power seat became stuck at its highest position. These issues affected my ability to feel safe and confident while driving the vehicle.
On September 1, VIP Auto Service performed diagnostics and recorded 70 fault codes across 27 systems. The shop recommended beginning with an alternator repair quoted at $979.99. Between the jerking, flickering lights, power-steering message, safety-system warnings, charging concerns, and numerous codes, this did not feel like a reliable replacement vehicle.
The financial part made the experience even worse. My deferred down payment was $1,200 on the Journey but increased to $1,700 on the Buick. That was a $500 increase after the Journey they had just given me failed almost immediately and was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. I felt as though I was being required to take on a larger financial burden because their first replacement vehicle was not dependable.
I have now returned the Buick to Cars Plus.
After three years as a customer, I expected them to value my continued business and work with me honestly to provide a safe, dependable vehicle. Instead, I went from my Acura to a Journey that left me stranded and had a blown head gasket, and then to a Buick with jerking, electrical problems, multiple safety-related warnings, and 70 recorded fault codes.
This was not simply an inconvenience. These were issues that could have left me and my family stranded or placed us in danger while driving. I repeatedly had to deal with transportation problems, uncertainty, repairs, and additional financial pressure--all while trying to protect my family.
I am sharing the specific dates, mileage, warning messages, diagnostic findings, and payment amounts because I want other customers to understand exactly why I am dissatisfied. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Cars Plus. A loyal three-year customer should not have been treated this way or placed through this much stress involving multiple vehicles in such a short period of time. Manny does not value long time customers.
