ONE STAR! $8,000 IN REPAIRS, STRANDED WITH MY NEWBORN, AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO SELL ME ANOTHER…read moreCAR.
If you're considering purchasing a used vehicle from Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo, I strongly encourage you to reconsider. My experience has been an absolute nightmare.
In November 2025, while pregnant with my first child, I purchased a used car for approximately $16,584. I needed safe, dependable transportation for my growing family and trusted that an established dealership would properly inspect its vehicles.
Within LESS THAN ONE YEAR, I spent approximately $8,000 on major mechanical repairs, including a water pump, spark plugs, variable valve timing solenoid, cylinder head gasket, and resurfacing of the cylinder heads. Some problems began LESS THAN THREE MONTHS after purchase. Despite these expensive repairs, the problems continued.
But the worst part? THIS VEHICLE LEFT ME AND MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER STRANDED.
I purchased this car while pregnant because I needed reliable transportation for my baby. Instead, I found myself stranded with her, dealing with a vehicle I had already spent thousands trying to keep running. That is absolutely infuriating.
After experiencing these problems, I requested Sunset Honda's pre-sale inspection documentation. What did I receive? A checklist showing the inspected items marked as being in good condition.
HOW does a vehicle pass a dealership inspection and then require approximately $8,000 in major repairs within its first year?
I understand used vehicles can develop unexpected problems, and I cannot say what the dealership knew beforehand. However, this experience has left me seriously questioning the thoroughness of their inspection process.
AND NOW FOR THE MOST INSULTING PART.
When I brought these issues to Sunset Honda's attention, their proposed solution was essentially to bring the vehicle back and PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THEM. They also suggested my mechanic was responsible for not fixing these SEPARATE mechanical problems.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
I purchased a vehicle from your dealership while pregnant. I spent $8,000 repairing it. It left me and my newborn STRANDED. And your solution was for me to return and give your dealership MORE money?
I wasn't looking for another opportunity to spend money at Sunset Honda. I was looking for ACCOUNTABILITY and a meaningful resolution.
A dealership should be judged by how it treats customers AFTER the sale, not just when they're signing paperwork. I felt like a customer worth selling a vehicle to, but not worth helping once that vehicle became a financial disaster.
Between the purchase price and repairs, I had approximately $24,500 INVESTED IN A USED CAR I STILL COULDN'T RELY ON.
This experience has been financially exhausting and emotionally draining. Months of mechanical problems, unexpected expenses, and constant uncertainty about whether my vehicle would make it to its destination.
TO ANYONE CONSIDERING SUNSET HONDA: PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH. Get an independent inspection, request detailed records, and don't assume a dealership inspection checklist guarantees a dependable vehicle.
I genuinely wish someone had warned me.
ONE STAR IS GENEROUS. I will NEVER purchase another vehicle from Sunset Honda, and I strongly encourage my friends, family and others to think carefully before trusting them with their hard-earned money.
