Buyer Beware (this also goes for AutoStars Motorgroup who are another location of this parent…read morecompany)
I purchased a rebuilt vehicle from this dealership in April 2025 for approximately $8,000. I understood I was buying a used vehicle and accepted that no warranty would be provided because of the rebuilt title. What I did not expect was a vehicle with ongoing issues and a dealership that consistently failed to honor its commitments or provide meaningful follow-through after the sale.
Within days of purchasing the vehicle, I drove it for only two days before leaving town. The vehicle then sat parked in my driveway for 19 days. When I returned, the battery was completely dead. After having it tested, I learned the battery was bad and needed to be replaced. Despite this occurring almost immediately after the purchase, the dealership refused to replace it, so I paid for a new battery out of pocket.
As part of the sale, my salesperson, Mario Medrano, promised that a trailer hitch would be installed. This was not something requested after the purchase. It was part of the deal. More than 18 months later, that promise remains unfulfilled despite countless texts, calls, and follow-up attempts. Throughout that time, I received excuses, delays, and long periods with little or no communication.
The problems did not stop with the hitch.
About a month ago, the vehicle would not start. After receiving a jump start, it immediately died once the cables were removed. I couldn't afford the additional expense of towing and diagnostics, so I was forced to diagnose and address the issue myself and at my own expense.
Most recently, the check engine light came on while I was driving. An independent transmission specialist performed diagnostics and confirmed that the transmission is failing. The estimate to replace the transmission is nearly as much as I paid for the vehicle. What makes this especially concerning is that the vehicle has only 51,000 miles, less than 5000 miles are my own. The technician expressed disbelief that a transmission with such low mileage was already failing, but the diagnostics confirmed that it is.
When it became clear I wasn't getting anywhere through calls and messages, I eventually stopped by the dealership in person. Customers generally don't take time out of their day to visit a dealership unless they feel they've exhausted every other option. By that point, I had already spent more than 18 months trying to get the promised hitch installed and trying to receive meaningful responses regarding my concerns.
Mario happened to be off that day, so I spoke with Manny instead. Manny listened to my concerns and said he would speak with the manager (from AutoStars where I bought the vehicle) and get back to me. While I never received the promised callback, he did pass my concerns along. Later, when I reached Mario directly, he indicated that he believed Manny was handling the issue. What I found frustrating was that Manny had only been involved for about a week regarding the newest issue. It did nothing to explain the previous 18 months of unfulfilled promises, delayed responses, and unresolved concerns.
I have retained text messages documenting my communications regarding the promised hitch installation, the battery issue, the ongoing mechanical concerns, and my repeated attempts to get answers. Those messages show a pattern of delays, excuses, unanswered communications, and lack of follow-through.
To be clear, my frustration is not simply that a used vehicle developed problems. Used vehicles come with risks, and I understood that when I made the purchase. What I did not expect was a bad battery almost immediately after purchase, a sales promise that remains unfulfilled after more than 18 months, repeated communication issues, additional out-of-pocket repair expenses, and a failing transmission at only 51,000 miles.
I did not expect perfection from a rebuilt vehicle. I did expect honesty, follow-through, and accountability. Those expectations were not met.
The failing transmission at 51,000 miles is disappointing. The dealership's failure to honor commitments and provide consistent customer support after the sale is even more disappointing.
My advice to anyone considering purchasing a vehicle here: get every promise in writing, have the vehicle independently inspected, and do not assume support will be available once the paperwork is signed.
Used cars come with risks. Being ignored for more than 18 months, having promises broken, and facing a transmission replacement on a 51,000-mile vehicle should not be one of them.