ComplaintsforMontour Motors Models

• Initial Complaint

  06/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased a 2006 **** ******* with 121,168 miles on 12/21/2021. Was told by Bill T****, owner of business, the car was in good working condition and that he would have his mechanic check it out. On 12/29/2021, nine days later, I picked up the car. On 1/20/2022 I called the company, spoke with his son about the car not starting. He came out, got the car, put a rebuilt starter in it and I paid $104.69.This was less than a month after I purchased the car. On 5/11/2022 I noticed brake fluid leaking. I took it to ******* **** Dealership in Watkins Glen, NY and after they checked it out it needed a whole new brake system, new ball joints, had metal shavings in the oil and oil pan and there was oil all over the engine compartment. Car was undrivable and was going to cost more than $6000 to fix. I had already paid $9.390.60 for the car less than 4 1/2 months earlier and less than a thousand miles had been put on it. I doubt if there is anything I can do to get get some sort of restitution but others should be made aware of this businesses practices. He was not up front with the condition of the car. I would appreciate at least a partial reimbursement of my purchase price. Others I have talked to have also heard complaints abut this business.

  Business response

  08/02/2022

  For the record: The first Montour Motors has heard about any issues with the **** was on receiving this complaint letter from the Better Business Bureau on June 6, 2022. **** ****** received her pre-owned 2006 **** ******* with 121,060 miles on 12/29/21. At that time the vehicle was deemed safe and road worthy by us and another inspection station that the vehicle was inspected at on 12/27/21. Three weeks later the **** would not start in her driveway. She called our shop for help. That day, 1/20/22 I closed our business and drove to ****'s home to help with the no start problem. I diagnosed the **** as having a bad starter. I took the **** back to our shop and replaced the started right away. Being that the **** had over one hundred thousand miles on it, it did not come with a state warranty. I charged **** our cost for the starter and did not charge her any labor cost to help her with the repair. The road call and the labor was free of charge. Four months later the **** started leaking brake fluid. Instead of bringing the **** to us to have us help her, she decided to take it to another garage. Apparently in an attempt to create revenue, **** stated that the shop told her that the "entire brake system needed to be replaced". This is just absolutely not possible seeing how the vehicle was just state inspected 6 months prior to this diagnoses. Next **** states in her complaint that "there was oil all over the engine compartment". We helieve **** had an oil leak and continued to drive the vehicle emptying the engine of all its lubricant. At this point she continued to drive the vehicle from Montour Falls to the garage in Watkins Glen. She did this most likely with an oil warning light on thus doing even more damage to the engine. This would explain the metal shavings found in the oil. We feel **** took the **** to another shop instead of having us look at the vehicle knowing she had already damaged the engine. Again, the **** had over one hundred thousand miles on it at purchase, so it was not eligible for a limited state warranty. At this time we do not agree lo any amount of restitution.

  Customer response

  08/03/2022

  Complaint #******** Mr. T**** has accused me of deliberately damaging the ***** engine. If the brake and oil lights had come on I would certainly have checked them out. I know enough about cars to check out warning lights. As for not stopping at his business I could never find it open. It was always closed when I stopped in. After taking the **** to another dealer and finding out all the problems associated with it, my son stopped by one day finding the business open and talked with Mr. T****'s mechanic. The mechanic couldn't remember checking the **** or even remember the ****. I don't want a full restitution of the money. I did get 4 months use out of the vehicle. However, I feel that if Mr. T**** would reimburse me for $2,000 that would help. After all he made over $9000 on the vehicle and as he points out it was a 16 year old car which seems like a lot of money for that old of car. I think a settlement of $2000 on his part is fair.

  Thank you, **** ******

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