Complaint Review: Carmax

I traded a 2000 Nissan Maxima on January 4,2003 for a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. Immediately upon leaving the dealership the vehicle was spinning out of control. I beleived that it was due to the bad weather so I proceeded home.

On several occasions the vehicle has spun out of control and each incident lead me to contact Carmax. I had the scare of my life early one morning around 5 A.M. on my way to work. The Rodeo spun out of control, the check engine light came on and I was now facing the opposite direction.

I contacted the dealer and I was told that I could take the car to the HIllside, Illinois store for service. In Hillside they asked me to take them out and show them what the car did to me. I refused and suggested that they drive it themselves.

I was told that the check engine light was reset and nothing found. Of course they tried to make me pay for the service they provided, because I was 4 days beyond the 30 warranty. But that was worked out after I put a call into the Naperville store.

Well, the check engine light is on again. I dropped it off at the Hillside location for repair on a Wednesday evening and on Friday I was told that the vehicle was ready to be picked up.

Upon arriving to pick up the car I was told that I needed to find a Isuzu Dealer because they made no repiars because the car was under warranty.

"Why, did somebody say that the vehicle was ready"? They could only apologize. I called back and they gave me several numbers for the Isuzu Dealers to make an appointment.

I asked if they could take the car back because I am AFRAID to drive it. I am told that they only have a 5 day return policy. Therefore, I would need to have the car appraised and repurchase. My question to Jason the service manager was; Why, can't you just take it back and let me get something else without penalizing me?

Jason told me on Tuesday, May 6, 2003 that he was sorry that is all that he could offer or I could bring the car back after Isuzu is done and he'll keep it for a few days to try to get to the problem.

According to Isuzu there is a line that connects to the gas line that has a leak. They have ordered the part but they cannot be sure that the throttle is affected by this line. CarMax has sold me a very dangerous vehicle and they would like me to pay the cost to trade out of it.

I explained that I did have $1550 rollover from my Maxima and I would not see anymore than that go into another vehicle if any. I would like to see CarMax make this better.

It is obvious to me that CarMax does not care about quality service. This show that there's no respect for the consumer and they'd rather I make the payments and get out of their hair. It doesn't matter that I travel over 60 miles a day to and from work and this vehicle is NOT SAFE!

De sandra
Romeoville, Illinois
U.S.A.