Anyone ever taken a dealership to small claims court?
I bought a used Audi at a Chevy dealership here in GA. It was supposed to come with a CarBravo warranty.
30 days after purchase I had to take the vehicle in to an Audi dealer (also a carbravo dealership) for an oil leak. They said the car was not in the car bravo system. I paid the bill. It was nearly $3k.
I called car bravo to confirm and yes the car is not in their system.
I've tried to work with the dealership to get repaid but they were not returning my calls.
So I visited last Saturday and a different "used car manager" said he'd help. He called me on Monday to say they did submit the paperwork and that I had to call carbravo. I told him I already had a while ago and he needed to work it out with them. I had opened a case with them but car bravo has never called me back. He said he'd call Carbravo.
Now this 2nd "used car manager" is not returning my calls. Neither is the general manager.
So my next step is to take them to small claims I'm guessing. Not sure if I need a lawyer or not.
But I'm going to leave one last vm stating if I don't hear back I'm going to file complaints with the following:
BBB DMV State Attorney General's Office FTC Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chevy Dealer network
That may or may not make any difference but I don't know what to do any more. They clearly know their in the wrong and don't want to pay up. Otherwise they'd would have already told me that.
Do you think small claims court will work?
Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed. Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists. Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed.
August 16, 2025, 09:24 AM
229DAK
I would start with the dealer's regional manager.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
August 16, 2025, 09:46 AM
wcb6092
Do you have written proof that the car was sold with the warranty, or was it just a verbal statement from the salesman?
If you have paperwork saying the car came with a warranty it looks like an open and shut case.This message has been edited. Last edited by: wcb6092,
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August 16, 2025, 11:06 AM
Shaql
I just called GM. They can't give out contact info. So they registered a complaint against the dealership and sent a message to several contacts asking that they contact me. If I don't hear from them, I'm to call GM back and they will contact the regional director.
The dealership doesn't dispute that it should have the carbravo warranty. They just won't rectify the situation. The said they would call car bravo and have the car registered, they have not. The last sales manager said they'd make it right, they have not.
Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed. Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists. Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed.
August 16, 2025, 01:53 PM
NapoleonSolo
Call the state Attorney General's office. That will get their attention. I am in the automotive business and that is what I would do. GM in the end can't do much about that issue.
“Our actions may be impeded... But there can be no impeding our intentions or our dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting.
The impeding to action advances action.
What stands in the way becomes the way.”
― Marcus Aurelius
August 16, 2025, 02:05 PM
PASig
If it’s not in writing I think you may be screwed because it becomes a he said-he said thing.
August 16, 2025, 02:25 PM
rscalzo
quote:
Originally posted by Shaql: I just called GM. They can't give out contact info. So they registered a complaint against the dealership and sent a message to several contacts asking that they contact me. If I don't hear from them, I'm to call GM back and they will contact the regional director.
The dealership doesn't dispute that it should have the carbravo warranty. They just won't rectify the situation. The said they would call car bravo and have the car registered, they have not. The last sales manager said they'd make it right, they have not.
Dealerships are privately owned and as it was a used car from a different manufacturer, I doubt they will be any help.
A friend who had a issue with a used truck purchased contacted the G's office and it was resolved. In this case it wasn't a warranty issue but they placed a NH inspection sticker on a truck that failed d two days later. They were worried the state would pull their license to inspect vehicles.
Small Claims is very informal and you really don't need legal representation. It is the perfect venue for these types of cases.
Your loss is already $3k for the repair you had to pay for. Plus you don't have coverage for future repairs which can be estimated from industry averages to potentially be further thousands.
Be sure your claim is not over the small claims limit.
August 16, 2025, 06:19 PM
220-9er
Once manufacturer becomes aware of the legal process, they may step back and be on hold until this is resolved. If the manufacturer is willing to step in and help, I’d take that opportunity first as that’s more likely and easier than the legal process.
Originally posted by wcb6092: Do you have written proof that the car was sold with the warranty, or was it just a verbal statement from the salesman?
If you have paperwork saying the car came with a warranty it looks like an open and shut case.
quote:
Originally posted by PASig: If it’s not in writing I think you may be screwed because it becomes a he said-he said thing.
So, we still don't know if it was in writing or just verbal mumbo jumbo. If it's just verbal, I don't know how you're going to prove anything. Sounds like the dealership is run by scumbags, from OP's description.
Q
August 17, 2025, 07:41 AM
selogic
To the OP , do you have ANY paperwork indicating that your vehicle came with a warranty ?
Originally posted by Shaql: The dealership doesn't dispute that it should have the carbravo warranty. They just won't rectify the situation. The said they would call car bravo and have the car registered, they have not. The last sales manager said they'd make it right, they have not.
Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed. Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists. Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed.
August 18, 2025, 08:49 AM
Georgeair
Since you're not answering the question about this being in writing but instead focusing on what they "say", presumably it's not.
I don't think folks are trying to dispute what you are saying, but giving guidance on next steps in the absence of a written warranty.
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
August 18, 2025, 04:02 PM
12131
Asking people for advice. People repeatedly asked for a simple clarification, and they got nothing but a circular response. Where is that smh gif? Yeah, I’ll also go ahead and assume that it was verbal mumbo jumbo from the stealership, and OP is going to have a hard time proving his case. Saying it “should have” warranty is nowhere near the same as writing it “is under warranty” by so and so.
Q
August 18, 2025, 04:23 PM
SHOOTIN BLANKS
I would take to Google Reviews and post a calm, reasonable, detailed timeline outlining your experience. Don't think they don't watch these. If they are big enough they may even employ a "Reputation Manager" who does nothing but monitor and fix these situations. And quickly.