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I bought a 2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 from the certified Toyota CarMax in Richmond, VA in the fall of 2008. The truck had only 20K miles on it, still had the factory warranty. The main reason why I decided to purchase it. They shipped it down here to the CarMax on Independence Blvd here in Charlotte for free, which I thought was nice. The day that I went to pick it up the salesperson that was going to go over the truck with me told me that when the truck got to Charlotte they noticed paint chips on the front of the hood and mirrors. So, they, CarMax sent it out to a local paint shop to have those areas repainted at no cost to me.
Here's where they, CarMax got me, the truck still had the Toyota factory warranty remaining on it, but I should have also bought the extended CarMax warranty too.
I drove the truck home, about 45 minutes south of Charlotte, noticed that the front end of the truck bounced a lot more than I thought, there was a weird noise coming from the front left of the truck when I hit a ruff bump in the road. So, the very next week, I took it back to the CarMax in Charlotte, I told them what I was hearing and they said that they would take a look and see what they could come up with. An hour and a half went by and they brought my truck back out to the front of the service area and said that the front tie rod had been disconnected. They billed me at no charge and said the problem had been fixed. I drove the truck home again, the noise had gone, but the bouncing of the front end of the truck seemed to be less but still there. So, again I took it back to CarMax and had them check it out again, they found nothing wrong with the suspension.
Fast forward to today, 2011, I still have the truck, I have had no one work on it except oil changes at Quick Lubes, the original factory tires, brakes and suspension are still on it, the truck now has 66K miles. Time for new tires, oil change, new brakes, etc. I shopped for all this, ended up taking it to Dale Jarrett Ford. I asked them to do all the things I mentioned, brakes, tires, oil change, plus check the front suspension. Within 15 minute they got me and took me to my truck and showed me a nickle size hole in the hose that runs from the front right strut to the X-suspension system that my 4Runner has installed on it from the factory. The suspension system had been drained, due to this hole, that it never had been working since the system is a sealed system and they was in fluid in it, hince the bouncing of the front end of the truck. CarMax could not see a nickle size hole in the suspension or do a proper bounce test on my truck during their 125+ point inspection that they say they do on every vehicle. I doubt that this so called inspection is even done or even done thoroughly even to keep you safe. Remember, when I told you that CarMax told me that they fixed my tie rod... i would not have been able to drive the vehicle for a week, let a lone a day with a disconnected tie rod, just a thought.
So, if your trying to decide on buying a vehcile from CarMax, think again, if you do always purchase the extended warranty.
My new suspension from Toyota cost me $1500.00, I ended up spending $2700.00 on my truck in one day. I had been at the Ford service shop from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, then drove my truck with brand new tires to the Toyota service shop at Scott Clark Toyota and was there from 3:15 pm until close. This day hurt my wallet, I was extremely pissed off about CarMax not caring about my safety and the concerns of other that would have ridden in my vehicle.
Ooh, did I mention that my truck, four months after I purchased it, I was shipped off to Iraq, my truck sat in my brother garage for over a year. Still CarMax would not help in any way on the expense, they told me that normal wear could have caused this damage...
I call BS...
I bought a 2015 Corvette 6/30/21. It had 2 of their 115 inspections. One at the city it was shipped to Houston from and another before it was delivered to me from from the N. Freeway store in Houston. I left the dealer late but made t to the end of the Corvette Celebration going on in the Woodlands. They claim they washed the car, did not rise the soap off, the sales person got some paper towels to help dry the car.
I noticed the car had a vibration, maybe the transmission but others told me run flat tires felt like that on some of the freeway surfaces around here. My main concern was to get home, get water and try to get the soap off my black car. It was 10PM so parked it in garage and started on the exterior the next morning. 3 days with cleaner and paste wax I fixed the paint. The tires after Car Max;s 2 tire inspections I discovered they were out of DOT date. Not safe but Car Max approved. The vibration, Chevrolet calls it shuffling. A known problem with 2015 auto trans corvette to Chevy service. The fix requires transmission fluid be changed 3 x's with 10 miles with filter and they hope it will then shift correctly. If not they replace the torque converter. I took the car to Chevrolet to have all fluids replaced. Radiator, brakes, rear end and transmission. The charge for the trans, service is $811.00 to fix the shifting problem. This is considered routine maintenance by Car Max so not covered. All fluid service is considered maintenance and on the buyer. In this case THIS IS THE REPAIR for the transmission. The shuffeling should have been discovered by the two checks Car Max did. At 30 up to 65 it would shift between 3rd up to 6th in any order constantly and down shift the same. THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS IF THEY HAD DRIVEN THE CAR. I had planned on buying new tires and servicing the car. I did not plan to repair the transmission. I was planning to pay the $150. charge to Chevrolet and expected Car Max to help with the balance knowing I would have a deductible for the extended warranty since work was not done at Car Max. NO HELP FROM CAR MAX. NO ONE TO TALK TO. SALES FOLKS ARE NICE BUT THEY DO NOT HELP WITH REFUNDS OR ANYTHING. THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED. IF YOU BUY THE EXTRA WARRANTY READ PG 2 & 3. THEY GOT AWAY WITH THE OUT OF DATE TIRES, THEY KNEW THIS CAR HAD NEVER HAD ANY SERVICE BUT MADE NO ATTEMPT YO SERVICE IT. WHEN CHEVROLET ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID THEY FOUND A MIXTURE OF WATER AND BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. CAR MAX - wake up service what you sell I am asking for help with the repair to service the transmission. What Do You Plan to Do? Bob Fitch
Upon day two of purchasing my preowned 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with only 1,400 miles from the Boynton Beach Florida store I noticed my horn did not work. At this point I was disappointed with how Carmax touted its 140 point inspection. I was in fear that the airbag might of been deployed. I thought, if Carmax did not pick up on a non working horn what else did the inspector not examine. I called the sales manager to alert him to my dismay. Of course the sales manager offered me to bring it to the service department... stating that maybe it was a fuse. Out of lack of trust and keeping my best interest at hand, I brought the car into a Chrysler Dealer for an inspection... knowing that I had 3 more days in which I could return the car. The Chrysler dealer saw that the horn was tampered with. The Chrysler technician found the horn was not working because of a ground wire.
This is a typical example of learning a lesson over again. Never let your guard down when it comes to purchasing a preowned car. Why would a consumer trust the accuracy of the car inspection preformed by the seller. The car buyer always needs to get an independent inspection. CarMax should not tout it 140 point inspection as being the cure all... it reads more like a scam. Their no haggle price is a nice concept, their showroom and salesman are a pleasure to work with... but those 3 positives can not make up for faulty inspections.
Why take a Toyota to Ford? Why not to Toyota?
Took my Toyota to Ford just for the better priced tires. Then, the Ford dealership is who found to damaged suspension. That is when I took it to the Toyota dealership.
It is only a 125 point inspection! Not 140! Anyway, if the horn was not working and you were really mad, why not return the car for a complete refund instead of complaining. You will NOT find another used car dealer that will take back a car after you purchase it.