Preston Automotive Group
reviews and complaints

Purchased a vehicle that did not have all the features advertised. On November 25, I purchased a 2018 Ford Focus Sedan that was advertised to have Key-less entry. After getting the vehicle home, after being at the dealership for nearly seven hours, I realized that I didn't have the keyless entry FOB. I tried calling my salesperson, Earl W who several days later told me that it was a mistake, that the model I bought did not have keyless entry. I only had one key at this point, and the dealership still hasn't tried to get me a free key. I know there were two keys to this car, because at one point on November 25th, the keys were locked in the car during the final detail, and the detail employee told Earl W he might have to use an entry tool in order to get into the car. A second key was found in order to open the car. Preston Ford, and specifically Earl W have made no reasonable attempt tp resolve this issue.

On February 1, I purchased a 2020 Ford Edge at Preston Motors, Lewes, DE. During the financing process, I was offered gap insurance. I had not heard of this type of insurance before but was interested, Cost of the insurance was $15.00 per month for 60 months ($950.00). The finance manager, Marissa M, stated I could cancel the insurance within 30 days for a full refund. This also stated in writing that I had an unconditional right to cancel. On February 9, I did cancel the insurance in writing through Marissa. She confirmed receipt of the form via e-mail stating "I submitted the cancellation form to our accounting department on February 9. The refund will go to the finance company but it doesn't reduce your payment amount because the loan is already complete and in place; however, it will reduce the total amount owed on the loan by the amount of the GAP refund." To date, I have not received a refund or any adjustment to the loan principal.

We purchased a new Venue on 10/3. 10/20 we were informed that the car had been a rental, instead of new. On 10/2 we contacted Preston Hyundai about purchasing a new vehicle listed on their website. We made this as easy as could be for the dealership. We knew what car we wanted. We found it on their website, listed as a new vehicle. We didn't need a test drive. We didn't want to spend any unnecessary time indoors during a pandemic, so we showed up, ready to write a check and leave. Our nly request was to make sure the tags could be mailed so we wouldn't have to go to DMV. We ended up waiting outside for more than 3 hours for the paperwork to be done...in hindsight, probably while they made sure the rental part was hidden from us. We were told that the mileage (3,000) on the vehicle was from test drives. We believed them. Foolish of us. Three weeks later, we get a reminder from their title department to take the rental car we purchased from them to the inspection lanes for a VIN verification before they can send us the tags. What rental car? We didn't purchase a rental car and we have the purchase agreement that is clearly marked that the vehicle is new. I emailed to find out why they lied and charged us for a new vehicle if it was used. Why was it listed as new on their website? The salesman wrote to tell us that he had no idea it was a rental and to apologize and to say that he is sure they will fix it. The general manager tells me that all this was disclosed and they did nothing wrong. So, I guess he knew and just didn't want to say anything that day. We sent them a copy of the purchase order, clearly showing that the vehicle was represented as NEW. No apologies, explanations or solutions to this problem have been forthcoming. All the manager there has done is to falsely tell us that it was all disclosed. We never would have bought a car that was a rental. Due to the pandemic, a main concern was not having to go to DMV. That would have been a deal breaker. We were very clear from the beginning about it and we were lied to and scammed.

I purchased a new 2019 F250 on June 26. I have three issues. The first is with my tags/taxes/title fees. After many phone calls and emails to get in touch with Melissa T to get a status of my tags, I still had not received them as of August 11 when I received an email from Melissa that they would be processed in a couple of days and to send her a copy of the insurance ID card that had already provided to them in June. On August 19 I received another email from Melissa that Knox County contacted them for an additional fee for the tags. I waited another couple of weeks and started making calls again. Finally getting in touch with a Knox County Clerk that stated the tags were supposed to be shipped back to Maryland, not stay here for me to pick up, which would have taken more time. Fortunately, the Knox County Clerk stopped that and picked the tags up the following day. I was shocked when I got there to hear that there was over $200 left to pay to get the tags. The problem was that the second check that came from Preston Ford was less than $2, not the required $200+. After five back to back calls to Preston Ford and only getting voice mails for Melissa and her boss Deb T, I frustratingly paid the fee to get my tags because my temporary tags had already expired two weeks prior to that day.My second issue is false advertising. My motivation to drive to Hurlock MD, combined with a trip already planned, was that the price of the truck was $2500 less than equivalent trucks in Knoxville TN, where I live. The false advertisement is that the lower price required financing through Ford Credit to get it. I had no idea until I read through the bill sheet and saw it there. Only then did the purchasing agent explain that was required. I had already paid for a rental, an extra night on travel, and wasted a day of vacation to go buy this truck in MD. I grudgingly financed with Ford, and accepted an interest rate 3% higher than I can finance through my own bank to be able to get the $2500 ford rebate. Again, the $2500 difference was the motivating factor for me to purchase it, instead of buying one in Knoxville; where I live. Each day I could not refinance, because the title work had not been done, cost me $6. I expected and was told it would be one month. I finally got my tags the first week of September; almost 3 months later. Accepting paying the higher interest for one month, it cost me an additional 40 days past that to get my tags. I never received a follow up call or email to the several voice mails I left that day. Melissa's lack of communication, not sending the files in a timely manner, and not writing the final check for the correct amount cost me over $500 in higher interest from the lack of being able to refinance and the additional fees I had to pay at the Knox County Clerk's office to get my tags that was already paid for in the purchase of the truck. The second issue I have with Preston Ford involves the sales representative Debbie P. The truck did not have an owners manual in it when I bought it, nor was there one at Preston Ford to replace it. Again, many phone calls and texts to Debbie, with a few of them answered by her that it was coming, or that it arrived and she was picking it up then, and that she would send it, I still have not received one.The second issue I have with Preston Ford involves the sales representative Debbie P. The truck did not have an owners manual in it when I bought it, nor was there one at Preston Ford to replace it. Again, many phone calls and texts to Debbie, with a few of them answered by her that it was coming, or that it arrived and she was picking it up then, and that she would send it, I still have not received one. Product_Or_Service: Service