Dealership fined $418k for tricking buyer with ‘simulator device’ that hid safety issue – driver’s life was at risk
AN AUTO dealership has been hit with a $418,000 fine after it sold a number of its customers' vehicles with a major safety issue.
The Wichita, Kansas was ultimately banned from selling automobiles and ordered to pay the fine over not telling at least 13 car buyers that the vehicles didn't have airbags.
Authorities caught CarNation LLC putting numerous drivers in danger after one bought a car and later "found an airbag simulator device installed," The Wichita Eagle reported.
"Which disabled the airbag light on the dash," the consumer explained.
"Concealing the fact that the airbag had been deployed."
The used car business had previously been fined for not informing a customer about a vehicle they purchased having a blown airbag before the District Attorney’s Office learned about 13 more.
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The $418,000 fine would put CarNation out of business, someone who claimed to be the owner of the company told The Wichita Eagle.
The person who answered the company's phone also stated that CarNation plans to sue for the money they'd lose out on but he did not specify who they would sue.
The man stressed that its customers know and are given paperwork saying the vehicle had been in an accident.
"It clearly shows that," he said.
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"We don’t hide that."
He even said that there were instances when customers would disclose being uncomfortable buying a vehicle that had been in a wreck.
In those cases, the man said he'd recommend that they buy a new vehicle or one from another certified used dealership.
The guy representing CarNation told The Wichita Eagle his first name but hung up when he was asked to spell his last name.
He simply said his name is spelled Kaydee.
The business was owned by Kayode D. Ajibolade and Abidemi M. Aluko, according to a 2023 filing with the Kansas secretary of state.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you've calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car's loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you're interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars - drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market - buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Kaydee spoke on the claim that the dealer disabled the airbag light on the dash of one of the sold vehicles.
"The people who make the car look as good as it can be, they do all of that," he stated.
"They make the car look and feel like there is nothing wrong with that."
He stressed that he didn't know anything about the disabling of lights in cars sold by CarNation.
"I do my due diligence," he went on.
"Check if there is any mechanical faults with the car, but as far as airbags, we always tell them that we don’t guarantee anything with the airbags. Airbags are not part of what we fix."
He said his business buys vehicles wrecked before "we make them look a little better and drive the way it’s supposed to drive.
"That’s the only thing we guarantee the customer," he added.
"Mechanical reliability."
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The case against CarNation was filed in February.
The additional victims involved were discovered when the DA’s office ran an investigation into vehicles sold by CarNation between January 2023 and March 31, 2023.