A MAN dropped nearly $100,000 on a brand-new SUV, only to discover thousands of miles already on it.
The dealership blamed it on a “typo,” but that excuse wasn’t enough to keep the buyers from filing a lawsuit.
A man paid nearly $99,000 for a ‘new’ Toyota SUV then discovered he was duped (stock image)[/caption]
The Florida man dropped nearly $100,000 on a brand-new SUV, only to discover thousands of miles already on it[/caption]
The bizarre dispute unfolded in Florida, where two separate customers claim local dealers sold them used cars under the guise of being new.
In the more shocking case, Shawn Crowley says he bought a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser from Sun Toyota for $98,719.40.
Paperwork showed the SUV was new, with mileage listed as just 10.
But less than 48 hours later, the vehicle’s service light came on asking for an oil change, according to the lawsuit.
Crowley checked the odometer and saw it already had nearly 5,000 miles on it, per paperwork according to CarScoops.
Photos included in the complaint show the “delivery mileage” listed in writing, and the mileage displayed on the dashboard when he brought it back.
Despite this, Sun Toyota reportedly told him it was just a clerical error.
They offered to “work something out regarding the excess mileage,” but Crowley wasn’t satisfied.
His lawsuit claims the vehicle was misrepresented and that he had massively overpaid.
Toyota’s official website shows the 2024 Land Cruiser starts at just over $56,000.
Even with every available add-on, including a tiny $89 trailer hitch, it still wouldn’t reach Crowley’s price tag.
The most expensive version, a First Edition trim, starts at around $76,000.
The model isn’t specifically listed in the paperwork, but even if it were, it doesn’t explain the huge markup or high mileage.
Another case, filed separately, involves Lilly Althauser-Benson and a Jeep Wrangler 4Xe.
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
She has claimed that Jerry Ulm Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram misled her into believing the car was new.
However, it had actually been leased before.
Court documents say the dealership refused to show her the title, something she now believes was to hide the vehicle’s prior ownership.
The Jeep had its factory window sticker still attached, adding to the impression that it was new.
Althauser-Benson also expected to qualify for the $3,750 federal EV tax credit, which is reserved for new electric vehicles.
That credit wouldn’t apply if the Jeep had been previously titled.
“The mileage wasn’t the issue,” said her attorney Joshua Feygin.
“The title was withheld from examination to prevent the consumer from seeing that the vehicle was previously titled to another owner,” he continued.
He accused the dealership of violating the federal Odometer Act, which prohibits mileage fraud.
“The act of withholding the title and making mileage disclosures on documents other than the title itself with intent to defraud is a violation,” Feygin added.
Neither dealership has publicly responded to the lawsuits.
Both cases serve as cautionary tales for anyone buying a vehicle, especially when spending tens of thousands of dollars.
Reading the odometer, checking the title, and comparing prices could make all the difference.
Sun Toyota didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Paperwork showed the SUV was new, with mileage listed as just 10 (stock image)[/caption]
Another person claims that a dealership misled her into believing the car was new (stock image)[/caption]
