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Consumers Who Had a Negative Cash for Clunkers Experience
If you had a negative experience with the Cash for Clunkers program, tell us your story. We would like to present a fair depiction of the NHTSA CARS program since if you had problems with your sales transaction, give us the details.
These posts should be reserved for consumers who completed a CARS transaction and not dealers speaking on behalf of consumers.
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm and is filed under cash for clunkers, negative experiences.
I was told that the government would only allow $3500 for my vehicle under the cash for clunkers program and no trade in allowance as vehicle would become virtually worthless once engine was pickled. I see vehicle on the road with new plate number Ct plate 655XRE. Are dealers double dipping?
Too funny how many folks are getting burned because of not being financially responsible with their annual registrations. You took the chance driving expired, now you lose on the stimulus. It was in the rules.
I went to a Honda dealer in Snellville GA I took my clunker and title & I gave it to them & I asked if my car is good for the program they said that it was on Sat 8/1/09. I told them if my car was not ilegable for the progrm I do not want the car they said your car is good to go. they made 2 contracts on the same date for the same car with 2 differrant prices & when I went to the finance office sign here & sign there when I went home I started reading I found out that I signed two contracts I went back on monday to ask why they said that they said in case your car was not approved & it is not so I wanted my car back they said you signed the contract it is yours I put stop on the check.they are holding the title & they wanted payment for the finance part of the deal but on which contract. I wrote to the consumer affairs & the BBB they claim that they offerd me my car back & I refused.why do’nt they take it back since I only drove it 1.5 mile & it is setting in my garage since I coudn’t register it I have never seen such liers. any help.
I bought a Ford Focus 09, and my dealer told me in order for the deal to be accepted I had to buy the extended warranty, I was getting a good deal,so I said ok. Now after 2 months and one car payment, my clunker was rejected and the dealer is calling. I told him we let it lapse for 9 days becuse it would not pass the Indiana emissions test, that is why we traded it in. This is just a nightmare that will not end, I feel if the dealer and there audit dept. did not catch this (we were at the dealer for over 5 hours)how am I to be held totally responsible. As far as I am concerned the dealer is barking up the wrong tree. The need to look in the mirror!!! Can anyone help with some advise?
The current FAQ on the govenment web sit has relaxed the requirement for proof of continous registration. http://www.cars.gov/faq#category-07
A current registration and a title that shows that you owned the car for the last 12 months is now allowed as one of the 3 means of demostrating continous registation.
I work at a Nissan Dealer in Southern California, ALL of our clunker deals are approved and paid for.
JoAnn says:
August 29, 2009 at 9:45 pm
My “clunker” was rejected due to a21 day lapse in license tags. The vehicle had been licensed for the full year prior 2007 – 2008 and 11 mo and 9 days 2008 – 2009
The same problem happened with me however it was 18 days. I have had this vehicle registered for the past four continuous years, and now I am being denied. However I submitted my 2007- 2008 registration, are there any success stories out there or am I stuck dealing with my rust bucket?
I drove by my dealership last night and am 90% sure I saw my clunker still sitting on their backlot. If in fact my voucher hasn’t been approved, it is now 49 days. Got delivery and title so it’s all good with me.
I’m only leaving this for the people who have been waiting for their deals to get approved. All others need not apply.
My car was approved today. After 47 days. I am wondering if I had the longest approval process to date. I submitted every form accurately with no resubmissions on July 30th. My dealer and I agreed to wait until the car got approved before exchanging cars, because we are friends. Personally, I don’t think it is ridiculous for a dealer to want to know the government is going to accept each individual car, regardless of the promises made. It is quite a leap of faith to trust the government will reimburse you $4500 right away. As for how long it took the government to process, well that is another story…fortunately I was not in a rush. I would however, not have bought a car in the next year if it weren’t for the program.
1986 Ford F150 99,000 miles 12 MPG —> BMW 328i 28 MPG.
em@philly,
If you feel you can prove it (with documentation), take the dealer to small claims court.
Marcus,
I totally get what you are saying, and I agree with you to a point. The fact of the matter here is I bought my car under a government run program, and the dealer broke the rules of that program. Therefore what happened was illegal actually. They need to make right on this. I wound up paying MORE than I was quoted for. That is just wrong, and they need to make right on it.
However, if this had been a traditional sale, I agree with you 100 percent.
Maybe I will get stuck sucking it up…….I understand that is a good possibility here. But why shouldn’t I stand up to the dealer and say hey….you made a mistake….fix it! If I had lied or something, they would certianly be up my butt for every dime they lost out on caused by my mistake. This is principle you see.
I am mortified by the stories of people who made the deal, and car still being held on lot, especially those who have started making payments. I am grateful this did not happen to me. I should hope that every person (who has been honest and has followed the rules) comes out good in the end. I hope litigation makes good for the consumers here. This is bull the way this all happened. I am NOT a person who believes in suing others every chance you get to make out financially for oneself. But here is a grand scale situation where people are absolutely getting SCREWED!!!!! and should use the written laws to remedy their situation.
It might only be $500 bucks……but that is MY $500 bucks. I work my butt off for what I have.
em@philly….nobody forced you to sign the deal. I agree, some dealers are crapola, but unless you have no legs you are free to walk. Wanting a refund after signing a deal is not going to happen. Just be glad it was only a small amount in the grand scheme of things.
I got my car, but got scammed on price? help? I got an internet quote before going to Honda dealer. Did test drive, etc., had ALL my papers with me for qualifiacation proof. Was told internet price no good because doing C4C. (Wanted to scream and RUN for the door, price haggling is supposed to make numbers go down…not up!!) But it was the end of July and I knew the first round of funding was kicked. So I sucked it up and got the best deal I could squeeze, and got a great car out of it (and drove home same night.) 2 days later I am on CARS website figuring out if my uncle’s POS will qualify, yes it does. And then I read something funny……..DEALERS HAVE TO HONOR DEALER PRICING, SPECIALS, MRF SPECIALS ETC IN ADDITION TO REBATE!! I wrote the GM a letter and hand delivered, watched him read it…basically telling dealer that he broke federal regulations, pointed out specific sections of written rules where I pulled this from, etc. Please honor my internet pricing and refund to me $520 difference, or provide written explaination withing 10 days….was the gist of it. A week later I was told the “central office” was handling it, will hear something in a few days. I haven’t heard JACK! This was over a month ago. There is an arbitration clause in my bill of sale, I am only allowed to sue in small claims court or request arbitration? I am in PA. I have info to contact ATTY GEN “fraud hotline”. Is it too late, does that work? What would you do? (Should I write letter to Mr. Dealership Owner too, and let him know I’ve been ignored?)
I truly hope someone in congress hears this one.
I am a single hard working mother of 6!!! I have never taken a state hand out, no welfare anything of that nature. I work hard. I was in a serious car accident 2 years ago losing the majority of the use of my right leg, ALL BECAUSE A ILLEGAL MIGRANT WORKER WAS ON HIS CELL PHONE AND PULLED OUT INFRONT OF ME WITH NO INSURANCE, MY HUSBAND DIED, but i have managed to take care of myself and my children on my own. WHEN cash for clunkers came about I thought it over and ass-ume-d it was some type of joke. Well for me it has been. IT HAS MADE A ass OF u AND me
I took my 1999 chevrolet blazer into Harold Zeigler in Plainwell, MI. to my awe they were not giving the double or matching trade in that there commercials advertised, you could only get the government allowance trade in. (BARE IN MIND THE BLAZER HAD ALOT OF MILES BUT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY OF 4500) I thought you could pick a vehicle and order it if they did not have stock. AGAIN, nope you could only take what was left on there inventory list, so I agreed to buy a 2010 Jeep Patriot, a car I had never seen, or drove,
or had little knowledge of. I was told the vehicle was being made but had to surrender my vehicle by monday morning along with all necessary paper work.
BETWEEN working I ran stood at the secretary of state for two hours for the proof of ownership, and a duplicate title, I begged relatives to give me a ride to turn the vehicle in, then had to call the insurance company and show the vehicle was insured and had been for a year. also I had to come up with all the loan documents necessary for the loan. although, I was giving them my 1999 Chevrolet Blazer and 5000.00 deposit down on a vehicle I could not see drive or even have for three months.
So here we are 3 weeks later, and I get a phone call stating my vehicle insurance policy had lapsed for 7 hours BECAUSE I paid on the internet on July13 past business hours and it did not post until July 14 at 8am. WOWOOWOWOWOWOW now the deal is over? I am the one who gets the bad end of the stick????? WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON????
I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL OF THIS IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO READS THIS IT IS ALL TRUE. AND I AM VERY ANGRY OVER ALL OF THIS I HAVE DOCUMENTATION I CAN PROVE ALL OF IT… FORWARD THIS TO CONGRESS THANKS FOR HELPING US WHO WORK. THE WORTHY…
BUT HEY THE JUNKYARDS GOT ALOT OF FREE VEHICLES FOR NOTHING AND THE DEALERS MADE A HECK OF ALOT OF MONEY BUT THE INNOCENT HARD WORKING GOT THE BAD END OF THE STICK.
MSREDTRANSAM@MEI.NET PASS IT ON ITS TRUE
Ok, wait a minute.. you are filing a bankruptcy claim, and you want to buy a new car… so you can afford a NEW car, and you can afford to pay a lawyer to sue the government.. hmmm bankruptcy and being able to afford a new car doesn’t sound right to me, should I sue because they discriminated against a hardworking single mother who can’t afford a new car? they discriminated against the poor by not allowing used cars to be included. Discrimination jeez get a grip! It is cause of people you that frivilous lawsuits take place and things cost so darn much!
“PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH MY LAST NAME”
I was wondering if I could sew the “CARS” program because I was discriminated against and unfaily penalized by rules made by congress and the senate and signed into law by Obama? I am in a chapter 13 bankruptcy, part of which allows for me to be able to purchase a new car over the course of the settlement period. I was not allowed to participate in the CARS program because the rules require that I give the title of my trade in vehicle to the dealership and take posession of the new vehicle on the same day that the deal is made. In order to purchase a vehicle I have to have a “permission to accrue non-emergency debt” form filled out and signed by the courts. This requires that I include all financing information along with a signed purchase agreement to the judge for approval. They amended the rules in the cars program that requires you have the vehicle insured for at least one year to exclude these States that do not require insurance because that rule “unfairly peanalized them”. The same day rule also “unfairly penalizes people in a chapter 13″ I think the insurance requirement amendment sets president that requires this change be made as well. I want to sue and have it made so the Govt. has to send out vouchyers to people like me that were also unfairly penalized. Any takers?
Same story with me like whaot happend to “no more Heb” – They are insisting me to sign th epaper and I am refusing. They got money from the bank alraedy, the first payment is due next week – I am still driving my cluncker – they are violating the law for sure.
My reading of the legislation is that once a dealer registers for the C.A.R.S. program, then all eligible cars on the dealers lot must be included in the program. I went to a dealer who also participates in Costco’s discount program, and he told me that they don’t participate in CARS for the model that i was trying to buy through the Costco discount program. I ended up going to another dealer and paying more. If that dealer was not following the rules, then i got ripped off. Anyone know how i can get a definitive answer on this?
Still in limbo!
I signed my C4C deal on the first day…
still waiting.. the Dealer blames the Gov..
the dealer had no problem cashing my check thoe
I am on my second temporary registration
this is a sad joke.. and its on me
Dealer released my title and registration papers to me today 37 days after purchase/delivery. My C4C voucher is still not approved but they now feel they will ultimately be repaid on all deals.
Hang in there, those still in Clunker limbo.
To my clunker comrades, “Officials” say that we’ll be getting our cars by the end of the month!! high-five.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_J2CDMBIZhobnHhGIYFCzqvR52wD9AFUB1O0
Karen…I understand your situation as it is no fun when a you have a car “blow a week ago”. While doing my car shopping I found many cars and deals that would place people in new cars for around $10,000 or less. Now that is a basic car, but certainly affordable in today’s terms.
Used car dealers are not always up front and will sell you anything that rolls. Do your homework carefully before making such a purchase or you’ll end up with another “blow a week ago” car.
One other thing people can do to improve their economic condition is to go back to school and learn how to read/write properly. Those skills will help you get a better paying job and these types of problems will become a thing of the past. When you use words like “outrages” incorrectly, you will not even know when someone is disqualifying you from a better job.
Very disappointing. My car just blow a week ago and I can’t afford one of those new cars. It is very upsetting that they are not selling the perfectly good cars to the lower class that can not afford the outrages prices of used or newer cars.. Very Very upsetting to me and I am sure to a lot of people in my shoes.. Who ever thought of the idea sure didn’t do their homework for now the dealers are sitting with good cars and have cash paying customers that would buy and need cars like that waiting on the goverment to pay them for those cars. That I am sure have many years and miles to go on them. Will not go to a dealer again for any kind of car nor will my family purchase a new car again. Used dealers that still care and have decent prices are going to be getting more business now which they should for they are still for the lower class people!
Hey no more Herb –
I hear you. My wife and I also purchased a Honda on July 29 from Herb “I don’t have to follow any stinkin’ rules” Chambers. Since then they have had our money for the full purchase price, they have our cliunker and its title, but they refuse to release the car. The salesman called me today and said they still had not received approval, but would release the new car to me if I signed a contingency agreement. I said no chance in hell to that, since they are violating the CARS rules. Other buyers from Herb Chambers who are still waiting should REFUSE to sign any such agreements!!
Me and My wife purchased a Nissan Altima a week before the cash for clunker program ended. We called to the dealership about the license tags for the vechicle we purchase because the temporary tags were to expire on the 28th of August. We were then informed that the government disallowed the purchase because it showed that there were a lapse on registration of the automobile; this wasn’t true and we check with the local government agency (TXdot) and they too did not see a lapse on registration. Hence, I called the dealership back and told them what my investigation showed and his response was that we were not the only ones this happen too and the dealership lost as well. I’m finding it difficult to believe the dealership without seeeing a letter from the government stating their findings. I will be filling a report with the state attorney and want an investigation to begin because I believe fraud as been committed by the dealership.
To Nate:
I’m also in Omaha and in the same boat as you (different dealer). You’ve been waiting 11 days more than me. I call them about once a week; they are polite and seem as frustrated as me. The approval turnaround is absolutely ridiculous. I e-mailed my concerns to the NE New Car Dealers Assn without reply.
I have friends that bought a Ford in Omaha under C4C the first weekend of August that got their tags and title last week.
Please continue to post on your progress, as will I.
I purchased my new Nissan Versa July 18th in Omaha NE at Nissan of Omaha. A month and a half later I STILL do not have a title to my car. I’ve made a payment to the lender, paid taxes and registration fees, and insurance is taken care of. I’ve made three calls to the dealership and have only been met with sarcasm and rudeness. I emailed my congressman, Lee Terry, but got no response. What’s going on here? I have a hard time believing it takes this long to process and approve the paperwork being sent in. I guess my next step is the state attorney general’s office.
I purchased a Honda from Herb Chambers on July 29th. I argued with them (from sales people to upper management) from day one on releasing the car, as per the CARS legislation, to no avail. I received a call nearly five weeks later saying my car was ready and I set up a time to pick it up. Upon arriving at the dealership, I was presented with a contingency agreement. Turns out they failed to tell me that the deal wasn’t approved yet (they misled me during the phone call – not surprising for them), and they were requiring people to sign the form. I refused and was told quite rudely that I wouldn’t get my car. After talking to management, they allowed me so sign a two-sentence paper that they wrote up specifically for me saying I did not commit fraud in the Cash for Clunkers deal (which was no problem, because I didn’t), and I drove away with the car. People dealing with Herb Chambers, you should REFUSE to sign the contingency agreement. They’re not supposed to ask you to sign it, but once you do, they’ve got you on the hook. They’ve gotten away with enough and they’re shady enough to probably try to screw people over that way.
I purchased a 09pt crusier july 31st our credit went through and we had the car w/pmt book, then the dealer called and said he was repossing the car 3 weeks later on he grounds of a title problem with was easy remedied now I have a pmt due sept 14 and the dealer is not returning my calls no car but a patment due!!!! I need a lawyer
Anne
I feel ya, I’m on day 46 of the waiting game for my car. I put down almost $4,000 on the new car and I’ve been driving around my rusted out shitbox that’s being held together with bondo and duct-tape for the past six weeks. It’s getting ready to die any day now.
What frustrates me even more is that the NHTSA will not even give us an estimated date for when our money will be transferred based on when our applications were submitted. So we cannot plan ahead. Man lemme tell ya it’s an awesome first-time car buyer experience. One that I’ll never forget.
Day 34 and still waiting for my dealer to call me to say I was “approved”. No answers from DOT, NHTSA, CARS Hotline, Senators, Dealer, Attorney General or Wisconsin Auto Dealers Association. I have no idea if my paperwork was rejected, processed, in process, rejected then in process, etc. I wasn’t planning on getting a new vehicle but my 2000 Explorer needs a new Head Gasket, the repair is more then the value of my Explorer. The C4C program came at a good time for me…or so I thought. My clunker is on it’s last leg, hopefully it will keep running until I get the “call”.
Jess–if it is so unsafe it would be worth your life to invest in a newer/safer car. At your age, the value of life is extremely high…think about it, if your unsafe car left you crippled and dependent on others what is the value of that compared to a different car. Give up your itunes downloads for a while, avoid piercings/tatoos, and other money wasters…you’ll have plenty for a different ride.
I’m dissatisfied with your Cash For Clunkers program. I was very upset to see that it was all based on how good or bad your car was on gas. I get about 20 mpg in my car, however, its probably one of the most unsafe cars on the road today. I can’t give it up because I need it for work, back and fourth everyday, and back and fourth to college. The government wasn’t fair about the rebate program at all, if you were to see my vehicle I can guarantee that you would want to help me out.
Thanks.
This really should be renamed to “Consumers that are Whiners” board. Most of what is posted is related to either failures to comprehend the guidelines or documentation issues in control of the owner of the vehicle. You don’t get points for being financially irresponsible in letting tags/insurance lapse.
My “clunker” was rejected due to a21 day lapse in license tags. The vehicle had been licensed for the full year prior 2007 – 2008 and 11 mo and 9 days 2008 – 2009
Similar to John. Signed for car August 1. Salesman told us not to bring clunker just paperwork. Left a deposit on the car (we are ready to pay cash. We haven’t purchased a new car in 11 years. Saving over time can allow someone to pay cash-it is working that way for us). We are also purchasing a Toyota. The dealership will not release the new car, has no interest in physically taking our clunker. I have been told our deal is noted as “pending approval” on the government website that the dealership checks. The lawyers representing the automobile dealers of our state has advised them that they have every right to withhold the cars until they have approval or payment – this was told to me by a lawyer of that firm itself. 2 weeks after we signed for the car(we were allowed to sit in the car and take home the owner’s manual) the dealership per recommendation of the law firm drafted an agreement that buyers can opt to sign stating that that they can take the car and if the government voucher doesn’t get approved the car is returned or the buyer pays the dealer the equivalent CARS payment. Speechless and nursing an ulcer I didn’t have before. State attorney general’s office is confused as to what is correct, so no relief there. Hotline personnel refers to state attorney general’s office.
I am still waiting for my car to be released. It has been over 4 weeks. I found out that “Toyota Financial Services automatically pre-approve dealers in good standing for a wholesale line of credit to be used exclusively to finance the clunker rebate amount” (Automotive News, August 17, 2009 – updated 8/14/09
http://www.autonews.com/article/20090817/ANA05/908149970)
A week later, my dealer was quoted in a local news paper that even though all their deals were processed and approved, they weren’t delivering the cars because they weren’t paid for any of them.
I’m speechless?!
We went to a Hyundai dealership in Huntington, NY to purchase an Accent. They refused to discount the sticker price, but with the rebate and clunker $ we were still getting a good deal. Left a deposit. 4 Days later, we got a call asking us if it would be an inconvenience to leave our clunker on their lot 7-10 days until they got paid. When we refused they told us the deal was off. Unfortunately, we could not find another Accent with the package we wanted anywhere. We went to another Hyundai dealer with the VIN number and they tried to swap cars with the original dealer, but when they found out it was us trying to buy the car, they refused to trade. Meanwhile, the 2nd dealer had given us a great price quote on that car with the package we wanted. When we found out we couldn’t get that car, we asked for a quote on the lower priced model. Well, due to supply and demand, in 3 days that car’s price was higher than the original, more expensive car. Take it or leave it was their attitude. Well, we took it, and still got a lower than Edmund’s TMV price. But the whole experience really was soured by the shenanigans they pulled. According to the CARS website, the dealers were not allowed to hold the clunker for payment, and as long as the mileage differential was sufficient, it had been insured and registered to the owner for a year, with no liens, it should have been accepted. And it was up to the dealer to wait for reimbursement. Instead, prices shot up, people were left out in the cold not knowing if they would get a car or not, and the dealers were telling consumers all sorts of fairy tales. We were totally at their mercy. And the NHTB told consumers to report problems, but there was really no recourse. I don’t think this was a particularly well thought out program, but that’s just me.
Herb Chambers is the worst to deal with when they aren’t delivering the cars. Really bad for future business Herb.
We were the first deal to be submitted on 7/28/09 at our dealership. However there have been at least 20 cars delivered since and we are still driving our clunker. Our dealer will not release the new cars until they get a confirmation from the govt. Just very inconsistent when there are other dealers sending customers home with their new cars. This program was not worth the aggravation. Should have saved myself time and energy and bought before this C4C was even an option.
I went to Mazda, signed the paperwork almost 2 weeks before the end of the program. I called to ask if my vehicle was in yet because that day was the eta of the car. Was on hold for 30mins and then the salesman says you have to sign all the paperwork tonight by 9pm, it was 630pm at this point and i work till midnight. In other words, they weren’t gonna even call me to tell me this. Then they tried to charge me an additional destination fee and other fees (abt $2000). I offered to pay in cash and the finance guy lost it, literally. I walked out eventually cause I refused to give them the business and I wasn’t even getting a deal after they tacked on random fees.
I thought I was having a very positive experience with Cash for Clunkers. On August 15th my partner and I went to the local Toyota dealership, chose a car, signed all of the paperwork, left a $1000.00 deposit with the sales manager and went home to wait for the new car to arrive so that we could complete the transaction. Meanwhile we read that the program was going to end on the 24th of August and we were greatly relieved that we had made it on time. Yesterday, August 27th, I received a call from the sales manager we had been working with, who said that the car was on the way and that we had to make a decision about whether or not we still wanted the car now that the program had ended. I was so shocked that it took me a few moments to even reply. He was quite brusque about it and said that this is just the way the government works. I believe that what really happened is that he forgot to submit the paperwork and needs to cover his a**. I guess I will find out what is next, but I am considering legal action.
Been waiting over 3 weeks, for a new car I supposed to get that day!
The dealer is no help at all- they really do not care–so sorry to have been involed in this program!
I went to a Honda dealer 3 nights b4 the end of Cash 4Clunk. Iwas appalled at the lack of customer service. While I realize that they were busy, I couldn’t believe how grumpy they were! When I told them that I had previously purchased 3 cars from them, nothing changed. Then, I overheared a finance guy bitching about how all of the C4C buyers are cash buyers and it dawned on me. The dealers make most of their money in finance. I asked the sales rep, Isn’t this better than no activity at all? He said, NO. Point taken. I walked out of a dealership, that I had previously been very pleased with, determined not to do business with them. SUMMARY: Governnment handouts bring out the WORST in human character.
Now 29 days since my wife and I bought a new car on the lot from Herb Chambers Honda in Westboro, MA, and left our $$ for the full purchase price with our clunker and the title. We are still waiting for the dealer to turn over the new car to us. Honda seems to be one of the worst dealers when it comes to following the rules and delivering the cars.
I have been reading a lot of negitive responses to the cars program. I thought I would leave one from perspective the Dealer. Unlike most of the postings I have read here we did allow the customer to take the vehicle off of the lot prior to us getting paid. We thought it would be bad PR to hold our customers hostage. We ended up with 40 total clunker deals. We started submitting paper work on July 29th. At this time we still haven’t been paid for vehicle #1. We had one reject becasue the car only qualified for $3500 and not $4500. We also had a second reject because the husband is on the title and the wife is on the registration of the trade in. Not allowed under the program. You can’t call and get any answers nor do we have any recourse. I submitted 17 questions to the NHTSA during the program and have yet to get a call back or an e-mail regarding them. One of them was the question about husband and wife that rejected. The web site has crashed just about everyday that we have been on it. With 40 vehicle in the system we still have 39 more to go and are already out $5500. With the overtime required to submit paperwork to the NHTSA, the fact that the NHTSA is holding on to $140000 of money that we past on to the customer which is hurting dealerships cash flows and the not knowing how many more will reject I am very cautious of claiming the program is a success. It was good for consumers and the manufacture but the verdict is still put for the dealer. Only 3% of the over 600000 claims have been paid. That means that dealerships are left holding the bag for $2.7 billion. For the consumers that were treated unfairly, had rude salespeople, had products added to the deal that they didn’t ask for there is no excuse for that and on behalf of honest car dealers I apologize to you.
Day 28 and still waiting for my car. The dealer submitted 130 applications, only 14 have been approved. The approved applications have been the the most recently submitted to the NHTSA! The oldest probably haven’t even been looked at yet by the NHTSA.
Afetr two weeks the dealer called about taking delivery tomorrow. I guess I’ll see how it goes.
I have my ford escape for a month.
made payments, deposit, still the dealer will not hand over the title till. he gets his money.
This sux
I’ve been waiting since July 31 for my new car. I call once a week and they respond with “we will not release the car yet, but hang in there”. Had I known early on that this dealer was not going to give up the new car, I would have went elsewhere. But they have me held in a state of limbo. There is no way to estimate when the *##*## Gov is going to give them their money so they can release the car. The NHTSA rules are a joke. If they aren’t enforceable, and there is no punishment for ignoring them, please don’t post them. I’m pretty sure I will eventually get the car but the experience has not been pleasant.