Safety Advocates Going After CarMax Over Recall Repairs

Automaker safety recalls have dominated headlines for over a year and that topic is back as a consumer group is going after CarMax over allegations of selling dangerous vehicles.

CarMax sold a vehicle to a man who is now blaming the independent dealer for alleged safety concerns. Consumer safety groups are now calling on the Massachusetts Attorney General to take action against CarMax. Sean Kane purchased a 2012 Jeep Cherokee from a CarMax dealership in Massachusetts on November 30, 2015. Kane is president of the board of directors of the Safety Institute. WWLP reports Kane is a safety advocate and purchased the vehicle as part of an investigation into CarMax.

The vehicle, which Kane reportedly purchased, had three open safety recalls. Kane showed concern that CarMax sold a vehicle with open safety recalls after it passed the CarMax pre-sale inspection.

Kane told WWLP, “I specifically told CarMax I wanted to buy a safe vehicle for my family, and they sold me a vehicle with three potentially lethal safety defects – sudden engine shutdown, faulty brakes and a fire hazard.” CarMax responded to the allegations on the part of Kane.

In a statement, CarMax declared, “At any point during the sales documentation process, Mr. Kane had the opportunity to cancel the transaction without penalty. He also had the opportunity to return the vehicle and receive a full refund with CarMax’s 5-Day Money Back Guarantee. Lastly, Mr. Kane received an email the day after his purchase reminding him to register the Jeep with the manufacturer to receive information on any open recalls direct from the manufacturer.”

CaxMax also added in a press release, “We have found that dealers are often more likely to provide timely recall repair to customers rather than to a competitor, like CarMax, so we encourage customers to have recalls repaired at a manufacturer-authorized facility.”

What do you think caused this customer to go after CarMax after the dealership alleges he knew the vehicle recalls weren’t repaired? What do customers ask your staff about recalls on used vehicles, and what do you tell them?