ABC 20/20: CarMax Caught on Camera Selling Defective Recalled Cars

[@carconsumers]

Want to know what a Federal Judge who examined CarMax's practices told their attorney? Here's video that shows her unusually candid reaction to how CarMax sells cars: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq0fX6ug7CbnpY

[@byrysh]

A used car salesman lying? Say it isnt so....

[@ts5030]

as opposed to a general contractor? or lawyer? or policeman? priest? I always find it amusing how he assume car salespeople are such liars vs all the others .......politician? govt employee? mailman?

[@byrysh]

***** I knew you were joking but sarcasm is hard to detect sometimes...

[@byrysh]

***** I know...

[@1earlcatfish]

+byrysh if a guy tell me he's a car salesman , I still don't believe him , LOL don't believe anything a salesman tells you .

[@JesusSanchez-gz4mx]

byrysh espanol card. Fresno

[@mikeyrojo7551]

I once went to Carmax to look at this one specific car. The salesman wouldn't stop with the B.S. "we fill and maintain all our fluid levels up to manufacturer's standards"...he was explaining to me for literally like 20 minutes about how they always maintain fluid levels and mechanical components to factory spec...while the entire time I was just there like "yah I just want to look at the car and go". ....I get in the car, the windshield is a little dirty. Pull the stalk back to activate the washers...and it's completely out of washer fluid.

[@Elnegro..]

You obviously didn't know how to use the windshield wipers.

[@allanwong1332]

You mean pull the stalk forward.

[@mikeyrojo7551]

​@@Elnegro.. lol wtf. have been driving for 13 years dude. I know how to use windshield wipers lmao.

[@mikeyrojo7551]

@@allanwong1332 no...you pull the stalk *back* towards you to activate the washer. pushing it forward, towards the front of the car, doesn't do anything.

[@ExtraterrestrialBeing-jc7to]

Omg that must have been devastating Potentially catastrophic did you get the $5 fluid before the Blew up

[@gringoespana]

It's always the same... A company tells their workers to do something dirty and when that worker gets busted the company blames it on the worker.

[@cmichael442]

Bought an 8 year old car in excellent condition from Car max. $8k. 85k miles. Fully loaded. It was a fairly good deal. The first 30 days the car was in their dealer repair shop. I took it 3 times in all. It had -Worn brake pads -bad AFM (turning car off) -Bent joint (causing loud noises in back) -short circuit (killing battery once a week) -leaking coolant from valve cover seals -Bad wheel bearing hub causing loud noise (they never covered it) -All these within the extended 12K Mile warranty I paid $2.5k for. Had I not got the extended coverage I would have been totally fcked! Funny part though, every part on the car had a dot on it, as if it was inspected and passed. even the squealing brakes and faulty air flow sensor. LOL

[@steveg.3974]

Carmax....lots full of overpriced rental cars. Marked up $2000-$3000 over market value.

[@greg11311]

Exactly. That's why I don't shop there

[@TAG-rq7ii]

Yep and then they buy your vehicle according to it's KBB, Edmunds or NADA value. And I believe them to ALL be scams, totally biased! In one year my Acura's value dropped $4k! It's such a bs racket all around.

[@thedriza297]

basically in a nutshell

[@TAG-rq7ii]

SuperGoldnut Yep. And that is a problem. They always win, we always lose. Unless of course you have a close relationship with someone in the biz. Or you have luck at auto auctions :/

[@robertbennett2796]

Steve G. Do your research before shopping for a car

[@jponz85]

@2:22-2:25 "we're actually from 20/20..." dealer: oh good!! ... um no bro... not good... at all.

[@ProBackgammonequipment]

Yeah you could tell he was trying to hide the brick of shit he just layed in his pants lol

[@jponz85]

Viktor Viktor lol yup

[@oscar102681]

I worked for them 3 years as a master mechanic and i can prove it. They are now hiring very low paid and very young people with no automotive experience to check and do repairs on their cars. These young guys (20 year olds) are told to only repair/glue/screw on/touch up the absolute necessary cosmetic things that make the car look "nice" and dont change belts or do any maintenance. They really do glue things back together all the time just to avoid buying a new part. I can show proof and videos of this any day. The mechanics are also told to wipe off any leaks and wash off anything that appears to be leaking. Carmax likes to call these leaks "residue" and normal. Tires and brake pads are left on the cars very low and worn out and they call it a good carmax standard. They have books that were made by carmax that explains what is "allowable damage" and whatever damage is not visible is to be ignored or covered up. They dont change coolant or timing belts so that cars are reliable. They NEVER change spark plugs and cabin airflters that are filthy and caked with trash. The managers say if its not in the carmax standards book just ignore the issue. They allow to paint things with spray can paint to cover up damage on interior or exterior parts of a car. Carmax has contractors on their lot fixing bodu damage and not reporting it to CARFAX because this way the holds more value. Then tha customer buys a car that was wrecked and never knows about it unless a professional looks at it. EVERYDAY they get used parts off their junk cars that are traded in or are going to the auction. All this crazy work is done by overworked low paid mechanics that are commission paid and they rush through the car repairs so that they can try and make some money. All while customers buy cars with dangerous safety recalls, glued on parts. Remember I have proof of all this because I was there 3 years and will be very glad to post pictures and videos that my friends at carmax can send me. The other fishy problem carmax has is that they also make all employees stay quiet and never say anything about carmax on social media or internet or to camera crews. They make employees sign paperwork and take training courses online on how to avoid speaking about carmax online or to news stations and they threaten with immediate termination of you talk about them. They call this "the carmax way" and its sick. I hope you all learned something here and PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CARMAX.

[@carconsumers]

+O. Blue Thanks for telling it like it is. We'd be interested in finding out more. Here's more info about CarMax and how to contact us: www.carsfoundation.org/contact.php

[@LucaTheSkunk]

+O. Blue just because they are young they cant be mechanics?

[@Importssuckass]

+O. Blue That really sucks my father just bought a car 5 months ago and the battery already went out in it and its a 2014 Nissan Altima, there so called extended warranty is a joke to. Thanks for the info I will never buy from them!

[@jackslater230011]

+O. Blue Well, it's just like a chain of restaurants. The more locations they open, the lower quality the food. In this case, it's auto repair.

[@fixt100]

+Pony Rider it matters if they are young enough to not even have been able to put in the required time to be one.

[@chubbyninja842]

Car dealers are SUPER sleazy. Many years ago I thought about trading in a car at a Kia dealership. So they took my car back to inspect it for trade in value. When they came back they said it wasn't worth much because it had some sort of a leak, power steering, or something like that. It didn't. It was fine. I told them that and they said, have you not noticed the smell? So I went out to my car, and lo and behold I could smell the fluid burning ... which I didn't smell when I pulled up. I drove away ... and once all of the fluid they placed on my hot motor burned off, the smell went away. They were just trying to con me out of a good trade in price.

[@whitedevil2]

2:23 "oh good!" what a genuine display of enthusiasm. his voice couldn't have gone any higher if you kneed him in the jewels.

[@amkostar9358]

worked as a mechanic at carmax for more then 4 years. It's just funny what passes the Inspection's.

[@c.f.b9093]

Help me out...I requested a transfer from a CarMax 30 miles away from my location ..it's been 7 total days since it has arrived and going through final inspection... Is that way too long?.. when I first requested it price was $20,098.00..for some reason they cancelled my order the next day telling me I didn't pay the transfer fee in time ( only gave me a 3 hr window)... That same day the price changed to $23,098.00... I called and had to fight with them to change the price.. they did but now I feel like they are doing something with the car...like changing parts..what do you think?

[@MissionaryInMexico]

When people tell you they're trying to gain your trust, *DON'T.*

[@OneManOnFire]

First and foremost I sell new and used cars myself. Random recalls can happen after numerous days or weeks of being recall free! Do we have a system in place to catch it? Yes but its not as easy as you think.

[@galexymitzelplik9560]

People think the whole car is recalled and the car is replaced lol. All cars have recalls on specific parts. The parts are replaced with new ones and back on the road.

[@chrisbridges655]

"It is completely unacceptable......to get caught being dishonest."

[@Jr-Cane-Corso]

I had a wonderful experience with carmax no complaints here...

[@angeredsmile2]

Samer here twice

[@khalidcarrillo1132]

Why are they questioning the sales person? He's just in SALES. Go accuse the managers or corporate for that matter. The salesman doesn't make the rules, do the inspections, or deal with the policies. I worked in car sales for new cars and we also sold used cars. Most of the used cars were fine but a couple did have problems with them. Was that my fault? No, and I would personally spend a little more money to fix up the cars and sell them right. It's the managers for screwing over customers and only caring about making the profit. If you want a good used car, go to the dealer which is the same manufacturer as what you're looking for and purchase a CERTIFIED pre-owned car. Those do go through thorough inspections and have additional years of warranty. In many ways it's a way better deal, especially than buying a brand new vehicle because of the depreciation. You will spend a little more but a warranty goes a LONG way and usually pays for itself and then some.

[@carconsumers]

Good point, Khalid. Thanks for the comment. You are so right. The problem with CarMax starts at the top. They're so greedy, and profit-driven, they are perfectly willing to put their customers' lives at risk, and also risk the safety of their families, other passengers, and others who share the roads. Among the defects in the cars they are offering for sale: faulty brakes, catching on fire, loss of steering, axles that break, wheels that fall off, airbags that explode and maim or kill people. CarMax is playing "recalled car roulette" with people's lives.

[@troyalanbowman]

I think the point they were trying to make was that the salesmen wasn't knowledgable in the policys, and lied about the recalls. He was also very uneducated about the cars that he is trying to sell, that guy should have never been hired.

[@thedriza297]

no he should know about the inventory hes selling..sorry

[@weekndvideo7085]

The salesman was trained how to answer those questions, but he lied anyways. Needless to say, he was canned. Even the inventory guys were trained with how to answer recall questions.

[@Clesarie]

Who the fuck cares? Safety recalls are free. If you buy a car with open recalls go get them fixed for free or tell the place you're buying them at you want them to deal with the hassle before you buy it and they will. This is kinda a non issue.

[@jakewilliams8296]

Yes yes and yes!! People are such Whiney little girls about everything, now days.

[@emt9370]

IT IS ILLEGAL IN NY TO SELL A CAR WITH OPEN RECALLS.

[@Clesarie]

Emma Anderson A perfect example of this is the great airbag recalls that have happened in the last 4 years. Almost every manufacture gets their airbags from the same place and almost every single passenger side airbag for the last 10 years hasn't worked properly.

[@hyepwr23]

just bought a car from carmax got warranty with it the engine went out in 7 months and now the warranty company wont cover it consumer affairs investigator said they dont do 125 point inspection and when i asked for the inspection they gave it to me no 125 point inspection all crap now im screwed

[@carconsumers]

If it's any comfort, a lot of people have complained about CarMax cars that don't live up to their claims about "125+ point inspections" and how they supposedly "recondition" their cars. If you're willing to fight back, you may be able to find an auto fraud expert who will be willing to represent you against them. Here's an organization with members who bring cases against unscrupulous auto dealers like CarMax -- listed by state and area of expertise. Many states' laws provide for refunds plus attorneys fees, for consumers who can prove they were cheated. www.consumeradvocates.org/ Hope this helps. Having an engine go out is such a drag -- even when the warranty does cover repairs.

[@hyepwr23]

im going after them the inspection paper that they gave me says inside that when carmax bought the car it was having engine problems they are screwed and now my engine is gone and the warranty company maxcare wont pay for a new engine all crap i also called consumer affairs they are gonna send an investigator out

[@carconsumers]

Best wishes with fighting back and getting them to do the right thing!

[@ctranger]

About a year ago, I took the test (questionnaire) to become a Carmax sales associate. It is a long (100+) question interrogation containing "what would you do", or more specifically, "How far would you go" scenarios. Basically, your job is to convince the buyer in whatever manner you use, that the car he or she is test driving is the car they absolutely positively MUST have. Oh, and yes, they do suck up all the cars that Enterprise, Hertz, etc. unload after they turn over their fleet. Think of how you drove your last rental car, and multiply that times a couple hundred drivers. Would you want to buy THAT car?

[@miketrav]

So dumb. That salesman makes 10 bucks an hour and probably never made it through high school. He was trained for a day and sent out to sell cars. Blame the Carmax. Not the peon working there

[@carconsumers]

Dear S. Trav -- You are absolutely right. CarMax's decision to sell unsafe recalled cars was made at the very top. They clearly decided it was worth it to put their customers' lives at risk, so they could rake in extra profits. CarMax admits that they sell dangerously defective cars to consumers, at retail. Even cars where there are no replacement parts available, so if you buy one, there's no way you can get it repaired.

[@wookugot-maywell627]

I sell cars and I have a bachelor's degree. I don't make 10 bucks an hour either...

[@Crunch_Buttsteak]

@@wookugot-maywell627 do you have diamond earrings, Jordan's, & an edge up fade/beard?

[@petermainwald6413]

the old saying let the buyer beware is as usual, good advice. Do not purchase anything without knowing what the heck you are buying...

[@ehiggin]

I worked at CarMax for five years, they are a garbage company. Their "125 point inspection" is a joke. They skim the car over, and check for frame damage. They will not sell cars with frame damage. The only reason they are so strict about that is because they do not want to get sued. Other than that, they do t really care what shape the car is in. Once, i was showing a truck to someone on the lot and one of the storage compartments had an old flip-flop in it from the prior owner. The "inspectors" new even opened the storage compartment in it! Some cars are filthy, run down, and covered with dings and whatnot. But, CarMax still demands absolute top dollar. Another thing people don't realize is that when you finance a car through CarMax, not only do they have their own finance company, but they also go through a handful of other banks with whom they have contracts, they make a percentage of money for every car financed. They are a rip off!!!!

[@keithciaccio7987]

+evan higginbotham Let you in on a secret..ALL car dealerships get a cut in on financing the cars with the banks dummy...

[@ehiggin]

Oh, really? I thought car dealerships were charities.

[@gregorydavis4831]

You are still a greenpea, people are shopping at carmax because their credit is whacked, the same irresponsibility that left their credit in shambles reflects the rest of their life. Because Carmax is a nationwide corporation they do not do some of the scummy things small and regional used car dealers do. If I had 20 bucks for every time I've seen a 3 K used chrysler sold for 10K on paper I could book a round trip on Space X.

[@Chinunit22]

Never buy a car without your own research on specific models you intersted in and taking it to another auto repairshop for a precheck.

[@mikeforce1890]

I was taught when very young to understand the English language, and to not "read into" any statement someone makes. For example, a 125 pt inspection sounds great, but it doesn't mean anything. "I inspected the engine, and it is about to throw a rod....CHECK.". Doesn't mean they FIXED anything or that nothing's wrong with the car.

[@michaeltrees6872]

Their prices are definitely not the best.

[@josephsolis3018]

I managed to get them to buy my used 2004 Saturn Vue AWD with v-6 engine in 2014, They gave me a check for $2500. The car needed a new transmission, air conditioning kit, new brakes, new tires, and a new 6-disc CD player. The car had 113K miles on it. They spent maybe 20 minutes evaluating it. It would have cost me well over $5000 to fix it!

[@imgonnapackit]

The worst part was when Carmax threw their employee under the bus.

[@tcbworldlogg]

This is proof CARMAX IS A SCAM !

[@prism8289]

There was a real decline in Carmax across the board. I worked at more than one. MOST cars were good. At one dealer, the GM was a Very good guy and did his best - usually. Still, once I had ordered a very expensive vehicle from out of state for a guy. The Carmax manager who delivered it from another lot noted it had a bad transmission. I drove it and thought the same. Our mechanic drove it and said something was definitely wrong with it. Our service manager then came and tried to convince me it was just fine and it had no problems. Still, the mechanics were old timers who knew there stuff, the buyers were walking encyclopedias, and most of the sales guys and managers are decent. Some weren’t. But then Carmax as a whole started pushing out the very experienced people and getting in people, like appraisers, who had zero experience and very little knowledge of cars. Realize during training, you’re told how amazing the cars are, how everything is fixed, blah, blah. So, often, sales people are clueless things may be bad. At another lot, where when a car arrives on the lot, it is supposed to go through a general - not mechanical - inspection there to see if things were in working order. They didn’t even bother. When it kept complaining to a sales manager, he said if he took it to the GM, the GM would just laugh. Honestly, you WILL probably get a better experience at Carmax than most places. There isn’t the outright shenanigans that take place at some others, but other times, they will cut corners and try to pass off stuff. Wherever you buy a car, always have the ability to return it. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS go to an independent mechanic within 24 hours and PAY them to do a through inspection and diagnostic to spot problems. That money is well spent and may save you thousands. Again, talking to customers, there is horrendous stuff routinely happens that never happened at Carmax. Just be careful, cautious, thorough, etc. And don’t be stupid and buy an old BMW or Fiat or Chrysler or something. Stick to Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas, and such. Buy a good car and you more than likely thing you got a good deal.

[@crawkert2]

Test drove a car once at CarMax and the power locks were going up and down the entire ride.

[@scdevon]

That power window switch could self destruct at any moment and take out an entire city block!

[@carconsumers]

Yep, you got it. That is a serious defect. The faulty switches are prone to catching on fire. In some parts of the country hit by drought, all it takes is one fire and strong winds to burn down an entire town. CarMax is being terribly reckless and is literally playing with fire -- putting lives, businesses, and homes at risk.

[@itsmackenzie]

This very thing just happened to my brand new minivan I've had only a year. My husband was driving down a dark road late at night and all of a sudden he smelled smoke, at first he thought it was from the only other vehicle on the road a truck in front of him but it kept getting stronger and then he saw smoke coming out of the door through the window tracks. He didn't know what to do, was on a dark road with no stores or even houses. He looked around and all he had was a coffee and he dumped that into the door just as he started to see flames coming up. Found out there was a recall on the door switch we didn't know about. Took a few days to get an appointment and my van smelled horrible that whole time.

[@relikvija]

scdevon xaxaxaxaxaxa

[@ziggy3237]

No haggling means you’ll get stuck with 16% interest or similar. A friend of mine recently got hit with the highest legal interest, and it was from carmax. 29.9% interest. He had established credit too. They’re scammers. Do -NOT- shop at carmax.

[@juliehernandez80]

This is why I now call them Crook Max. I was so ripped off by their service department. Worst mistake ever! I went to the North Austin location and I told them my main problem was the clutch. They didn’t even look at it and said it was a listed concern, therefore, it wasn’t checked. They wanted me to schedule another appointment and pay another diagnostic fee. Oh, and they told me I needed a new battery. I knew that didn’t sound right and I wasn’t going to pay $300+ for them to put in a new battery. The following day, I’m still having problems and I go to an AutoZone and the manager checks the battery - it was at a 100%. They were even shocked that CarMax would say that was the problem. I got more help from AutoZone than CarMax. Never again, and ladies, take a man with you because they will disrespect you as well. I don’t know what is worse, the disrespect or being ripped off. I hate them! Allen Schwartz, Dawson - tech guy, Nick - Operations Managwr and David Hernandez at the north Austin location can all go to hell. Allen Schwartz was a rude a-hole - as I walked out the door, he goes “thank you” as if to say “get out of here”. I hope all these men who rip off women end up in a bad nursing home. See how they like being talked down too and ripped off. FU CrookMax!

[@tytaylor8762]

I bought a car from a Houston,Tx CarMax in November of 2013. I pointed out it needed the front tires replaced three different times but each time I was told the tires passed inspection. Two months later I had a tire blowout but they did absolutely nothing about it. I asked why they put new tires on the back but not on the front. They refused to answer the question. I ended up buying 4 brand new tires because the back tires were no name tires and low quality tires. Be aware of their practices. I am lucky that the car didn't flip when the tire blew out

[@carconsumers]

Ty, Thanks for the comment. A lot of other people who have bought cars from CarMax have complained about similar problems with the tires. Very dangerous.

[@webcomment8895]

Why didn't you get an independent inspection of the car? They have a 5 day money back guarantee where you could have had the tires reinspected by someone else.

[@Native722]

CarMax should be renamed to CarJacks.

[@radicalizedonline5259]

EPIC

[@andrewps84]

Or CarLacks...

[@rebeccahetrick6576]

Damn...I bought a car at that same store.....bought it outright for $24,000, and a year later went in to sell it, and they only offered me $9500. How did the value go down that far that fast?? Luckily that car didn't have any recalls, though.

[@paulcoenen7918]

It didn't go down in value that much. It is likely you paid $6000 too much and they offered you $5000 too little a year later. The other $3000 was depreciation. It's how they make money from people who don't bother doing the homework. If you don't like homework then expect to be charged for the service they or any dealer provide. Not blaming you it's just that the service they provide is not cheap, labor is not cheap, buildings are not cheap, health care is not cheap, insurance is not cheap, lighting heat and A/C is not cheap, taxes are not cheap, I could go on but I think you get the point. Not to defend Carfax, I think a dealer should at least do what they say they do like inspection and repair of safety issues.

[@TJCosman]

I'm a handicapped person. I went into a CarMax not too long ago, in Savannah, GA. I asked if I could drive my vehicle thru their lot, because I cannot walk long distances. The guy behind the counter told me they didn't allow private vehicles to be driven on their lot. That's all he said. I then told him, "I guess I can't buy a car!" His response was, "I guess not, sorry." Carmax are pieces of #$%^!

[@motorcityman401]

At least they offer a 7 day money back guarantee, try getting that st ANY other used car desler!! I bought 2 cars from them, no problems and zi paid LESS than they were asking.

[@motorcityman401]

biff s​ How is their "junk" different than any other used car dealers "junk"?? With their money back guarantee it shows they are pretty confident they sell a good product after all no business wants to lose a sale and give a customer their money back!

[@godofwar2222z]

One rule to live by= Dont trust big company's NEVER EVER!!!

[@romcelreath]

The #1 rule for buying used cars is to ALWAYS get a pre-purchase inspection from a competent, independent mechanic.

[@orvillestory9112]

When is a company not to blame when their employees lie on their behalf?

[@VaporheadATC]

+Orville Story What if the employee was just misinformed? So 20/20 found one person who was ignorant and now paint's CarMax with a wide brush? Nah, I can go into any business, find that one person who misspeaks, and make a generalization about the whole company.

[@TheAussieStig30]

+VaporheadATC totally agree. I worked in a spare parts shop and would only sell customers the correct weight oil or specified coolant. A boss decided we should operate on the 'don't ask don't tell' policy. I said I wasn't leaving myself open to be sued and would continue on as I had been selling correct parts. I was told my job would be in jeopardy so I offered my keys and card back, and they had a rethink and didn't enforce that shit. Some people don't have the option to challenge their employers and have to stick to a script.

[@orvillestory9112]

A business is responsible for the actions of who they decide to employ.

[@TheAussieStig30]

+Orville Story yes but what if he didn't know? He may not know policy and be saying what they think people want to hear. Yes, this is still company's fault for not training them better, but some people just say anything to close a deal.

[@orvillestory9112]

The company hired the individual and he then represents them. I'm not saying the company did the deed, but they first hired and then neglected to identify and then fire the certain individual before the indiscretion was committed.

[@tytaylor8762]

I went back to the dealership three times but kept getting the same response. I didn't think about going anywhere else for the inspection.

[@carconsumers]

If you're having problems with a car and want to get an independent inspection, Car Talk's Mechanics Files is a good resource for finding a reliable mechanic, based on customer reviews. Here's the link: www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files Best wishes for safe motoring!

[@sunnydayz9032]

Sooo please tell me where we can go to get a used car that doesn’t act like this? Honestly I’m at a loss to know what other place is any different. Is there an actual car dealership that repairs the vehicles before they resell them???

[@carconsumers]

Good question. CarMax is particularly dangerous since they fail to get the free repairs done to fix deadly safety recalls on a large percentage of the vehicles they offer for sale. Their practices are also very misleading and deceptive. Here's some data on that point: carsfoundation.org/pdf/CarMax_CARS-Found_MASSPIRG_Report_%20Sept28-2017.pdf Compare that with AutoNation, whose dealerships are authorized to perform safety recall repairs: carsfoundation.org/pdf/AutoNation_recalled-used-vehicles_for-sale_Report_release_10-15-19.pdf. Here's a report in the New York Times that sheds more light on auto dealers' practices: www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/your-money/used-cars-takata-recalls.html Bottom line for car shoppers: check the safety recall status yourself and don't fall for CarMax or any other dealer's attempts to foist off a deathtrap car.

[@laverdadesmejor]

How can you tell when a car salesman is lying? His lips are moving! LOL (Old but true)

[@louf8335]

He can't comment on it but he can comment on fake safety recalls being done...lol

[@JLCra87]

Instead of fixing the problem and taking care of the recalls, their solution is simple... Blame the salesman.

[@rabiddogoncrack]

I used to work at Carmax, and I can say that some car are in a good shape. BUT others are all messed up (what they used to call Value Max). When the reconditions are to extensive, they don't want to perform all needed repairs. Then it have to pass a "Quality Control" inspection, and when it fail they come after you because you are not "doing you job right" even when the necessary repair was declined by them. I received an e-mail inviting me to apply to work with them again and, guess what I did?? Erased in a heart-bit. Fuk em!!! Carmax Ft. Lauderdale by the way.

[@0650-j2z]

where are the state attorney generals suppose to monitor this!

[@stinkydoggy98]

I'd like to know the age of the vehicles in question. I did a little search on how vehicles are recalled and found this: If you own a vehicle that is more than eight years old, it cannot be recalled. However, remember that the problem still exists and should be remedied - you'll just have to pay for it yourself.Note that there's another limitation to the recall rule: If a manufacturer challenges the government's demand for a recall in court, drivers cannot attend to their car's needs until the case is finished. Since these procedures can take years, owners often have to pay for the repairs on their own. If this should happen to you, remember to keep all your receipts because, if the NHTSA wins the case, you may be entitled to a reimbursement.I wonder if any of the cars in this video fell into this category.

[@SteveAubrey1762]

Typical corporation. They get caught cheating and blame the employee.

[@ewetoob6369]

"We're with 20/20"........."Oh, good"...............hilarious.

[@SMiller5488]

Carmax takes 30 days to pay your vehicle off once you sell it to them...

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Best bet for used cars is the Certified Vehicle program that most manufacturers offer now. In the case of recalls, they have to stand behind it or the manufacturer gets in trouble - and none of them want that bad publicity. Just look at what happened to VW when it cheated on emissions.

[@citygirl5705]

"I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to comment on my lies."

[@RAPTOR3X5]

Shared with 28 people via e-mail.

[@rogerpalmer5245]

Same guy who started circuit city now running carmax ? RUN....

[@KillSwitchNY]

Granted they are probably a shady used car chain, but you can't hinge all that recall stuff on just 1 salesman. they should have asked multiple salespeople before breaking cover.

[@crazyone1067]

CarMax... please! My brother had a Maxima that he repaired due to an accident, but was never reported. CarMax bought the car from him and resold it on their lot. So all that fluff about inspecting cars before selling them is a crock of sh*t.

[@DavidStewart-np3cj]

When it's comes to used cars, the best bet is to find a manufacturer dealer of the car you want. Want a 2013 ford? Go to a Ford dealer. Most of their used cars are lease trade-ins. CarMax has mostly rental fleet and repossessed used cars.

[@silkytp789]

I hate used car salesmen but mostly because they state things as facts when they don't know. Honestly, what the hell does that salesman know? Only what Car Max told him and they threw him under the bus.

[@andrewdomenitzdmd]

Why do you think a used car is for sale most of the time? Something wrong with it might be the #1 reason. If it was repossessed then the previous owner was probably broke and did not maintain it. Buyers should be able to have cars inspected and if something over a certain amount of money is wrong, return it.

[@EyeCanShootFL]

Question, I will be starting a website called @t here in the next month or so. It will have a video section and if I can figure it out a blog section where people can share their crappy fails with CarMax. Chances are I won't be able to link videos depending on how I build it, would it be okay to download your video and use it with credit and link to your KZbin? I have had a REALLY SHITTY experience with carmax (documented on my youtube), and want to share EVERYONE's experience as well. What they do to people is #$%ed up. Thank you.

[@fairfax_fran5109]

Was looking on Craigslist and I noticed some of the cars was brought off craigslist and ended up on a car max lot lol

[@carloscruz7317]

5 minutes is how long it took them to do a 125 point inspection

[@BlackenedBullet]

What does it even matter if a recall hasn't been completed? Most of the time, you can just take it to a dealer and they have to fix it for free. That's why it's a recall. All this means is they are lazy. I want to know if they are lying about accidents, damages, or other shady stuff.

[@itiswhatitis1598]

Sued them. Got my full money back and they were mad! Should’ve took my car back in the first month of purchase like I asked.

[@joshmckinnley745]

CarMax has a very thorough inspection policy, this surprised me.

[@agalindo421]

+Josh Mckinnley My brother in low worked there for a few months and ultimately quit because of the ethic of Carmax. They have 3 bays that have different levels of inspection. They have a time limit on each bay. The do not inspect the cars and try to hide the imperfections instead of fixing them.

[@tallerthanyou1993]

I had gotten a 06 mustang and the airbags weren't good, and inflator both was recall, also there 125 point inspection is bull they slap a copy to every car and that's all

[@carconsumers]

Thanks for the comment, Andres. A LOT of people who buy so-called "certified" cars from CarMax end up with recalled cars. It's really outrageous that CarMax is so reckless, endangering their customers' lives. You may have legal recourse against them under your state consumer protection laws. Here's an organization with members who specialize in auto fraud, who may be willing to give you advice about what steps you can take to hold CarMax accountable: www.consumeradvocates.org/. Meanwhile, if there are replacement parts available, and you can get the recall repairs done, it's important to do that right away, at a Ford dealership. The recalled airbags keep killing more people, or sometimes cause blindness when the shrapnel from the inflators hits drivers or passengers in the face or neck. Stay safe!

[@acephantom903]

I had fun messing with one of their salesmen several years ago. I was in the market for a hybrid as have a long commute on flat roads. For a 2002 Toyota Prius with 40k miles, they wanted $12k. I drove it and it didn't handle right which told me there was something wrong. I pointed that out and they refused to drop to $8k like I was asking. Took my business to my local honda dealership and bought a 2010 honda insight with 45k miles and flawless on the mechanical side with moderate paint damage from people parking it under a tree and not washing off fallen sap for $9k. Spent about $1000 on getting the little rust removed and repainted. Had it for 100k miles now and going to put on another 60-100k miles before I look to replace it. A week after visiting the carmax they called me and said they would go down to $11k and this was after I already bought the honda and it was getting the paint repaired at the time. Best decision I made so far when it comes to cars. I imagine it would have taken $1-2k to fix what ever issues was with the handling.

[@Avalanche2]

Wow, must have been a slow news day or Carmax stopped advertising with their channel.

[@Finnigan9]

Buy a car from an individual or an auction where at least you KNOW you're buying a 'pig-in-a-poke' but you'll save lots on the price.

[@mmacg6440]

Seems to me that there is a pattern going on here,...it goes something like this; The company makes the policy saying "All cars are fully inspected/ repaired, by are reliable staff and that employees are not to misinform the customer", Then the manager pushes its employees very hard to make extra sales or repairs that are not needed, then the employee does the shady business work and if they get caught the company just publicly apologizes and blames the employee.... :/ anyone else noticing this pattern with all car dealers and repair shops??

[@justanokie50]

My one and only time dealing with CarMax was a disaster. I was passed around from one sales person to another, offered 1/3 of the blue book on my trade-in and felt very rushed and uncomfortable. To me, they are no different than a shady back street used car dealer.

[@discerningmind]

Typical sales staff BS. That would be ALL sales staff, anywhere.

[@jkeele74]

take a car specialist to inspect the car from bumper to bumper

[@BoogyWoogyCreep]

Bought a 2013 Ford Escape from Carmax is Oxnard, California back in October. Had it one week and wouldn't start. The battery was junk but I did return it and they replaced the battery, no questions asked. Its been OK since then...knock on wood.

[@Gabez82]

Damn a new battery needed already? I still have the original battery in my 2012 Tacoma. Still cranks good. Knock on wood lol

[@veronagomez9073]

Carmax said they fixed the car before i bought a year later my converter was going out they didn't replace an old battery that was in the car for a long time. I went to a Nissan dealership 2012 ford still in good condition a year i had for a year and a half

[@jkguitarfreak95]

i have NEVER been lied to by a used car sales man! wait, i've never been to a used car dealer...

[@thinkpad411]

I understand what they're trying to get at (that dealers hide alot), but this is the wrong place to look. Recalls are all free/reimbursed by the manufacturer issuing them, what difference does it make whether the dealer takes the car in for recalls? It's something they can't afford to do anyways because most of the time recalls involve backordered parts and the car can be parked at the dealer for months before it gets done. What would you rather have? That's the nature of the business, dealers must move cars fast, big deal there's recalls. Not to mention the fact that most of the time recalls are for passive/benign problems that isn't going to result in death/injury. The only reason so many were involved in accidents due to the GM ign. switch problem (or any other problems resulting in the engine ceasing to turn while driving) was due to ignorance of how cars work. The lack of education that a car without running engine can still steer, and stop normally, with only more effort required is the cause of most of those accidents. Even then this is outlined in any owners manual... which nobody ever opens.

[@VintageCars999]

People have been ripped off worse at other dealers. Majority of the cars, Carmax sell are good quality but this was apparent a decade ago. If the quality of their cars are going down and no longer dealing with recalls, in which a car i bought there had a couple of recalls that was honored by Carmax you got to wonder if any car dealer is even reputable these days and the only way you won't get stifled into a bad car is if you are a mechanic that doesn't mind fixing whatever is broken.

[@psdaengr911]

Only a brand dealer can fix a safety recall.

[@blaknificent09]

Bottom line do you're OWN research and don't get emotional when purchasing an item like a car, a smartphone, a laptop, a house..etc.

[@richthetrashpicker-upper5244]

I recently bought a Toyota off CarMax and the oil filter was seized on and the air filter was completely packed full of dirt they did not change my oil nor change the air filter I've had this car for 3 months and it gets horrible gas mileage I can't get the oil filter off and CarMax will do nothing about it horrible horrible don't ever buy a car from CarMax

[@jonr.747]

I hope people take this serious CarMax is a joke my wife bought a car from them and they're expensive warranty having a newborn baby they couldn't care less about any issues and did nothing to fix anything after basically telling them what was exactly wrong with the vehicle and proving to them there is an issue they still denied doing anything I refuse to do any business with them forever there's only one good thing about them they have a large lot of all different vehicles if you're in the market for a used vehicle you should go there and use them to test drive a car you might be interested in and buy it elsewhere like from a reputable dealership

[@Meekerextreme]

They were not upfront when I went in to ask about a vehicle. Sales guy kept saying don't worry if you order the vehicle we can get one anywhere and if you don't like it no problem. It took me actually saying "but I'll be out of the $300-$600 for shipping the vehicle!" then the sales guy said "yes". So why on earth would I take a $600 risk to get a vehicle from CA to be out of $600, that is a big risk. Plus I didn't like the no haggle deal especially when their prices seemed HIGH compared to other places. I skipped on Carmax it just didn't seem like a good deal. Now I have heard from a few friends that sold their vehicles to carmax without buying and they got a fair price and very pleased but like I said they didn't buy from carmax. I will always sell myself, it's not that hard if you have the title in hand and full coverage insurance. Take it for a test ride, hell I hope you steal it as I will probably make out even better even with my $250 deductible...LOL

[@gregorydavis4831]

Why should they ship a car at their expense state to state on the hopes that you buy it? It is blatantly clear you have never ran a business.

[@Meekerextreme]

Gregory Davis I never said they should but they are not upfront about the cost is non-refundable. Funny I an a Co-Founder of a business and have run a business. Funny how KZbinr are idiots with tossing out comments they have no clue about.

[@srarcade]

I bought 1 car here being the exact make/model/trim/color I wanted at a good price. It went well in the end- but I really held the screws to them to suck every free service and part/fix I could the first 90 days. Understand this takes some effort, time and auto know-how to actually know what you need to do with these guys to get exactly what you want. And I think that's asking too much for most people. If you just buy the car and walk away, I could see how someone could most definitely feel taken advantage of if they didn't go back and spend the time to actually get the car in shape which it should have been from the start. Carmax cars are often found rough, dirty, and some down right sad- I even had our sales guy admit to this. Its all about volume, flipping cars fast. Thankfully they delivered in the end, everything I was concerned about was fixed and I'm happy. If it were not for this particular model, I would be buying my next vehicle certified used with a dealer warranty and eat the premium price. Buyer beware, just know what you're getting into with this place.

[@JayrDelafamilia]

+srarcade Same here i got them to replace a bit over 4k in sensors and other stuff i knew needed fixing. I did a lot of research on the car before i actually went in. i knew what to look for and during the test drive i spotted some right away.

[@raymathews7035]

I bought a new (used) Toyota Camry Le/ 2013 model. From CarMax in N.California where I live. They (CarMax) didn't tell me about the few recalls that was on my car,I went on line to find out. I took the car to the shop that I do business with,and they went over the car. I paid cash for the car. I own it out right. I went on line to find out that the recalls were taken care of. CarMax didn't tell me about the recalls. I found out on my own. Other than that small mishap, it has been a very good car .. And it runs very well. Has plenty of good power. If asked, if I would buy from them again,I would say yes... Just keep a good eye on the salesperson.

[@Y10Q]

There is no way you can guarantee or check a used vehicle for problems, unless you have real mechanics stress test the engine and drivetrain with proper tools. And even when they do run all the usual tests, it's hard to predict how a car will behave after it leaves a lot. The best thing dealers can do is stand behind the products they sell. If it breaks down a few days later, help fix it or exchange it. A good car is very had to find.

[@YoDooDSup]

this is bs. it's not the dealers responsibility to do the recalls. the consumer has to research and what not. if you notice the white paper on the windows that say AS IS or WARRANTY. if it says as is. that means you as the consumer must do your research or ur buying the car without looking into anything

[@d9103365]

Carmax threw the salesman under the bus. They don't do recall checks, and they don't do those inspections either. BTW, recalls are always paid for by the manufacturer anyway...so why wouldn't carmax have them done?

[@carconsumers]

Good question. CarMax could wait to sell the recalled cars, until the safety defects have been repaired, at the manufacturer's expense. Many dealers do ensure that safety recall repairs are done prior to sale. But CarMax is so greedy, they don't want to wait until the car is actually safe to sell. It has to do with their stock price on Wall Street. Investors rate them based on the profit they make per unit and the number of units sold. They can sell more cars, faster, if they don't get the safety defects repaired first. Their goal is to trick people into buying the cars, with the potentially lethal defects, and foist the responsibility onto them if someone is injured or killed.

[@jeffaulik3980]

There is a Ford dealer near here that has multiple lemon buybacks in its used car stock. Pity the poor buyer that doesn't spot it in Carfax before buying the car.

[@chamacorunner1]

Parents bought a truck at carmax back on 2004 and it still runs today 2017. Bought a used car in 2009 at another used dealership, and transmission blew up 2 months later. Got a carmax car last year and despite of its markup, it's definitely more reliable

[@carconsumers]

Thanks for your comment. That's great that your parents and you had good experiences at CarMax. Unfortunately, a lot of people are very unhappy with them, and they continue to sell unrepaired recalled cars -- many with defects that the purchasers can't get repaired, due to severe shortages of repair parts. Types of safety defects in CarMax cars include seat belts that fail in a crash, faulty brakes, exploding airbags that cause people to bleed to death, catching on fire, steering loss, hoods that fly up in traffic, axles that break, wheels that fall off, and other defects that have killed or maimed people. This is illegal and it has to stop.

[@Chthonian121]

Carmax has garbage cars that only people looking for something to get them from point A to point B. And nothing else. No car enthusiast shops at CarMax

[@carconsumers]

Not all dealers endanger their customers' lives, and also put their passengers and others who share the roads at risk, by selling unsafe, unrepaired recalled cars. CarMax is doing this to increase their stock price. They're in such a rush to sell unsafe cars, they don't bother getting the FREE repairs done first. CarMax is selling cars that have lethal safety defects, like air bags that explode and spew shrapnel, blinding or killing college students, teenagers, parents, and children. CarMax also sells so-called "certified" cars with defects like catching on fire, stalling in traffic, seat belts that fail in a crash, bad brakes, steering loss, hoods that fly up while you're driving, and axles that break. Once you leave the car lot, CarMax doesn't care whether you and your family make it home alive. Not enough to get the car fixed so it is actually safe to drive.

[@vinha916]

do you think toyota used car fix recall? do you think actual dealer care for your life?

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

righttttttt....ahahahahha

[@lld9888]

Should do one on mega motors Inc

[@freddie4536]

If a car salesmans mouth is moving be assured they are lying….

[@edwinreyes5213]

carmax sold me a car with frame damage and everyone told me the car had been though an inspection and all the BS.my car is a 2014 scion frs I gues just because the car looks nice they didn't bother to check for frame damage but they still said the car had been though a full inspection now they won't fix it and is costing me $4,000 I'll never go back there again.

[@onsiterepair6285]

Take them to court they cannot sell you a car with frame damage its against the law unless you sign paper that you know about frame damage and you buying that car as is

[@JeremysRants]

Lol CarMax throwing the associate under the bus to save face

[@EyeCanShootFL]

I have a report im sending to the AG of Florida RIGHT THIS MOMENT!

[@Znew07]

It has nothing to do with the guy, it's the lack of education about rules and policies from corporate. I bet he was never told, or at least the company itself doesn't take it seriously enough. The bad part is the company probably fired the guy for misinformation when in fact it was just a lack of giving a shit by corporate.

[@Johnbrian210]

Carmax is a joke , worked for them for over a year. They sale junk cars , have the technicians glue parts together , and don't change broken parts.