I had purchased a car from CarMax in KS in 2004 and had very good luck with it. Then my 17 yr old son totalled it. CarMax in INdependence was closer to home so I went there. Since my credit is less than pristine, I was very happy with the deal I got and, since they claim to do a 101 pt inspection, I trusted enough to not have the car checked out by my own mechanic. BIG MISTAKE.
I bought a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. I checked the car's history on CarFax and did a check on Consumer Report. A week after I had the car, I noticed the engine performance worsening so I checked out the car and discovered a hole in the exhaust. I also noticed that the engine rocked considerably. I had purchased an extended warranty with the car but since it was less than 30 days since purchase, CarMax was liable, so I took the car there.
It took them THREE TRIES to repair the exhaust hole! The first time, they didn't even look at the exhaust, as I instructed, and replaced the plugs and wires instead! The second time, they claimed to repair the hole but obviously did a poor job because when I took it back for a third time, they had to send it out to be repaired. They're answer to the rocking engine was that "it wasn't that bad." Only after I insisted did they replace the motor mounts.
Three months later, I was back at CarMax. The brakes were so bad, they all had to be replaced, and the rotors needed to be grinded down and adjusted. None of this was covered under warranty and I pd out over $300. If a 101 pt inspection had truly been done, wouldn't it have shown the brakes in need of replacement?
Now, in June, I take the car in because of problems with handling and noises coming from the front end upon changing gears. The car has been in three times now. The axle, mount, and wheel hubs have all been replaced and the car is still having the SAME problems.
The mechanic now says it must be the transmission. With my warranty, I am out only a $50 co-pay. CarMax initially tried to get me to pay $50 per visit, but I refused because the visits were all tied to the same complaint, regardless of how many other, unrelated items they decided to repair. However, altho the warranty claims that the car can be taken to any certified mechanic for an additional $25 co-pay, when I took the car to my local mechanic, the warranty company refused to authorize the repair and insisted I take the car to CarMax.
SO I am stuck with a lemon of a car and a lemon of a repair shop! The worst part is, I know this is not the end of it, and my warranty is only good for another 15,000 miles. I am very upset, as I am a single mom and cannot afford to just give up and buy another car. I am just the type of person these places prey on: low income, not-so-great credit. The people at Carmax are very nice, but its only to cover up their abysmal incompetence!
Stay away from carmax!!
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