Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Capital Auto Auction's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Capital Auto Auction

  1905 Brentwood Rd NE Washington, DC 20018-1007

• 

  Capital Auto Auction

  PO Box 90392 Washington, DC 20090-0392

• 

  Capital Auto Auction

  5001 Beech Rd Marlow Hgts, MD 20748-6725

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/30/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  A vehicle was bid in my account with ********************** on 10-30-2024. Upon receiving the email that I won the auction I immediately contacted the company and advised them that I did not bid for the vehicle, and to remove the vehicle from my account. The vehicle was removed however I was charged $300 in my credit. I would to get my money back.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/26/2025

  Hello Sir,

  You signed an agreement before the auction, that all deposits would be non-refundable.  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/07/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Hello to whom reading I ******* purchased a car 05/01/2024 from capital auto auction. I was unaware of major repairs that needed to be done to the car which I feel should have been noted online purchases the day of going to the office to pay for the car and picking up the car it seemed to be working found when I went to drive it 15 minutes from where I picked the car up from but then I went to drive it 5 minutes from my house to see if the car was a good car but it would not start up I contacted capital auto auction the same day but they was closed so the very next day I called and spoke with a man by the name of ********** told **** the car was having problems and I had to call my insurance company to tow the car back to my house this was Thursday 5/02/2024 **** told me to take the car in and get it looked at which I had to buy a battery to get it moving the car started with a battery at this time everything seem to be ok with the car so I take it to the shop I take all my car to get diagnostic test or even worked on I was told the car needed over $2000 thousand dollars worth of work on so I called **** back Tuesday the day he instructed me to call back on he goes to tell me he can not and will not refund me my money back because had they wrote everything online I would have had the option to say if I would be able to fix this car I dont have $2000 to fix so I told **** he was rude to me and told me Im not getting nothing back thats my problem to deal with it and hung up the phone on me. This is not my family first time buying a car from this auction and ancient and transmission was something wrong and they didnt post it online when selling the car this really need to be looked at I know Im not the only person going though this with this auto auction I just really want my money back I was buying this car for someone as a Mothers Day gift. And now taking it back from them was a let down on both end. Now **** is saying something about the miles on the car but even my paper work dont match the miles on the car so Im not understanding why he will not refund me my money back I have a paper trail of the car not close to what online auction bearing paperwork says and also my paperwork please get back to me asap thank you for your time..

  Business Response

  Date: 05/14/2024

  Hello 

  The customer agreed to our terms and conditions prior to bidding on vehicles here at our auction.  The vehicle in question was sold AS-IS, per the documents signed by the buyer.  Also, the customer's estimate from the shop shows issues that would not have met our arbitration policy threshold ($500 per item).  These are donated vehicles and we do our best to announce to all bidders what the donors have told us about the car, but these vehicles are not inspected and we always recommend all vehicles be towed off of our lot and taken to a service station and/or mechanic to be check and fixed prior to being road worthy.  Finally, it appears based on the images provided, the customer drove this vehicle more than 250 miles (******* vs. 253,660).  Thank you for your time.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/20/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On Feb 24, I participated in the auto auction and bought the vehicle below.This company or their associate appear to have manipulated the vehicle to hide significant repair issues. For example, upon registering the vehicle, all the dashboard light including check light engine and the "triangle of death" illimuntaed.To date, I have spent close to $3,000 and the car is still in operable.This vehicle's condition was hidden during the auction, the advertisement did not include the information that the check engine light was on, in which case I would not have bought the vehicle.I bought this vehicle trusting what was included in the information at auction and it appears I might never be able to drive this vehicle.The purchase price based on false advertising was very high and important information was withheld from me. Additionally, I am veteran trying to get a vehicle to be able to work and this is a major setback and I hope this company can make things right by paying for these repairs or partial refund to cater for them You have successfully purchased this 2006 ****** Prius from Capital Auto Auction DC Area.Stock #: DDC36849 VIN: ***************** Auction date: 02/24/2024 Sold Price: $4,200

  Business Response

  Date: 03/29/2024

  Customer bid on and won a vehicle with a known brake issue, sold AS-IS.  Customer complained, 16 days after the sale, of the cost to repair the brakes.  Customer claims we manipulated the vehicle to hide known issues, which we categorically deny.  We offered the customer a partial discount which we feel is more than fair.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/29/2024

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
   Complaint: 21461740
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  The company has offered just $1000 for repairs that are over $5000, see attached documentation.

  I have asked the company to meet halfway with costs otherwise I am considering asking the ****** and federal agencies to investigate the business practices of this company so it can be shutdown to avoid stealing from unsuspecting members of the public. 
  Regards,
  
  *********************
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/11/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  purchased a truck from the auction online because since the pandemic they don,t have live auctions so you have to go by their vehicle condition report witch did not state rear wheels locking up. I went to pick up the truck and they towed it up the hill because rear wheels were locked.I left it there for arbitration and was told a few days laterit was fixed. I went to pick it up and the same thing. I was told to get a flat bed truck and fix it. Then they suspended my account.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/01/2023

  Hello Sir,

  Your account is suspended due to a problem with your credit card.  We suggest calling your Credit Card company to resolve this issue.  The truck you purchased was in AS-IS condition according to the Bill of Sale you signed.