Complaints

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

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  AutoSmart

  1509 Highway 169 N Algona, IA 50511-1003

  
• 

  AutoSmart

  7 S 25th St Fort Dodge, IA 50501-4334

  
• 

  AutoSmart

  1005 E. View Ave. Okoboji, IA 51355

  

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:03/18/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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 vehicle. Transmission was going out. Returned vehicle for repair 17 days ago and have received no update. I was hung up on by dealership today. Payments continue to be taken from my bank account.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/18/2024

  The vehicle was brought back in for a transmission issue. ****************** had to order the parts to fix the vehicle and that was a reason for the delay in repairs. Vehicle was repaired and customer picked up the vehicle on Friday the 15th in the afternoon. So, guessing she submitted this prior to picking up the car. The customer has the vehicle and there was no charge to her on this repair. Thank you 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/18/2024

   
  Complaint: 21437328
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Autosmart declined to provide any updates on the vehicle. Quoted one week and after 17 days I called Autosmart and was hung up on by *****. He then declined to take my call after I called back. I told reception I was filing complaint with BBB.

  I then submitted complaint to BBB and suddenly the car was ready same day.
  What is so hard about communicating to customers?
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/16/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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 02/13/2023 I purchased a car at AutoSmart of *******. When I arrived at the dealer I received the keys for a test drive and was informed of one issue with the car. It had a plugged heater core so the heat was not working. As I started my test drive I noticed the fuel gauge was on empty and the system was warning me of low fuel. I proceeded to test drive the vehicle for approximately only 3 miles due to the fear of running out of gas and being stranded on the side of the road. When I returned we agreed on a purchase price of $2,000. I was comfortable paying this amount knowing of the one issue they had informed me of. I had driven 1.5 hrs to look at this vehicle by myself and had no way to get both vehicles home. They agreed I could return later that evening to pick up the car. I returned at 6:30 PM that evening in the dark. I started the car to find out that there were no working headlights for me to make it home safely. No high beams or low beams on either side. I found a parts store near by so decided I would go there to try and resolve the issue. Before I could go anywhere though I needed fuel. Luckily there was a gas station across the road. As I tried to fuel up I discovered that the car would not take gas. Fortunately I knew If I filled it slow enough I could probably get enough gas in to make it home. I was able to get ten gallons in over the course of twenty minutes. When I got to the parts store to diagnose the headlight issue I discovered that fusses were missing and all four headlight bulbs were burned out. I was able to get two light working to make it home. As I was able to Finally head home I only made it a few miles **** to have the car start overheating on me. I let it cool down and turned around to return the car. Before I could even make it back it was overheating again. I left the car at the dealer and called in the next morning to resolve the issue. They wouldn't work with me at all. I feel they just unloaded a problem they didn't want.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/20/2023

  Attached are the documents signed by the customer that he knew fully that the vehicle was sold as/is. He took it on a test drive and made the decision to purchase this vehicle as/is.  Unfortunately, these cheaper vehicles are not ran thur the shop and they are put out there fully disclosed that they are as/is and will need some kind of repairs. I hate that he had this experience with this vehicle as we don't ever want it to come down to this. We are not required to do so but I would be willing to reimburse $200 back to the customer out of good will only. 

  Thanks

  **********;

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/21/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/01/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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.

  I bought a car from a used car shop it was told to be inspected from ******* auto smart and it was brought down to Fort Dodge auto Smart no one can provide me with the information on when it was inspected and what was gone wrong with it if it was inspected and parts of my car that were duck taped in parts on my car that were loose Ive taken it on the highway and I almost was in the ditch because of problems that were going on with my car etc. I want to give the car back because I cant afford to pay on the car and to have all this wrong with it. Want them to repair it or to take it back without a repo on my record And I think it ***** I had to pay for all my own tows

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/03/2023

  I talked with ****** today and we have resolved the issue, and all is taken care of.

  Thanks

  Brent