I bought a car from Carmax in June of 2022 and the day I drove off the lot and about 10 minutes off the lot, the car started thrusting violently while driving as well as smelling like something was burning. I called Carmax and was told to Bring it in that they would fix it. By the time I got home the car was smoking. Carmax got the car the next day and stated that they had to replace the transmission. After having the car for 6 weeks they called to tell me that the replaced transmission was bad and that they would have to replace that one as well. 3-4 days shy of 3 months later I picked up the car, had it for 2 weeks and the ac quit working. I couldn’t turn off the air flow neither on low or off. It was stuck on high and blowing 80-90 degree heat out of it. The car never stopped smelling like something was burning and the smoking persisted. The tires locked up, called Carmax to explain all issues. After arguing about them honoring the 90 day warranty they finally agreed to fix the ac and brakes. However concerning the original issues with the transmission and the burning smell and smoke, we were told that Carmax would not fix any other issues concerning the Cadillac. That I would be responsible for any and all other repairs. So I had the car looked at… And am now told that I do not need to drive the car without a fire extinguisher due to the probability of the car catching on fire and or exploding. Due to metal shaving being in the oil pan and engine that the transmission is the least of my problems. That the smoke/burning smell is due to the metal shaving putting holes in my oil pan causing oil to spill out on my hot engine block. But that I would need a new engine, transmission, twerk converter as well as ac. Any suggestions… AT ALLLLL
That was hard to read. What year and model is the Cadillac?
Find a phone # for Carmax corporate - get the company involved at a higher level than whatever specific location you bought it from. The company had a decent reputation, generally speaking.
And why are we dealing with something from two years ago? Is there some longer sequence of events that you need to lay out. (E.g. when you first bought the car, you had problems x/y/z and now two years later have more problems?)
I would call CarMax’s customer service at (800) 519-1511…
Sorry you are having issues… I would have swapped vehicles after the 1st transmission problem… CarMax is usually pretty good at taking care of their vehicles and customers…
Hope you get this resolved… Like cigroller, it was a hard read and some of it didn’t make since…
Just curious, doesn’t Car Fax allow the buyer to obtain a pre-purchase inspection before deciding?
I expect OP best course is to abandon this idea entirely, and start looking for another car , this time obtaining a pre-purchase inspection done by their own mechanic.
What should the OP do with the current $15K to $25K+ Cadillac that they are still making payments on, this was not a 30yo $1500 vehicle the OP is talking about… And a PPI is not always going to tell you of future transmission/engine failures if there is no signs of it before hand… There is more to this story then we have been told I’m sure… And it is CarMax not Car Fax she bought it from… lol
I had to take drivers-ed in high school. One student asked the instructor why they still have to pay the car payments if their car is wrecked and no longer usable. Seems unfair, but that’s life. Instructor said the way to avoid this situation is to buy insurance. PPI is a type of insurance. Like insurance, it isn’t always fool-proof, but usually it does help quite a bit.
The best I can make of your post is that you bought a Cadillac from CarMax that turned out to a pile of crap and they haven’t fixed it.
This is not a car problem, it is a legal problem.
Hire an attorny that specilaizes in auto warranty claims to help you sort this out or sue if needed. Good Luck.
It is 25 months too late to buy the extended warranty.
Either someone has been telling you nonsense or you are not understanding what they are saying. Metal shavings in your oil cannot punch holes in your pan and if they did you would have no oil in the engine and it would not have lasted a week.
It is torque converter not twerk but that did make me laugh.
You had a 90 day warranty two years ago. They are not going to fix anything unless you have documentation of bringing it to their attention within the 90 days.
I agree with mustangman that it is a legal problem now. Never knew what twerk was until I saw a disgusting parade in New York I think.
So what do you do if you bought a car with multiple serious problems, that still have a big balance to pay off and there you sit? As they say quit digging the hole deeper. Options are limited. Turn the car back in and take the credit hit, fix it for tons of more money down the drain, or what. Maybe a used engine and tranny from a junkyard or what, and a period of frugality to pay everything off. Trannys can be overhauled by a reputable shop, but I would never have full engine work done. Stick with what you have and ride it out or dump it and take the hit? Never an easy answer. But first you have to have a reliable shop actually provide some advice. Like old timer said, this guy doesn’t know what he is talking about.
I’ve done it both ways and probably should have taken the $2500 offer on a two year old car rather than 480,000 miles later and three engines trying to get my money back.
Do you think the OP could be arrested for owning a broken car?
Place it in the night drop like a library book? The car is not out on loan like a book.
It took the OP more than two years to destroy the engine, this doesn’t sound like the used car dealer is guilty of breach of contract.
Well we don’t know a lot of information. Is the car paid for or still has a loan? Did they ever fix the transmissions. The car was smoking from day one and not addressed? Sound like the car originally had multiple problems that were not addressed, but we really don’t know.
Carmax took the car to repair it the very next day. Kept it past the 90 day warranty and then basically the just of it stuck me with all issues.
On a new car warranty, as long as the problem was identified before the end of the warranty period, it is still covered. No idea on a dealer warranty but this is why a consult wit a lawyer was suggested. You do need to develop an understandable time line though of what issues were reported and when,
I am dealing with the Attorney General now. I just am at a lost for words on what has been done. I thank you for your input and I have a pretty good details of events written out. its just been a lot, so i was trying to sum it all up in the post. thank you for your response
Good luck but my experience with the AG is that they will just get a statement from both
Parties and suggest they get together. Not really resolve anything.
It’s 2024. You said that you bought it in 2022. So you’re saying that you have “owned” the car for something like 2 years, but haven’t been able to drive it?
You need to fill in the blanks.
I hope your complaint to the AG is easier to read and understand than your posts.