Dealer sold FWD car as AWD. Anyone have experience in dealing with this?

paper

Bought a car from a dealership last spring. Had our first snowfall and noticed the car handled poorly. Checked the VIN and the car is FWD, not AWD.

Paid the AWD price. Have the original window sticker stating car is AWD. Got vehicle registered at the dealership, they marked the car as AWD on that documentation as well.

Basically, dealer committed fraud by misrepresenting the vehicle and my options are to either swap for a vehicle of equal value, or return the car and get my money back.

Taking it in next week to hash it all out, but would love to hear some insight from someone who has dealt with this issue before.

Michaell

paper said:

Bought a car from a dealership last spring. Had our first snowfall and noticed the car handled poorly. Checked the VIN and the car is FWD, not AWD.

Paid the AWD price. Have the original window sticker stating car is AWD. Got vehicle registered at the dealership, they marked the car as AWD on that documentation as well.

Basically, dealer committed fraud by misrepresenting the vehicle and my options are to either swap for a vehicle of equal value, or return the car and get my money back.

Taking it in next week to hash it all out, but would love to hear some insight from someone who has dealt with this issue before.

Does the VIN on the paperwork match the VIN of the vehicle?

I'm not certain how much recourse you have, 8-9 months later. Your car is now used and the best I'd expect is for the dealer to make you a strong trade in offer against an AWD version.

The options you presented, those have been offered by the dealer?

kyfdx

paper said:

Bought a car from a dealership last spring. Had our first snowfall and noticed the car handled poorly. Checked the VIN and the car is FWD, not AWD.

Paid the AWD price. Have the original window sticker stating car is AWD. Got vehicle registered at the dealership, they marked the car as AWD on that documentation as well.

Basically, dealer committed fraud by misrepresenting the vehicle and my options are to either swap for a vehicle of equal value, or return the car and get my money back.

Taking it in next week to hash it all out, but would love to hear some insight from someone who has dealt with this issue before.

Is it a used car? That isn't the Monroney sticker on a new car, is it?

paper

@kyfdx no, this was a used car.

kyfdx

paper said:

@kyfdx no, this was a used car.

If they will refund the entire purchase price, then that’s what I would do.