$98K Land Cruiser Was Reportedly Marketed As New But Already Had 5,000 Miles | Carscoops

      Both instances highlight the necessity of scrutinizing every detail when buying a car to prevent future problems.

      Seventeen hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Two buyers in Florida have accused dealerships of misrepresenting used cars as new. One alleged incident involved a Toyota dealer selling an SUV with 5,000 miles for nearly $100,000. Another case involves a dealer that sold a used Jeep as new, preventing it from qualifying for federal tax credits.

      Car dealerships often struggle with a negative reputation, and cases like these do little to improve it. In addition to aggressive sales tactics, hidden fees, and questionable price markups, several Florida dealers are now facing serious accusations of selling used cars as if they were brand new.

      This information doesn't solely come from social media complaints; it is found in legal documents concerning two separate lawsuits. Let’s examine them and determine what lessons can be taken from each.

      In the first lawsuit, Lilly Althauser-Benson claims that Jerry Ulm Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram sold her a Jeep Wrangler 4Xe, leading her to believe it was new. While the court filings don’t specify the mileage at the time of sale, they indicate that the dealer failed to provide the title. Althauser-Benson asserts that the dealer withheld the title to hide the fact that the vehicle was actually owned by a leasing company.

      The Original Sticker and the Title Issue

      Why would she assume it was new? Althauser-Benson states that the dealership had the original factory window sticker on the car, and she expected to qualify for the $3,750 EV tax credit associated with a new 4Xe. The lawsuit claims that the dealership intentionally misled her into thinking the vehicle was eligible.

      Her attorney, Joshua Feygin from Hollywood, Florida, told AutoNews: “The mileage wasn’t the issue. The title was withheld to prevent the consumer from discovering that the vehicle had been previously titled to another owner. Withholding the title and disclosing mileage on documents other than the title itself with the intent to deceive is a violation of the Odometer Act.”

      The $98,000 Typo?

      Next, there is Shawn Crowley, who purchased a 2024 Land Cruiser from Sun Toyota. Documents obtained by Carscoops show the mileage listed as ’10’ in several places, even though those same documents state that the vehicle is ‘New.’

      Despite this, Crowley reports that just two days after he took ownership, the car's service light activated, signaling the need for an oil change. This prompted him to check the odometer for the first time, revealing nearly 5,000 miles. Note the photo below which displays the “delivery mileage” recorded for Crowley and the mileage at which he returned it for the oil change.

      The complaint notes that Sun Toyota suggested they would “work something out regarding the excess mileage,” claiming the discrepancy was simply a typo. This seems questionable, as Crowley paid approximately $98,719.40 for his SUV, nearly six figures for a vehicle that starts at just over $56,000 as of now. For further clarity, I visited Toyota's website to attempt a similar build, but it doesn’t appear feasible.

      Even with every single detail included — even the smallest optional items like Toyota’s $89 ball hitch — the Land Cruiser totals just over $72,000. Of course, it is possible that this is a special 2024 First Edition, which has a starting price around $76,000. However, this is not evident in any of the provided documentation, raising doubts about Sun Toyota’s claim of a mere typo.

      Lessons for Buyers

      In both cases, we learn the importance of thoroughly checking details. For Crowley, simply reviewing the odometer could have alleviated some of the issues. One would expect that such a significant purchase would warrant this. Similarly, in Althauser-Benson’s case, requesting to see the title—which the dealer should have had readily available—could have resolved the matter.

      These lawsuits serve as a reminder that even straightforward purchases can quickly go awry. A few extra minutes spent on due diligence might prevent your upcoming car transaction from becoming a legal dispute.