AutoNation to Sell Recalled Models that are Unrepaired

AutoNation is the largest automotive dealership in the United States, and it’s big box approach to car sales exists across the country in over 290 franchises. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the automotive superstore has been the subject of major controversy since an even more controversial Donald Trump was elected to be the next president of the United States. While Chevy Dealers in Ohio and across the United States are shocked by the most recent news surrounding AutoNation, it seems that car shoppers who value safety will soon feel the same.

What Do the CEO of AutoNation and Politicians Have in Common?

The CEO of AutoNation may not be in the running for political office (not yet, anyway), but as it turns out, he has much more in common with the average politician than even Mr. Trump himself. AutoNation Inc. made a heartfelt pledge to customers less than a year and a half ago, vowing not to sell vehicles with open recalls. As valiant as the AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson came across during this announcement, it seemed like a no-brainer to the majority of Americans. Reputable car dealerships should not be selling cars that are known to be faulty to begin with, and the fact that AutoNation felt the need to pledge themselves against this unethical practice is preposterous. Despite Jackson’s vow to American car shoppers just last year, the AutoNation CEO is already back pedaling on his once-firm stance against selling recalled vehicles.

• Shady Ethical Morals: While some Americans took to the streets in protest against the election results, AutoNation and Mike Jackson concluded that the Trump victory meant that they would no longer put forth an effort to keep buyers safe on the road. On November 28, Jackson gave the green light to his nearly 300 franchised locations to resume the sale of vehicles with open recalls. Despite it being incredibly unethical to sell vehicles with open recalls, it also happens to be a federal offense. Jackson’s decision to go against moral and lawful standards is based on his assumption that Trump will end the nationwide ban on selling recalled vehicles. In a December statement to Automotive News, Jackson said that, “If parts are available, we repair them. If the parts are not available, we’ll either auction or retail it. In both cases, we use full disclosure if we retail or auction it without having made a repair. It’s been a very difficult journey, but with the Trump administration there’s no way that that issue is going to be addressed from a regulatory point of view.”

• Taking Back Promises: Mike Jackson may not have been running for office sixteen months ago when he made public promises to end the sale of recalled vehicles – but his commercial campaign highlighting his good deeds can’t help but be compared to the empty promises so many politicians vow ahead of their election cycles. Jackson publicly announced his pledge to end the sale of recalled vehicles at all of the AutoNation locations, even going as far as advertising this commitment in commercial and print ads. Jackson even urged others in the automotive sales industry to follow his high standards saying that the sale of recalled vehicles, “is not a responsible solution. You’re just kicking the can to somebody else.”

• Blaming Others for Shortfalls: It is clear that under the direction of Mike Jackson, AutoNation has gone down a rabbit hole of shifty ethical morals and shady business practices. Rather than simply state that his campaign against selling recalled cars was not financially possible for the big box automotive retail chain, Jackson blamed it on President-Elect Donald Trump. Despite not having a solid clue regarding Trump’s stance on this issue, Jackson chose to blame the next POTUS for his personal decision regarding the sale of unsafe vehicles at his place of business.

The Future Repercussions of Selling Recalled Vehicles

Vehicles are recalled by manufacturers for a variety of reasons, ranging from minor system errors, to major safety issues. When the largest automotive retailer in the United States makes the decision to sell recalled cars, trucks, and SUVs despite their known defects, it can have serious and lasting repercussions. Despite the fact that Jackson says AutoNation will clearly disclose any open recall information prior to selling a car that has a recall, it still leaves a major question mark concerning on-road safety. Buyers who purchase a car with an open recall may know about the issue, but might risk months before having the concern addressed. With scheduling conflicts, time restraints, and general life getting in the way, it is more than likely that the majority of recalled vehicles sold by AutoNation will remain on the road for months before being fixed.

Don’t Leave Your Safety Up to Chance

As quietly and discreetly as Mike Jackson has resumed selling recalled vehicles at AutoNation locations across the United States, it is important to ensure your own safety by purchasing your next car from a reputable dealership like McCluskey Chevrolet. Insist that your automotive dealership does not risk the safety of everyday drivers, passengers, and others on the road, and make it clear that Jackson’s actions are not acceptable.

McCluskey Chevrolet offers only the highest quality and most reliable new and used vehicles on the market, and will not sell a vehicle with an open recall. Not only is this practice unethical, it is irresponsible and dangerous.

Wherever you end up purchasing your next new or used vehicle from, be sure to request a CarFax history report so that you know where the vehicle in question has been, and what it has been through. While AutoNation claims to disclose open recall information to buyers, there is nothing stopping the buyer from turning around and selling the same vehicle privately, without disclosing potential recall issues. Protect yourself, your wallet, and your most precious cargo by purchasing your next new or used car from a reputable dealership like McCluskey Chevrolet. A dealership that Cincinnati residents have trusted for decades is the most reliable source for high quality new and used vehicles in the tri-state area. Come down today, and discover all that McCluskey Chevrolet has to offer.