Unauthorized Use of SUV Sparks Outrage at Naperville Dealership

UPDATE: A shocking breach of trust has emerged at Fair Oaks Ford in Naperville, Illinois, as a customer’s SUV was reportedly driven for personal use without authorization. Local resident Jonathan Gregory discovered the misuse while overseas, revealing a scandal that has raised serious concerns about dealership ethics.

While Gregory was in Germany, he checked his vehicle’s GPS app and found his Ford Explorer accumulating an astounding 140 miles during its service at the dealership. “I left my car in the trust of the dealership, and here I am in Germany while my car is being driven back and forth to a neighborhood I don’t know,” Gregory stated, expressing his outrage.

The incident began when Gregory took his vehicle in for a noisy sunroof repair. After noticing excessive mileage on his odometer during the first service visit, he began monitoring the FordPass app. “When I took it back the following weekend, I took a photograph of my odometer,” he recalled. The odometer read 8,302 miles before the second visit. While checking his app, he was alarmed to see his SUV in Berwyn, approximately 25 miles from the dealership.

Gregory’s screenshots show his vehicle traveling on the expressway and through Berwyn multiple times. The mileage during its second visit escalated to 8,440 miles. Despite the dealership’s claim that a technician drove the vehicle to record a sound, Gregory found this explanation unsatisfactory. “The driving was excessive,” he asserted, further backed by I-PASS reports indicating multiple tolls incurred during unauthorized trips.

In response to the troubling situation, Gregory filed a report with the Illinois Attorney General and continued pressing the dealership for accountability. Initially denied his request to exit his lease, he was offered a lifetime of free oil changes and maintenance, alongside assurances that his additional toll charges would be covered. However, this did little to quell his dissatisfaction.

The general manager at Fair Oaks Ford responded to the scandal, stating, “Fair Oaks Ford takes customer concerns extremely seriously. Our dealership has strict policies that prohibit employees from using customer vehicles for any unauthorized purpose. The employee responsible has been terminated, and we are reinforcing our internal procedures.”

This incident has sparked widespread discussions about consumer trust in car dealerships. Gregory emphasized, “The two most expensive purchases people make in their life are their cars and their homes, and you don’t want either of them being used without your permission. It really just feels like a violation of trust.”

Customers are urged to utilize their automaker’s app to monitor their vehicle’s location and mileage during service. Gregory’s experience stands as a cautionary tale; even if you don’t have a picture of your odometer, check your receipt for excessive mileage that could indicate unauthorized use.

As this story continues to develop, consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and ensure their vehicles are being treated with the respect they deserve.