Bait-and-switch, hidden fees and other dealer scams could proliferate under the incoming administration of Donald Trump, experts warn, as the president-elect signals plans to eliminate or scale back various consumer protection rules.
Dealers and Service
Jeep Slashes Prices on Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer to Counter Weak Demand
Been eyeing one of the Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer models but turned off by the high price tag? Then you’ll likely appreciate the automaker’s decision to slash prices by as much as $7,000 on new 2025 models – though you also can expect retailers to start offering good deals on leftover 2025 SUVs.
October Auto Sales Rebound – Driven by Surging Korean Brands
U.S. auto sales rebounded from a September lull. Though, with an uncertain election looming over the country, automakers posted relatively modest gains in October, largely driven by surging South Korean automakers.
Scout’s Direct-to-Buyer Sales Plan Sets Off Dealer Backlash
Auto dealers are ready to go to war with Scout Motors over the new brand’s plan to sell directly to customers without using franchised retailers. Scout is also planning to build separate service centers, which are emerging a key part of the EV landscape.
Forget Hurricane Milton, Car Buyers Are Underwater All Over the Country
If you’ve bought a new car recently you’re well aware of how much vehicle prices have risen over the last decade. In many cases, that’s pricing many potential buyers out of the market. But others are simply taking a deep breath and signing up for hefty loans. The problem is that they may find they’re “underwater” when they next go to trade in – owing more than the vehicle is worth.
For Tesla Cybertruck, 10 Months Bring 5 Recalls
Tesla announced a recall covering more than 27,000 vehicles. More precisely, 27,185 Cybertrucks. This marks the fifth time the all-electric pickup has faced a safety-related callback since the first dozen Cybertrucks were handed over to customers by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the end of November 2023. And it comes at a time when Tesla has had more recalls than any other automaker.
Used Car Buyers Beware: Hurricane Helene Could Flood Market With Water-Damaged Vehicles
Hurricane Helene delivered a record punch this past week, leaving a trail of destruction from Florida’s Big Bend to the western mountain towns of North Carolina. And the impact could be felt much further away. If past natural disasters are any indication, thousands of flood-damaged vehicles could wind up being repaired just enough to put them out on the used car market. And unsuspecting buyers could be in for some major problems.
GM Recalling 450,000 SUVs, Pickups For Potential Brake Problem
General Motors will recall 449,671 pickups and SUVs due to faulty software that can lead to a failure of their brake fluid warning lights. The good new is that GM will use smartphone technology to make the repairs.
GM Facing Huge Liabilities as Court Okays Class Action Over Faulty Transmissions
If you had a faulty transmission on a General Motors vehicles built between the 2015 and 2019 model-years you could be covered by a new lawsuit certified by a federal court. The class-action could result in payouts to hundreds of thousands of owners across the U.S., as Headlight.News reports.
Ford Ranger, Bronco Raptor Models Get Big Performance Boosts with Software Update
It normally takes some major hardware upgrades to deliver a 50 horsepower boost, but the Ford Ranger Raptor will get that big jump in performance with something as simple as a software upgrade, the automaker says. And the Bronco Raptor will get a nearly equal increase, according to Ford. Here’s how.
July Wraps Up With Strong Economy, Modest Upturn in Vehicle Sales
While automakers are still tallying up the final numbers, they’re expected to reveal that, boosted by a strong economy, July vehicles sales bounced back after a weak June. Here’s a preview of what we’re likely to see.
New Mobile Auto Repair Service Software for Dealers Kicks Off
If anyone thought Tesla’s mobile vehicle service fleet was a great idea, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, some of the team who helped develop it decided it was good enough to tweak it and pitch it to auto dealers. And many also agreed and now San Francisco-based Curbee is in business. Find out more at Headlight.News.