KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A Knoxville woman said a used car dealer unexpectedly sold her vehicle instead of fixing it. She called WATE’s Don Dare after getting a notice from the Tennessee Department of Revenue showing the car was still registered in her name.
The letter arrived from the state a few weeks ago, but she said it was last November when the car was sold after trying to get it repaired by the car lot dealer. Lindsey Thompson and her fiancé, Larry Cole, purchased a 2005 Ford Taurus from Cherokee Auto Sales on Broadway in North Knoxville in June 2023, but they don’t have it anymore.
“I put $700 down on it and we signed a contract for extra services on the car,” said Thompson.
The bill of sale was signed on June 21, 2023. the car cost $6,000. The vehicle was sold “As Is” without a warranty, which means Thompson would be responsible for repairs. However, she agreed to a $995 service contract, for a peace of mind if anything went wrong within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
“I figured the service contract would help with the maintenance on the car and everything,” said Thompson.
The covered components include the engine, drive axle, and transmission, among other things. On November 17, Cole was driving the car when it gave him trouble.
“We were coming home and the transmission went out,” said Cole. They immediately got in touch with Cherokee Auto Sales about the faulty transmission.
“We called the company and told them that the transmission went out. They said okay they would send a tow truck. They sent a tow truck out and brought it back here,” said Thompson.
Thompson and Cole said they waited 10 days and returned to the car lot.
“On November 27, when we came to get the car, the car was already gone and sold,” said Thompson.
The dealer returned the car license tag to her, which had her name on the other side. At the lot on November 27, Thompson said she asked why was the car sold.
“Too many miles on the warranty,” said Thompson. “They just kept saying something about the mileage on the car.”
She went on to say that the car was in her name and she had no idea why they did not give it back to her. In the five months she had the car, Thompson said she put more than 12,000 miles on the car and never missed a payment.
Then, a few weeks ago, Thompson and Cole received a letter from the State Department of Revenue. It said records show there is no Liability insurance on her 2005 Taurus. Thompson told Dare that the car was still listed under her name on May 17, 2024.
“Cherokee Auto Center did not call the state to inform them that they had the car back in their possession,” said Thompson.
We went to Cherokee Auto Sales hoping to get some answers for Thompson and Cole. We spoke with a salesman. He was behind a desk and didn’t give us his name.
“Don, I know who you are. I am asking you to politely stay outside because I am with someone,” said the salesman.
When asked to leave, we did. However, the Cherokee Auto salesman never came out to speak with us. Instead, he called the Knoxville Police Department, apparently, we were a nuisance. As we were waiting on the public street, Officer Josh Seder spoke with the salesman.
“I don’t think you guys are doing anything wrong. He was definitely caught off guard because of the news crew. It sounds like you have the resources to make a pretty good civil case out of it, right,” said Seder.
We sent a text message to Cherokee Auto Sales, but there’s been no response.
“I just want my money back or a car,” said Thompson.
Thompson said she is working with a legal aid attorney to see what can be done to get any of her money back. Bank records and the bill of sale from Cherokee Auto Sales indicate she had nearly $2,700 invested in the car, which she drove for only five months. We tried to reach Cherokee Auto Sales to hear their side of the story, but there’s been no response.
