Jonas Taylor
Complaint 151655 Details

I saw a listing on Craigslist sometime between July 2 and July 4 for a 2010 Honda Civic, 30,000 miles excellent condition, new car warranty to 36,000 miles power-train warranty to 60,000 miles.
7/5/12 called and asked the reason for selling. Mr. Jonas Taylor replied, they were selling because the were considering having a third child and that they needed room for another car-seat. I then let him know my brother would be arranging a test drive as he lived closer and we were preparing to go on vacation,
7/5 My brother test drove it, received the same answer as to the reason for sale, and he asked if it had ever been wrecked. Jonas told him it was never wrecked. My brother called and let me know what Mr. Taylor had told him and that he was really nice and that it was a really nice car and that it drove perfectly. He also said that Mr. Taylor was really picky about the car. He said that he would offer him $15,000.
which was accepted. He also kept it spotless in the garage.
The next week we met Jonas and Kimberly Taylor in Champaign to do the paperwork. We didn't drive it because I trusted my brother and we 2 daughter who drive Honda and our son-law who drives a Honda Civic which we had driven.
My Husband Bob noticed on the day we bought from Jonas Taylor that the front license plate was missing and inquired as to why they had not put a license plate on the front. Mr. Taylor said that he and his wife thought it looked better with out it. He that asked about service record we could look over. He was told that their "guy" did their service work. Oil changes and such.
7/13/12 Paperwork and Money transfer were completed by State Farm Bank and CEFCU. Signed paperwork at CEFCU and went to pick up the car. Noticed the ride being a little rough but there was no squeaking and I thought that the tires might be a little air.
7/14/12 My husband checked the air pressure and it was low and another was way to high. Thought the problem was solved.
Started hearing a squeaking noise which has continued to be more and more noticeable.
Checked with the Secretary of State and found out that a front plate is required. As result my husband had to drill holes to affix the license plate to the front. Took the car to Neal Tire to have the oil changed and check out the squeak. Were told it needed new front tires and struts which would cost about a $1000.00. And was told that the car was not safe to drive.
Called Mr. Taylor to if the tires were original because we had the warranty on the tires. He then told us they'd replaced them with high quality used tires a couple months earlier. Told him it also needed new struts and asked if the car had been wrecked. He said not while he had owned it. I then asked it had been wrecked before they had owned it. He said not as far as he knew.
So thinking that it hadn't been wrecked we took to Honda of Illinois in Springfield. Honda then told us that they ordered new struts and then they told us to put tires on the car first.
So then we took the car to Neal Tire in Lincoln to have new tires put on the front.
Honda the put on the new struts. When my husband went to pick up the car after replacing the struts he was informed that it had been wrecked. One strut on the driver side had been replaced previously not by Honda and so they could not correctly align the front. Honda said that we could not have known, they did not know until they were doing the work. Nothing came up when Honda ran the VIN #. Recommended taking the car to body shop. Also said that the warranty on the suspension or front end was no longer valid. They did replace the shocks without charge.
The then told my husband they thought we were stuck with the car because used cars are sold "as is"
Took the car to Thompson's Auto body in Lincoln Illinois to make an appointment. He was told he was not able to repair the front end. He was told at the body shop the Front bumper had been replaced because of the way it fit together. Also said that they noticed the front windshield had been replaced because the noticed touch up paint around the frame.
At Thompson's Auto Body they showed us pictures of the under body of the car and said the don't do that type of work and suggested taking it to a mechanic. He then greased it and the squeak did stop. Appointment was then made a Collision Concepts to replace the engine cradle and they then did an diagnostic on the car and then told us the engine cradle will cost over a $1,144.00 to replace and the will need a front end alignment. They told us that the car had definitely been wrecked and repaired shoddily and the engine and parts had been put together with zip ties. Diagnostic test $104.00 showed a crushed sub frame (engine cradle). Estimated cost of alignment $70.00.
8/13/12 Trip to Charleston, Illinois started hearing a noise. Much worse on ride home. Rear Passenger side needed more air.
8/14/12 wondered if part of the noise was the Engine Cradle. Will probably need new rear tires. Afraid to drive the car out of town until Engine Cradle is fixed.