Buying a car is a major investment, and you expect dealerships to be honest about warranties and coverage. Unfortunately, warranty fraud is a common problem in auto sales. Some dealerships misrepresent warranty terms, sell fake extended warranties, or refuse to honor legitimate claims. If you suspect dealership warranty fraud, it’s crucial to take action to protect your finances and credit.

What Is Warranty Fraud?

Warranty fraud occurs when a dealership misleads a consumer about the coverage or validity of a vehicle warranty. Common examples include:

  • Selling a vehicle as “certified pre-owned” without meeting certification standards

  • Charging for extended warranties that do not exist

  • Refusing to honor promised warranty repairs

  • Concealing that the warranty is void due to prior accidents or title issues

This type of fraud can lead to unexpected expenses and may even affect your ability to pay your car loan, resulting in negative marks on your credit report.

Steps to File a Complaint Against a Dealership

  1. Review your paperwork – Collect your sales contract, warranty documents, and any advertisements or verbal promises made by the dealership.

  2. Contact the dealership – Attempt to resolve the issue directly. If they refuse to cooperate, escalate further.

  3. File a complaint with state agencies – Your state’s consumer protection office or attorney general’s office often handles auto fraud complaints.

  4. Report to federal agencies – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accepts complaints about deceptive dealership practices.

  5. Seek legal help – If fraud causes financial harm or credit report errors, consult credit disputes lawyers, a credit repair attorney, or an id theft attorney to pursue legal remedies.

How Warranty Fraud Impacts Your Credit

Unexpected bills or payments for a useless warranty can lead to late car loan payments, which are quickly reported to credit report companies, credit reporting companies, and credit report agencies, damaging your credit score.

If your credit report contains errors, you may need to send a credit dispute letter or hire attorneys specializing in credit disputes to ensure credit reporting agencies correct inaccuracies.

How Sue Your Credit Report Can Help

At Sue Your Credit Report, we understand that dealership fraud often leads to bigger financial problems, including damaged credit reports and identity theft risks. Our team of credit repair lawyers, credit disputes attorneys, and id theft attorneys help consumers fight fraudulent dealerships and work with credit report agencies to correct mistakes.

Whether you need a credit lawyer to dispute credit report company errors or an id theft attorney because you suspect misuse of your information, our team is here to protect your financial future.

Call to Action

If you have experienced dealership warranty fraud, don’t wait until the damage worsens. Contact Sue Your Credit Report today for a free consultation. We can help you file complaints, dispute credit report errors, and take action against dealerships or credit reporting companies that have harmed you.

FAQ

Can I sue a dealership for warranty fraud?
Yes. If the dealership knowingly misled you, you may sue for fraud, misrepresentation, or breach of contract.

What if warranty fraud caused credit report errors?
You have the right to dispute inaccuracies. If credit reporting agencies fail to fix them, a credit repair attorney or credit disputes lawyer can take legal action on your behalf.

Is filing a complaint enough?
Filing a complaint is only the first step. Working with credit disputes lawyers, credit repair lawyers, or a credit attorney may be necessary if the dealership refuses to make things right.

Categorized in:

Finance & Insurance,

Last Update: October 9, 2025