Help Us Overcome Our Lemon Car Nightmare

The discovery:

Life sometimes throws curveballs, and our recent experience purchasing a mini van for our family has tested our resilience and determination.

Our story begins with the joyous arrival of our third child, a moment of pure love and happiness. As our family grew, so did our need for a larger vehicle. We therefore sold our SUV and with the proceeds from the sale and a loan, we set out to purchase a used minivan.

In May 2023, we found a 2007 Toyota Sienna for $15,000 at Auto450. The minivan turned out to be a lemon, fraught with mechanical and structural issues that have left us stranded.

The turning point:

The problems began shortly after the purchase. We had been informed about minor issues that needed immediate attention before the car hits the road. Issues that the dealership assured us could be resolved with a minimal investment. However, this seemingly minor setbacks snowballed into a financial nightmare. Multiple garages informed us of pilling up issues that costed over $5000 to repair.

Our troubles escalated when further damages happened to the minivan, including the control arm of the front left wheel breaking while we were driving, forcing us to visit once again a garage for comprehensive repairs. These repairs were estimated at above $5000, a considerable financial burden for our family. Moreover, mechanics couldn't guarantee the minivan's safety even after repairs, as more issues could emerge. They strongly discouraged further repairs, stating that the costs would exceed the vehicle's value, and it might still not be safe to drive.

Despite reaching out to the dealership for assistance, we were met with a cold response, stating that they bore no responsibility for issues arising beyond the initial 30-day period after purchase.

How you can help:

This story might seem mundane and recurring, but this ordeal has plunged us into a debt at a 22% interest rate that we were forced to take on to pay for all the unexpected repairs and eventually, to acquire another vehicle, having paid for the Toyota in cash from the sale of our previous vehicle. The debt grows larger every day, and we struggle to find a way out.

As we stand today, the minivan, which was meant to be our family's lifeline, has become a heavy burden costing us $25,000. We are unable to drive the Toyota Sienna due to safety concerns, and we are exploring avenues to hold the dealership accountable for our situation.

In the meantime, we're turning to the kindness and compassion of the community, in the hope that you can aid us with the cost of a safe and reliable vehicle for our family.

We aim to address this setback with dignity and perseverance, and your support would be a tremendous help.