Lakeland Toyota

I went to Lakeland Toyota to purchase a vehicle. I went out on the lot to look at some vehicles that I had in mind to purchase when finally someone had the time to come over and help me and went out to the lot to purchase information of the vehicles I chose. He then came back in to give to the lead guy in the office, who then tried to look up the vehicles online and realized that they were not even in the system to be sold. So he offered me to go and look at a 2002 Toyota Camry that he said would be a great car for me and it had a sunroof and navigation system and everything. So I did go take a look at the car and he only allowed me to drive it around the lot, never on the road. I thought I really liked the car and that I was really getting a good deal, only to learn he just wanted to sell me something that he didn't want to be bothered with anymore. Then he never ran my credit or specified requiring that much information, just that $1200 down payment and a job number. I just thought that was a rush deal.

I learned through a Carfax that the car has been wrecked in the front and is having front end problems. I noticed a lot of issues after I was able to take it off the lot and the deal had been done. I brought the car back the same day of purchase to point out all the damage I found. The dealership stated at that time to bring it back and he would get his technicians to take care of it, only to get there and be told that it wouldn't be fixed and it was normal wear and tear and it wouldn't kill me.

They said I had a 1000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty or 30 days, which ever comes first, but they have not honored that at all. They held my car for 6 hours and didn't do anything after saying they would. They assured me that my car was fine. But I took my car to Tires Plus to get a diagnostic only to learn that the things that I complained to them about were wrong with the car and shouldn't be like that and it's going to cost me over $1400 to fix. I've been scammed out of my hard earned money to only have no one who's concerned to help me and this vehicle cost me $12,342.72. Wow, they got over on me big time. Now, I'm stuck and can't get my money back and come up with another $1200 to get me another car. I'm so upset, but please nobody else should go to those people because they are dishonest people. How can they do this to women when most of them are married and have daughters? It's a shame.

I needed to add to my original complaint about buying a vehicle at Lakeland Toyota. They could not find the keys to the truck (2003 Explorer Sport-Trac). I waited and waited wondering what was going on. Finally, I was told they could not find the keys. When I got the keys; I received only 1-key with no reasoning for it. Not knowing it was a key with a chip in it and it had to be programmed, I figured okay.

I'll just get another key made. Much to my surprise, these keys cost a fortune to get cut and programmed and you have to go to dealer to get one made. I was not even offered the cost to purchase another key or possibly Lakeland would offer to get another key for me. Slim chance! "Beware of Lakeland" I haven't had a 2nd. Key made as I am sending this. I dread to find out the cost! Please think twice before you make a purchase here. Sad, but true, I have paid more for this vehicle that the average 2003 with over 100,000 miles.

I went to look at and possibly buy a 2001 or 2004 Ford Explorer (Sport-Trac). I got there and was given a salesman who they said was one of the people I chatted with online. I looked at the 2004 and it was torn up (in bad shape). I've seen a 2003, which I don't think they knew was even on the lot. It was in good shape. I took it for a ride and it was fine as far as I could tell. I traded my car in and had a credit of $688.00 that was applied to a pre-delivery service fee that they got away with.

Driving car home in the evening, the inside dome light doesn't work along with top console lights, cruise control, windshield washers and back cab light with back-up light. I think they did not service the truck, except to wash it. They certainly did not do anything to collect a pre-delivery service fee. I called the salesman and told him about everything. I asked him if he could help me out with the bill, maybe split the cost. I went and got prices for all the broken parts. Cost $641. I faxed the bill to the dealer and was told prices were way too high, but they could send me $100. Truck had to go through an Electronic Computer analysis just to fix the cruise control. New total with labor cost $790.00. Stay away from these guys. They will sell you anything and not even blink an eye. Did I get a deal? ** no!

I was yelled at by a used car salesman. The dealership ran an ad in The Ledger for 50% off MSRP on used inventory. The salesman and manager claimed MSRP on a 2005 Toyota Corolla was $17,900. In reality, it is about $15,000. One way or another, the salesman had no right to start yelling.

Originally, we were turned down on buying a car from Lakeland Toyota. Poor credit, I guess. Then a few weeks later, we got a call from them again from a person stating he was the manager and that looking over our application, we were definitely approved to get a car. All we had to do was come back. We told him that we did not want to make another trip there only to be turned down again. The so-called manager stated we had already been approved and we would be driving off with a new car the day we come in. All we had to do was just sign the papers. I guess we were fools to believe all his lies.

I purchased a new vehicle on 7/9/10 at that time my trade in was signed over to them. As of 07/26/10, the trade in vehicle had not been payed off. The trade in vehicle although is listed for sale on their lot. I had to make a payment to insure my credit would not be effected (payment was 2 days late). I have tried contacting the dealership and have received no response. I sent a message via there contact page received a call from manager as he thought I was a potential sale. I made it clear in my message I was inquiring about status of my payoff. When I spoke to this manager and explained what I had sent message about I was blown off and told he would notify someone about my question. I would not do business with this dealership. I am stuck in a bad spot right now and am not getting any answers from Lakeland Toyota.

We bought a Toyota 4Runner 2003 model. When we saw it, it was late at night. The dealer told us to bring back the vehicle next day to be detailed. When I took it back to get it clean, they gave us a rental car and we left the 4Runner with the dealer for one day. The next day, we picked up the vehicle and saw smaller tires on the vehicle. I asked Toyota "What happened to the tires?" Toyota said, "The previous owner got the tires custom-made and request it back." I said "That's not the way I bought the vehicle." Then Toyota said, "They cannot give some thing that's not theirs." They said, "They put the original wheel back on the vehicle."

One day, when driving my kids to school, the brakes will not stop. I had to put the van in neutral and step hard on the brakes. When I called Toyota, they fix the problem, when talking to the manager he said nothing was wrong with the vehicle after they had fix the problem. After six months when the tire was changed, the right front tire blew out. We called Toyota, they sent a flatbed to pick the vehicle, to bring it back to the dealer to check for damage. We found out the four tires and the spare was cracked and dry rot and that's what caused it to blow out.

We could not trust Toyota dealership in Lakeland. We went to Tire Plus and bought new tires for around $760.00 and we payed the towing company around $180.00. This was unfair because the expense came out from our pocket. I will never buy another vehicle from Toyota again.

My husband and I went to Lakeland Toyota and found an 06 Expedition. We really liked the vehicle, but we had a few problems with financing. We kept in touch with the salesman and finally worked everything out. During the time we were waiting to hear from the salesman that everything was a go. I went on-line to see if the vehicle was on there so I could show a co-worker. The vehicle price on the internet showed as an internet special for like $6,000 less than what I was in the process of buying it for.

When I called Lakeland Toyota about this they told me that was an error on the advertising company's part. They said that the company they were using was making errors like this pretty regular and that they were in the process of switching companies. I complained about this and spoke with a couple of different people about it. They all told me they couldn't do anything for me. They couldn't take that kind of loss on the vehicle. I asked around work to see if anyone had every had this type of thing happen and what to do, but know one really new. They just new it wasn't right. I was out on break today and a lady I don't see much was out there telling a very similar story that happened to her and her husband and she told me to contact consumer affairs about a bait and switch so I figured I give it a try.

I've had the vehicle for 3 months now so I don't know if it's to late, but I didn't know where to go prior to this. They didn't offer anything for the mistake made. Once everything was said and done. I drove the car home to realize that I only had one key. No key fobs no second key and the keyless entry on the side of the door didn't have a pin. I went to ford to have a second key made and they reimbursed me for that eventually, but I had to buy the key fob and I'll have to pay to get the keyless entry on the door working. I found out shortly aftet purchasing the truck that the 4x4 was broke and I had to take it to Bartow Ford to have it fixed. Toyota suggested I take it to them instead of bringing it to Toyota. The truck has been out of alignment since I bought it, but I guess that was my fault for not catching it sooner. Honestly, I should have know from the get go this was not meant to be, but I ended up with it anyway. I am just still very unhappy with the whole experience and I'm very upset that about the whole thing.