Consumer Alert: Dearborn Driver Warns After Purchasing Broken SUV From Wholesaler
A Dearborn woman is sounding the alarm after she says the car she bought stopped in the middle of the road and needed multiple repairs she was not prepared for.
Bre'Anna Williams bought a Dodge Durango at the end of April. She believed she was buying it from a wholesaler related to a local dealership. But what she got is much different than what she prepared for.
Every morning, Bre'Anna Williams walks out her door, and the car she planned to drive is still sitting there. She does not feel safe taking it out.
She says the wholesaler told her there was only one thing wrong with the car.
"Now, when I purchased the car, they said the only thing that was wrong with the car was a transfer case," Williams said.
She was only given the title to the car, not any other paperwork.
As soon as she started driving it, the problems kept popping up.
"It turned off at the light, the turn signal stopped working, and the shift got stuck," Williams said.
Williams took it to get inspected. There were multiple problems.
"When I got it inspected, they said that it was going to cost me at least $5,000 to get everything fixed on the car, and that is more than what I put in," she said.
She needed help, so she asked the wholesaler and was not getting anywhere. She reached out to the dealership, having been told they were connected. She was not getting anywhere, so she reached out to ClickOnDetroit.
ClickOnDetroit called the dealership and the wholesaler. This situation is much deeper and more common than Williams.
The dealership is not responsible after the car is sold to a wholesaler. They mostly sell cars to wholesalers for parts, not for people to drive.
The wholesaler said he is not responsible once someone buys it.
"When you sit in here, how do you feel?" ClickOnDetroit asked Williams.
"Sad," Williams said.
"I have a full tank of gas, but sad. It is a lot of emotions."
A dealership expert tells ClickOnDetroit there has been an uptick in wholesale activity like this, and people like Williams get caught in the crosshairs.
That is why it is important, before buying, to always take the car to a certified mechanic.
Additionally, a local expert tells ClickOnDetroit that consumers should always ask whether the title is clean, rebuilt, or salvage, and, if possible, verify the mileage.
They should also make sure the wholesaler is licensed.
Never hand over money without the title.
"I got played. That is where the upset and embarrassment comes in," Williams said.
Sources: ClickOnDetroit (https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/05/15/the-shift-got-stuck-dearborn-driver-warns-about-used-suv-breaking-down-in-traffic-after-purchase/)