Vehicle Owner Exposes Unauthorized Use by Naperville Dealership

UPDATE: A shocking revelation has emerged from Naperville, Illinois, where a vehicle owner discovered that a dealership employee had been driving his SUV for unauthorized personal use. Jonathan Gregory, while overseas, monitored his vehicle’s GPS app and uncovered unauthorized trips that raised serious concerns about trust and integrity at Fair Oaks Ford.

Gregory took his Ford Explorer to Fair Oaks Ford for repairs, expecting it to be in safe hands. However, while in Germany, he noticed suspicious activity. “I left my car in the trust of the dealership… and here I am in Germany and my car is being driven back and forth to a neighborhood I don’t know,” he stated, expressing his disbelief.

After noticing an extra 100 miles on his vehicle during its first visit, Gregory began documenting the mileage. He returned the following weekend, capturing his odometer reading at 8,302 miles. To his horror, he later saw that the mileage surged to 8,440 miles—an increase of 140 miles—all while the SUV was undergoing service.

“Why is my car in Berwyn? That’s nowhere near the dealer,” Gregory exclaimed as he viewed daily screenshots from the app showing his car’s movements. Berwyn is approximately 25 miles away from the dealership in Naperville, raising red flags about the dealership’s practices.

Initially, Gregory was told that a technician needed to drive the vehicle to diagnose a noisy sunroof. However, he found the explanation insufficient. “The driving was excessive,” he insisted. He also cited I-PASS reports that pinpointed the vehicle’s toll road usage during the unauthorized trips.

In response to the incident, Gregory filed a report with the Illinois Attorney General and pressed the dealership for resolution. His request to exit the lease was denied, but Fair Oaks Ford offered him a lifetime of free oil changes and maintenance, alongside waiving extra charges for mileage over 340 miles after the lease, according to a letter from the dealership’s attorney.

The dealership’s general manager emphasized that Fair Oaks Ford takes customer concerns seriously. “Our dealership has strict policies that prohibit employees from using customer vehicles for any unauthorized purpose,” he stated. Following the incident, the dealership identified the responsible employee and terminated their employment. They expressed regret over the situation, reaffirming their commitment to customer trust.

Gregory shared the emotional toll of the experience: “The two most expensive purchases people make in their life are their cars and their homes, and you don’t want either of them being used without your permission. It really just feels like a violation of trust.”

As news of this incident spreads, car owners are urged to utilize their vehicle manufacturer’s apps to track location and mileage. Even if an odometer photo is not taken beforehand, checking receipts for excessive mileage could signal unauthorized use. Consumers should also inquire about the necessity and extent of vehicle use during repairs.

This developing story highlights the critical need for transparency and accountability in automotive service, leaving many to question the trustworthiness of dealerships. Keep an eye on this situation as more details emerge and as Gregory continues to pursue justice for this breach of trust.