Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order on Friday against a Springfield car dealership for allegedly marketing vehicles as having lower mileage than they actually did.
The Excel Auto Group LLC allegedly advertised, marketed and sold motor vehicles that had higher mileage than was expressed in marketing materials. The company allegedly altered the odometers of vehicles to back up its claims.
The temporary restraining order issued by Judge Jason Brown against Excel prohibits the company from advertising, transferring, hiding or selling motor vehicles, altering the mileage reading and/or odometer reading of a motor vehicle, violating the state's consumer protection laws, and disposing of any documents connected to the company's sale or advertisement of motor vehicles.
"Consumers should be able to trust that a car they purchase has the correct mileage," Koster said. "I want to continue to assure consumers that this office will be aggressive in going after those who engage in this illegal behavior."
In two alleged instances, Excel advertised a 2002 Toyota Sequoia for sale as having 119,600 miles when its actual mileage was over 200,000.