An Ohio woman who bought a car for her son and his fiancé claims that a Rockland used car dealer falsified the mileage and concealed the car’s previous use as a taxicab.
Sarah Joann Lindsey accused Rockland Motorsport of violating the federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, as well as state motor vehicle laws, in a complaint filed on Jan. 26 in U.S. District Court, White Plains.
Rockland Motorsport, of Suffern, “misrepresented the vehicle’s mileage and taxi history,” the complaint states, “to command a higher price for the vehicle than it otherwise would have been able to obtain.”
In 2024, Lindsey’s son and fiancé, who was 38 weeks pregnant, were looking for a safe and reliable car to buy before the birth of their daughter. Lindsey, of Warren, Ohio, found a 2015 Toyota RAV4 XLE on sale at Rockland Motorsport.
The car was allegedly advertised as having less than 92,000 miles and priced from $14,500 to $15,500.
Lindsey bought the car for $11,214, according to the complaint, and the bill of sale showed 91,839 miles.
Lindsey claims it had been driven at least 183,480 miles, was used primarily as a taxicab, and was worth one-third of the value of the same make, model and mileage of vehicles not used as taxis.
New York law requires car dealers to disclose the mileage, according to the complaint, and conspicuously reveal if a vehicle was previously used as a taxicab, police car, rental vehicle or driver education vehicle.
Allegedly, Rockland Motorsport did not disclose the actual mileage or previous use.
Lindsey accused Rockland Motorsport of violating the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act with intent to defraud; concealing the car’s use as a taxicab; deceptive or unfair business practices; fraud; and misrepresentation.
She is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
Rockland Motorsport’s conduct, she argues, “has the demonstrated potential to be repeated with other customers.”
