BELLEVILLE – A man claims the Auffenberg Dealer Group sold him a defective vehicle listed as a certified pre-owned vehicle.
Plaintiff Andrew Mettler filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Auffenberg Dealer Group, Inc., citing breach of contract.
According to the lawsuit, on July 22, 2022, Mettler purchased a 2019 4x4 Dodge Ram with 63,888 miles on it from Auffenberg Dealer Group for $41,990. The vehicle allegedly underwent a 125-point inspect and was sold as a certified pre-owned vehicle with a warranty of five years up to 75,000 miles.
Mettler claims that after he purchased the vehicle, numerous defects became known to him that should have been apparent to the defendant if the vehicle underwent a 125-point inspection. The vehicle allegedly had defects to the sunroof, engine, brakes, windows, tires and exhaust. Mettler alleges that while he's owned it, it has stopped on the road on two separate occasions, leaving him stranded.
The lawsuit states that the defendants deceptively listed the vehicle as in good and operating condition, claimed it had passed a 125-point inspection, and sold it to him as a certified pre-owned vehicle.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in the amount of $10,000 for the cost to repair the defects of the vehicle and $20,000 for attorneys fees. He is also seeking a sum in excess of $200,000 for punitive damages, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. He is represented in this case by attorney David M. Duree of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. in O'Fallon.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 23LA0157