Update 1/20/26 ! - vickivail67
Update 1/20/26 ! I found out that engine light that came on (due to the oxygen sensor) - right when Serpentini 'allowed' me to take the car home for the first time - was a direct connection to the problem with coolant leaking into the engine oil! Not only will I be protesting this dealership in the spring, but I am also in the process of suing Serpentini of North Olmsted! I will give everyone updates as this case progresses.
Beware of this place!!!! If you've had a bad experience at this place, please report them to the BBB, Attorney General's office, Federal Trade Commission, your lender, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau! I will be protesting outside of their dealership soon to warn other about their deceptive, unethical practices!!
I purchased a 2017 Ford Escape in Aug 2025 after a test drive. After signing the temp tags, my sales rep and I discussed taking the vehicle home that day.
I was then escorted to the office of Ben Yarger, Finance Director. After the introduction, the first thing I told Ben was "I do not want the extended warranty". Ben immediately began telling me, "You see, we bought down your rate from 20%. Either way, there's going to be no change to this payment (of $574). He repeated this several times as I explained I did not want the extended warranty. He would not take no for an answer. I kept telling him that something didn't seem right about making me take an extended warranty. So, I searched the internet using my cell phone. I read the results to Ben. "No, a car dealership cannot legally offer you a lower interest rate only if you agree to purchase an extended warranty. This practice, known as 'tying product to rate' is considered unethical and can be illegal. If a dealership tries to link the warranty to the rate, it's time to find another dealership". Shortly after reading that to Ben, he left for several minutes. I believe he went to the sales rep and serviceman to tell them not to give me the car.
When Ben returned, I told him that I found it hard to believe there was no rate lower than 20%. My credit was fair - not terrible. I believe he told me it was 632. I asked him several times to look at other banks for a lower rate. Finally, Ben found a much lower rate with my own bank. And Ben finally gave up on the extended warranty. This lowered my payment by over $200 per month. I signed all the paperwork and was escorted back to the sales rep.
The sales rep then told me, "I have good news and somewhat bad news! The bad news is you can't take the car today because it needs new tires. One of the tires has a nail in it and it's not safe to drive. We wouldn't want you to have a blowout on the freeway, or something." I was concerned with keeping it at a shop that I now believed to be dishonest. So I voiced my concerns to the sales rep and serviceman (since he was standing with her). I told them about the issue I had with Ben in the office. I repeatedly told both of them I was concerned he would tamper with the vehicle to make me regret not getting the extended warranty. They continued to tell me the car wasn't safe because of the tire. But it was safe for me and another person (who test drove the vehicle before me) to drive on the freeway? They insisted I could not take the car home. I even told them I would rather take the car and bring it back the next day. They refused.
I filed a complaint about this to the Office of the Attorney General before I even picked the car up. When I went to get the car, the sales rep whispered to me that she wants to 'get the xxxx out of this place' because of the way they treat people! I later learned she found another job.
When I took the car home, the engine light came on! It didn't go on when I took it for a test drive, yet it came on within 10 minutes of taking it home. I continued to inform Ryan Serpentini about my issues, yet he did NOTHING. And now, I NEED A NEW ENGINE. Talk about dealership retaliation! I'll see you in court!
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