Joe Martin

If you are standing in their showroom or lot right now reading this: this is your sign. Run. Get out of there and leave now! Warning to all buyers: shown clean CarFax, concealed severe structural damag reading this: this is your sign. Run. Get out of there and leave now! Warning to all buyers: shown clean CarFax, concealed severe structural damage report for 5 months! Engine light came on day 1. CarWise Gurnee (Elite Motors Inc.) showed me a CarFax with minor damage at the desk to justify $38,170 on a 2019 Toyota Tundra. They withheld my signed deal copies for 5 months despite my written requests from February through May. When the documents finally arrived on July 15, 2026, they included an Experian AutoCheck revealing severe structural damage, with my signature at the top margin of a standalone printout that had no disclosure text or signature block (see both reports side by side). Check engine light came on day one. I bought the truck at 73,031 miles; the light came on at 73,171, only 140 miles later. Day 2 revealed what I see as zero pre-sale inspection: when I brought it in, they simply turned off the engine light without making repairs and told me to wait 30 days before filing warranty claims, past the 15-day/500-mile Illinois warranty window. They also told me the factory filter wouldn't fit, it's a cone filter, and I discovered it was detached at an auto parts store I went to for a new cone filter just 2 blocks away right after I left the dealer. It had been rolling around in a dirty air box so long it also broke the wire screen on the air filter (see photos). I took my findings back to the dealer and nothing else was done about it. Two days later the light came on again with a Fuel Too Lean code, indicating an injector problem. They turned off the engine light again and told me to rely on the warranty if it came back. I viewed the truck at night in snow, and management repeatedly refused my requests to bring it into a lighted bay for inspection. Snow packed in the treads hid dry-rotted tires. Sold a warranty the truck could never use: A high lift or huge tires can void a warranty. This truck had both. Two red flags, ignored. That was no accident. Paid $4,590 for warranty, refunded only about $3,890. I've shelled out $5,321.83 in repairs thus far. Unsafe and forced $1,098 GPS add-on: I was told Wells Fargo required a $1,098 CarChief GPS device. Wells Fargo later told me it was not required. The unit sat unanchored about an inch from my left foot, next to the pedals, despite its own FCC label warning to keep it 20cm from people. Engine knock: On the last cold day of last year the engine developed a knock that goes away when warm. The dealer calls it an exhaust tick and says it is normal. It is loudest on the driver side, and Tundra owners and fan pages say this is a known timing chain tensioner problem. Fixing it means removing the whole front of the engine, and while you are there you might as well do the chains too. Illegal gag clause: The contract tried to ban negative reviews, which federal law (15 U.S.C. 45b) voids. That is part of why this review exists. Tax discrepancy: My Buyer's Order bills $3,102.88 in tax, but the state form reports $3,183.00. That is an $80.12 gap between the dealer's own documents, and tax filings are supposed to be accurate. Estimates so far for needed work, not yet done: $4,187.27 for fuel injectors and $10,080 for suspension replacement. Formal complaints filed with the Illinois Attorney General on Oct 22, 2026 and the FTC on Oct 24, 2026. Demanding full contract rescission. Prospective buyers: Run both CarFax and AutoCheck reports on-site, require all figures in writing, insist on indoor bay lighting, and get a third-party mechanic inspection. Advice to management: Never underestimate a customer with the time, financial resources, and legal backing to hold you fully accountable. I have all three, and I will see every process through to its conclusion. If this helped save you from a bad deal, please mark this review as "helpful" so other buyers can see it before signing paperwork! More

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Alex Grechanik – President, and Steve Podolny – CEO: We purchased a 2021 Toyota Sienna (Vin: TDYRKEC6MS032011) from CarWise Gurnee on Saturday, December 6. After taking the vehicle home, we disc CEO: We purchased a 2021 Toyota Sienna (Vin: TDYRKEC6MS032011) from CarWise Gurnee on Saturday, December 6. After taking the vehicle home, we discovered that the floor mats were missing, and this was never disclosed during the sales process. Since then, we have made multiple attempts to contact the dealership by phone, but we have not received any response. This lack of communication is disappointing and unprofessional. It is currently snow season in Illinois, and floor mats are essential for safely and properly using the vehicle. We are requesting that the dealership provide the standard floor mats that should have come with the car. This is a reasonable and expected part of the purchase, and we would like this matter resolved promptly. We purchased this vehicle in good faith, and we expect the same good faith from the dealership. We look forward to a timely response and a straightforward solution. More

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Recently purchased a vehicle from Elite Motors. The entire staff impressed me with their professionalism, expertise, and friendly demeanor. They were upfront, informative and there was absolutely n The entire staff impressed me with their professionalism, expertise, and friendly demeanor. They were upfront, informative and there was absolutely no pressure to make a purchase. I spent a week discussing the options and ended up closing a deal with them and bought Silverado 1500, and I am happy with my decision. More

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Michelle Schaps, Short and Sweet, Awesome Customer Service! 10/10 would come back for help ! Service! 10/10 would come back for help ! More

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I test drove a 2013 Honda Odyssey back in August. After the test drive, I put down a $1000 deposit on the condition that it pass an independent inspection. The salesman assured me it was a refundable After the test drive, I put down a $1000 deposit on the condition that it pass an independent inspection. The salesman assured me it was a refundable deposit. The inspection revealed some minor issues that should have been caught in the 150-point inspection they said they performed - loud squealing on ignition from the rusted tensioner assembly and a 15-degree misalignment. Not big things. I asked Elite motors if they would fix the issues before I purchase the car. They wanted to charge me $250. I said I didn't want to have hundreds of dollars in unexpected repairs before the car was off the lot. They offered to make the repairs for $225. I asked for my deposit back. At this point they ghosted me. I couldn't reach anyone for two days until finally the salesman texted back that his manager now says the deposit is non-refundable. I called repeatedly and couldn't get anyone on the phone. One salesman finally picked up - he seemed sympathetic but unable to help. He kept saying he would get more info and call back in 10 or 15 minutes but I would wait for hours to hear anything. I called repeatedly without success until another sales manager, Joseph, answered. He immediately started yelling at me and told me I could "take the f***ing car or lose my thousand dollars." He also said that Elite Motors only performs the minimum amount of repairs required by law and that he isn't obligated to fix those issues. After a few minutes of heated exchange, he hung up on me. I filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau. It took several weeks to resolve, during which time I received one call from someone at Elite Motors, who left a voicemail and never called back, while I made more than 100 calls trying to get someone on the phone to resolve the issue. They misrepresented the quality of the vehicle and the work they did on it. They lied about refunding my deposit. They made no real effort to communicate with me. They tried to steal my money. More

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customer service was awesome. Rob C helped us tremendously listened to our every request and found us a vehicle we're really happy with Rob C helped us tremendously listened to our every request and found us a vehicle we're really happy with More

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David D. was just the best! He helped me get the keep if my dreams!!! He’s also super cute too!!! was just the best! He helped me get the keep if my dreams!!! He’s also super cute too!!! More

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Rob is wonderful to work with and this is our 5th car that we have purchased from him and Elite! The best! And David made sure we were happy as well! that we have purchased from him and Elite! The best! And David made sure we were happy as well! More

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Rob C. was extremely helpful and great to have a buying experience with ask for Rob was extremely helpful and great to have a buying experience with ask for Rob More

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Rob Cissell and David D. were the two people I worked with. They were very straight forward and got my grandson who is a first time buyer into a vehicle he really likes. were the two people I worked with. They were very straight forward and got my grandson who is a first time buyer into a vehicle he really likes. More

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