NHTSA complaint #11674109

Owner complaint summary

From the moment I drove off the lot, I encountered problems. The battery light came on immediately, requiring a replacement within weeks. I returned to the original CarMax location for this service. However, this was only the beginning. Over time, I discovered the following: The driver seatbelt was not functioning properly The right rear passenger seatbelt buckle was completely missing The filters were filthy and had not been cleaned or replaced in well over a year, according to a trusted mechanic The engine may now require replacement at just 38,000 miles When I called CarMax to report the missing seatbelt buckle, I was incorrectly told that my vehicle was not under warranty. This was untrue — I was well within the warranty period at the time. Despite this, I was ignored, and the safety concern received no follow-up or correction. This points to either a falsified or negligent vehicle inspection at the time of sale. Your "125+ point inspection" failed to catch multiple clear safety hazards and wear issues — or worse, they were deliberately overlooked. What’s most disturbing is that I only discovered the missing seatbelt after my sister drove the vehicle with my [XXX] and [XXX] nephews in the backseat. One child had to sit in the middle because the rear right buckle was completely missing. That realization — that I unknowingly placed children at risk in a vehicle that your team labeled "safe" — is devastating. Now I’m being told that the engine may be failing — and it hasn’t even hit 40,000 miles. I was recently asked by the Southlake service team to provide oil change records, which I am willing to share. But let’s be clear: An oil change receipt does not explain why a newer engine is failing at this mileage — unless something much deeper is wrong. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)