Elgintoyota Avis 3

We have purchased a used 2025 Toyota Camry from Elgin Toyota in Illinois on 2/28/2026.
On Friday, March 6, 2026, at approximately 11:50 AM, my husband, Timothy Bradac, left his place of employment (Amazon in Oak Creek). While traveling southbound on the interstate at highway speed, the rear bumper cover suddenly detached from the vehicle and flew off.
He safely pulled off the interstate at approximately 12:26 PM and called me in a panic to explain what had happened. I immediately asked if he had struck any road debris or run over anything while driving. He confirmed that he had not.
This occurred after the Highway 11 exit in Racine and before any Kenosha exits on the interstate. When Tim was still driving, he saw in his rear view mirror a semi-truck had run over the bumper cover, making it unsafe for him to retrieve any remaining pieces from the roadway.
I instructed him to return home immediately and park the vehicle safely under our carport.
Following this incident, I contacted two separate body shops to obtain repair estimates. Both shops expressed significant concern and stated they had never seen a bumper cover simply detach from a vehicle under normal driving conditions—especially on a recently purchased vehicle that should have been inspected prior to sale. One body shop owner specifically advised that we contact the dealership immediately, as this type of issue should not occur if the vehicle had been properly inspected.
Frankly, I am extremely concerned and alarmed by this situation. We had been in possession of the vehicle for less than one week. If this had occurred during heavy traffic or rush hour, the detached bumper could have caused a serious accident or injury to other drivers on the interstate.
For documentation purposes, I do have Ring camera footage showing the 2024 Toyota Camry leaving our home on the morning of March 6, 2026, at 6:19 AM with the bumper cover intact. Additional footage may also be available from Amazon in Oak Creek showing Timothy Bradac leaving work at approximately 11:50 AM with the bumper still attached. Interstate traffic cameras may also show the bumper detaching from the vehicle and being struck by a semi-truck at approximately 12:20 PM between the Highway 11 exit in Racine and the Kenosha exits.
Given the seriousness of this situation, I would like answers regarding how this could occur on a recently purchased vehicle that was represented as inspected and safe to drive.
I contacted the Dealer on Sunday 3/8/2026 via email and was told to bring in the vehicle for inspection. Tim and Jenna Bradac dropped off the vehicle at Elgin Toyota for inspection on 3/11/2026. We were given a free rental which I am grateful for.
On 3/12/2026, service representative, Ron, who was fantastic, called me and said since the pre inspection was done, they would not pay for fixing this vehicle. I asked for the Manager to call me. I received a call from Manager, Joe Ballin, who said he was not liable. I explained that this is unacceptable that a critical safety component—the rear bumper—completely detached from the vehicle only six days after purchase, despite your claims that it was inspected and “fine.” This clearly demonstrates a preexisting defect and constitutes a breach of the implied warranty of merchantability under both Illinois and Wisconsin law. A vehicle sold in such a condition is unsafe for operation, placing both the driver and the public at significant risk. Any inspection report or verbal assurances do not absolve the dealership of liability for selling a defective vehicle. I requested for them to cover the charges associated, and Joe denied this request.

This place is one to avoid. It began with a phone call to check on the Edmund's advertised price. I was assured it was the total, out-the-door, price (plus tax, title and tags, of course).

When I got there, the sales manager said the people answering the phones aren't supposed to discuss price -- and they began looking for more money.

That was solved quickly -- but only after I agreed to pay an extra $1500 for what so far appears to be a useless "certified used" insurance policy (it seems to cover little or nothing that is likely to be a problem).

Despite the quick negotiation, it took THREE HOURS to get out the door due to endless delays with no explanation. Since I went when dealers have few cars to sell and few customers in the dealership in mid-week, this is particularly annoying. Had I been smarter, I would have walked out.

After buying the car we noticed countless small defects which a better dealer would have repaired. Most dealers selling a $25,000+ late model used car take time, as a minimum, to detail the car. Good dealers make sure everything is in great condition. The dealer had this car for several weeks -- yet it was neither detailed nor reconditioned.

After arriving home, I found that the official paperwork had the wrong odometer reading -- one different from the actual and different from the sales contract. It took a week to resolve this and since the error went to Carfax, it still causes problems.

Now, just days short of two months later, the title has not been processed, so no plates are available. Wisconsin processes titles in 3 days online or two weeks by mail. The only explanation is the title was never transferred.

When I called Elgin Toyota after a month, no one was available -- even after the operator came back on several times to ask who I was trying to reach (anyone in the finance department). They promised to have a finance officer call -- he never did.

There are many dealers and even with low inventory, many cars to buy or order. Avoid this one and save yourself a lot of trouble.

My experience was not good or positive. The attempt to manipulate and harass a customer into purchasing is disgusting, not to mention disrespecting my time and wishes. Add the aggressive Toyota Finance phone calls I received after leaving this dealership, and then a day later, you raise the price of the vehicle a full $1,000. Which got me thinking, and so I looked back, and sure enough, this is the same dealership that misleads me about the same vehicle a week before for less and then tells me the vehicle was sold. Then to find that car's actual worth is only $8640 roughly against 2600 vehicle comparisons. Run your business however you want, but I wasn't stupid to fall for your divisive tactics and trying to goat a customer into buying something they didn't want and then repeatedly ask me about time and explicitly expressed how little I had and what my intent was visiting that day. Refusal to provide a customer with a complete and detailed price breakdown is an immediate red flag. Their BBB response, "Sorry you didn't have the experience you expected. This feedback will be shared with senior management." Nothing came from it, and they continued with their practices. There is no accountability for predatory dealerships to operate, and it is miserable.