Cloninger Ford of Hickory

Where to start. My son had a Subaru Wilderness that he wanted to trade for a WRX on their lot. His Wilderness was a couple years newer, but he needed lower payments My son had a Subaru Wilderness that he wanted to trade for a WRX on their lot. His Wilderness was a couple years newer, but he needed lower payments. He found this WRX at Cloninger and drove over 4 hours to get there. He looked at it, liked it, then went back and forth with the salesman, Tyler for the better part of half a day. After a deal? was reached, he finds out there is a 3k fee tacked on for a full inspection of the WRX. (Shouldn't that have been done before they put the car on the lot??) Son talked him down to 2k for this ridiculous fee. And guess what, after getting the car on the road it shook all the way home. He thought it needed alignment so he took it to the local garage the next day. After an alignment and it still shaking, they put it on the rack and looked under it, only to find ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE BENT! He had to put it in the shop and buy 4 new wheels, all because he chose to believe they did an honest inspection, and that the car was in good condition. But by this time, he couldn't prove that the wheel issue didn't happen on his way home. How convenient. All of our family have purchased vehicles, but locally where we knew the businesses. And I know, at least around here, any reputable dealership would not charge for some "inspection" they obviously didn't do or blatantly lied about, and watch someone drive off in a car with their name and reputation on it, knowing the wheels were Trash. In all fairness he should be compensated for something, if not all, of the wheels he HAD to purchase due to their coverup, or reimbursed the "inspection" fee that was handed to them for absolutely NOTHING. I KNOW there is someone, or people there that KNEW those wheels were bent, yet sold it to him anyway, I guess getting by with it due to signing a "buy as is" waiver? What a joke you people are. What liars! Being belittled by the salesman because he wanted a 2nd opinion, or because he called his insurance agent....... he was told by his salesman that "he was old enough to make his own choices". Salesman tried to get his fiancé involved in this bullying but she put a stop to it. How rude! Communication with this dealership is poor. It seems if you need help after the fact, they are slow to answer your calls or call you back. The deal is done, so are you. These people honed in on someone who they could tell was green in making a deal. Like asking a fox to guard the chicken coop. At least there was entertainment as a couple employees dressed like frat boys put each other in headlocks and carried on. Real professional guys! Overall, this has been a horrible experience for him. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have told him to just forget it when he called for help/advice. This is a learning experience and will hopefully help him in the future to tell people like the salesman, Tyler, what he can do with his car when he is rude and condescending to people. Still got your sell though didn't ya! We will contact the BBB now. Knowing he lived so far away and being so young and them getting the 47k Subaru Wilderness, they swooped right in, easy prey. **UPDATE** I am editing my review from just yesterday. The additional complaints were about not receiving the registration for the vehicle and feeling like getting the runaround basically from this dealership trying to find out if paperwork was left there, was something left out, did he need to do something else, etc. The registration arrived in the mail just today, a couple months later. Thank you. More

Was very good experience the general manager and salesman was the best. Salesman explained every option on the truck. was the best. Salesman explained every option on the truck. More

Ashley was Great! ! But the rest of the ordeal was very painful. I was given a quote of almost $7000.00 to repair my 2019 F150 and was boastfully told that no one else ! But the rest of the ordeal was very painful. I was given a quote of almost $7000.00 to repair my 2019 F150 and was boastfully told that no one else would touch it (which was not true). They gave me a quote that disappeared on my email and when I asked them for a copy (which I paid for they could not give to me in writing). I was told by the service manager that they would refund my payment for the quote, but they would have to send it by check (which I am still waiting on. LOL). Not sure why they could not just give me credit on my discover because that's how I paid for it. I even had a salesperson that contacted me before I even got the quote back asking if I wanted to trade. I was able to get my repairs for a fraction of their quoted price so needless to say I WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. More

Jon took great care of me from start to finish. Went over all services included and made sure I was taken care of while waiting. Will definitely bring my other truck to Jon when service time arriv Went over all services included and made sure I was taken care of while waiting. Will definitely bring my other truck to Jon when service time arrives. More

Service for my Taurus on 4/19/23. My service tech was Melanie Ware, and she was excellent. She kept me informed every step of the way. Had the engine oil, filter, air filter, and c My service tech was Melanie Ware, and she was excellent. She kept me informed every step of the way. Had the engine oil, filter, air filter, and cabin filter replaced. I also had my windshield washer mother replaced. Melanie was courteous, professional, and considerate. She will be my service tech for all work done at Cloninger Ford. I would recommend her as the best service tech they have. Christine Palmer More

I was amazed that Jonathon found the part to repair my seventeen year old Mercury. Cloninger Ford provided prompt professional service. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. seventeen year old Mercury. Cloninger Ford provided prompt professional service. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. More

I was dissatisfied that the price that was advertised online went up by 6000$ due to dealer prep additional costs which don't add up after requesting service records. I was also charged for an exterior/ online went up by 6000$ due to dealer prep additional costs which don't add up after requesting service records. I was also charged for an exterior/interior protection plan that was never put on my vehicle. My vehicle only came with 1 key fob and I feel like that should have been fixed. My 2 front tires although having good tread depth were worn unevenly all the way around and can be felt when driving, The tires were below recommended Psi which more than likely led to the abnormal wear. Another problem that I have is after selecting a payment I would be happy with No one would tell me what the final sale price was. My salesman told me Finance will go over it with me and Finance kept telling me lets get through this part first until we were finally done, I could have been more demanding I guess. More

The staff was very informative, kind, understanding of our situation, service was quick and they worked quickly. We were travelers and they went above and beyond our expectations to get us back on the roa our situation, service was quick and they worked quickly. We were travelers and they went above and beyond our expectations to get us back on the road again. More

I had a very specific requirement for my new ford f150. I wanted some things but not others. They helped me order the exact truck that I wanted. I git everything that I wanted and didn't have to ay for any I wanted some things but not others. They helped me order the exact truck that I wanted. I git everything that I wanted and didn't have to ay for anything that I didn't want. They also included a free warranty upgrade to lifetime on the engine and power train at no charge. So I got more truck for my money that could from any other dealers lot and actually at a better price than a used truck. I would never buy another truck from any other dealer. My delivery promise date was 90 days but my truck arrived in 60 days. Ford set me a text at every step in the process through the factory and after my truck arrived I had a virtual facetime meeting with ford from inside my truck and they went over in detail my specific build. More

Worked with my extended warranty to get me the best deal possible. Service people were great. Worked with me on my bill due to medical emergency. Repair seems to have corrected the issue we were having. possible. Service people were great. Worked with me on my bill due to medical emergency. Repair seems to have corrected the issue we were having. More