Dealership allegedly tries to take advantage of an elderly car owner by claiming their barely driven Acura needed a new transmission

A car dealership allegedly attempted to significantly lower its purchase offer on a 2016 Acura by claiming the vehicle needed a new transmission, despite the car having only around 4,800 miles on the odometer. The claim was brought to public attention by a TikTok content creator named Thomas, who goes by the handle @carsrme, and the video has since drawn widespread attention online.

Thomas said in the TikTok video that the Acura had been owned by an elderly person who rarely drove it. According to him, the previous owner appeared to have spent more money on routine maintenance, including brakes, tires, a timing belt, and coolant service, than on actually putting miles on the car. The video shows a close-up of the car’s door jamb, where a sticker indicates “11/16” for the manufacture date, confirming the car is a “2016” model. 

In the video, Thomas described the dealership’s offer as initially strong at $17,000, but said that figure dropped to around $9,000 after the dealership claimed the car needed a new transmission, a difference of approximately $8,000. He called the move “crazy,” and described the car as “literally brand new,” pointing to unused original floor mats still in their plastic wrapping and a sticker still attached to the rear of the vehicle as evidence of its near-untouched condition.

Thomas isn’t convinced that the car needs a new transmission 

Thomas said he does not believe the transmission actually needs to be replaced. In his view, the car was driven so infrequently that the transmission control module may simply need to be recalibrated. “I think the transmission just [needs to] recalibrate and it’ll be good to go,” he said in the video. 

His stated plan was to reflash the transmission and then sell the vehicle to Carvana instead, where he expected to receive a better offer. This is also not the first time a customer has clashed with a car dealership over a disputed claim about a vehicle.

According to AAA Club Alliance, a transmission does not typically fail without warning signs. The organization notes that common indicators of transmission trouble include jerking, hesitation, or difficulty shifting gears, a slipping sensation where the engine revs but the car does not accelerate properly, and unusual sounds such as whining, humming, or grinding while the car is moving, reversing, or in neutral. 

Fluid leaks, transmission fluid is typically red or pink, though it can also be green, yellow, or purple, are also considered a warning sign, according to AAA. The organization also notes that transmission problems are largely preventable with regular maintenance, including fluid changes every 30,000 to 60,000 miles depending on the manufacturer’s specifications, and that owners should avoid conditions like heavy towing and prolonged idling.

It is worth noting, however, that very low mileage does not automatically mean a car is in good condition. According to Autotrader, a car that has spent a significant amount of time sitting unused can develop its own set of problems unrelated to the odometer reading. 

Batteries can lose charge within weeks of inactivity, fluids can deteriorate over months, moving parts can seize, and tires should typically be replaced every five to six years, regardless of tread depth, due to rubber degradation with age. How a buyer is treated at a dealership can vary widely, as one man’s experience of walking into a dealership to buy a luxury car showed just how differently customers can be received depending on first impressions.

Autotrader also points out that some maintenance items are time-based rather than mileage-based, meaning a new owner could potentially inherit a backlog of overdue service. They also note that odometer fraud is more common than many buyers realize, with an estimated 450,000 vehicles sold each year reportedly having falsified readings, though there is no indication in this case that odometer fraud is suspected.

One of the commenters in the video wrote, “I guarantee they’d turn around and sell it for almost new price, if not a little more.” Another pushed back on the reflash idea specifically, writing: “Re-flashing a transmission is done when you REPLACE the transmission. Re-flashing will do nothing. Change the fluid, change it again after driving 20 miles and call it a day. If it’s still having issues, it probably will need a transmission, but a reflash is just comical.” A third commenter suggested, “Sell it to Carmax and set it for pickup. You’ll be set.”