Instant Autos and More AR 72417

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J&H Diesel Repair

Towards the end of October, I purchased an SUV from Instant Autos in Blytheville, Arkansas. At the time of purchase, I was informed the vehicle came with a 3,000-mile warranty covering major components such as the engine and transmission. I was assured that if any issues arose within that timeframe, they were very good about taking care of their customers. Approximately three weeks after purchase, the vehicle began shifting hard and shuddering. I immediately contacted Instant Autos and filed a warranty claim. I was instructed to take the vehicle to their corporate location in Brookland, Arkansas—about an hour from our home. While inconvenient, we complied. The vehicle was dropped off and returned the same day. I was told the transmission fluid had been changed and that they “usually start there.” I was unable to speak with the mechanic, as I was told he was unavailable due to a doctor’s appointment. Later that evening, the vehicle began shifting hard again. The following morning, transmission fluid was leaking in my garage, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. We had to trailer the vehicle back to Brookland and file another warranty claim. The second time, the vehicle remained at their shop for over a week. I called daily for updates. On the second day, I was told a new transmission had been ordered and was awaiting arrival. A few days later, I was told the transmission had arrived and was being installed. The following day, I was informed the vehicle was ready. When I arrived to pick up the vehicle and asked about the new transmission, the staff appeared confused and informed me that no transmission had been replaced. The paperwork I was handed stated: “Found no issues with the transmission. Tires could be causing a bad shift ratio.” No one could explain why I had been repeatedly told a new transmission was ordered and installed when it clearly was not. Again, I was unable to speak with the mechanic. My husband told me to leave, and to continue driving the vehicle until a warning light appeared and to call back at that point. On 10/12/25—after making only my second payment on this vehicle—the transmission completely locked up while driving on Interstate 55. I was able to pull onto the shoulder, but the vehicle would not come out of park and had to be towed off the interstate. I contacted Instant Autos immediately and was told the only option was to file yet another warranty claim. I agreed and was told someone would call me back after speaking with the mechanic. No call was returned. When my husband followed up, he was again told the mechanic was “out to lunch,” despite it being late afternoon. We still have not received a call back. This entire experience has been extremely frustrating and disappointing. If a warranty is offered, it should be honored honestly and communicated clearly. My husband and I are new business owners ourselves, and we understand that customers are not always right—but transparency, communication, and accountability matter. We have deliberately not worked on the vehicle ourselves to avoid jeopardizing the warranty, yet it appears the responsibility may still fall on us. I am sharing this review to document my experience and will update it if this situation is resolved appropriately. At this point, I strongly encourage Instant Autos to improve communication, follow through on warranty commitments, and ensure customers are given accurate and honest information.

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emma partridge

Instant Autos is by far the best place i’ve went through to get a car! They help you get into the best vehicles while still offering the best price! They are always willing to work with you & build such a great report with their customers! A special thank you to Bonnie for making my experience with you guys so great!

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Pablo Badillo

Instant autos is the absolute best car lot I have ever done business with, not to mention their saleswoman Sara Jackson was amazing when it came making my purchase! I strongly recommend anyone to choose instant autos when looking for a vehicle and make Sara your “GO TO” ! She made the whole process smooth and easy! Definitely will be back for future purchases!