FTC Just Named 97 Dealerships Over Shady Car Advertising
Dealerships, Beware
Just over a week ago, we wrote about how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been cracking down on car dealerships across the nation. What's got the FTC so ticked off? Apparently, certain dealerships have been using dubious, borderline shady marketing and advertising tactics.
At the time we wrote the previous report, it was disclosed that the FTC had issued warning letters to 97 dealerships under FTC review. Now, it seems the FTC is being more deliberate about it and has actually published the list of all dealerships.
Just A Warning
It must be noted that these letters don't constitute an official citation against the dealerships; they are merely warnings. It basically means the FTC is letting these dealerships know they are aware of the "practices" and are watching them. Specifically, these dealerships may have engaged in one of the listed advertising practices that the FTC considers illegal, as written by the Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Christopher Muffarige.
The following are the illegal advertising activities as listed by the FTC:
- Advertised prices exclude mandatory fees or add-ons
- Promoting discounts that aren't available to most buyers
- Conditioning advertised pricing on dealer financing, and requiring extra purchasing not reflected in the ads
- Not disclosing required down payments
- Advertising vehicles that are unavailable or don't exist at the dealership.
The abovementioned illegal advertising encompasses all dealership materials, from printed materials, social media, and even what the salespeople say to customers, which can be used against them according to compliance attorneys.
The 97
This is the list of all 97 dealerships that the FTC has warned thus far, based on the report by Automotive News:
- Aaron Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Adzam Inc. dba Doug's Lynnwood Mazda
- AutoNation Inc.
- Autopia Motorcars
- Benson's Ingram Park Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram
- Berkshire Hathaway Automotive
- Best Price Dealer
- Bud Clary Auto Group
- California Beemers Inc.
- California Motors Direct
- Capital Auto Mall Premier
- Cardinale Automotive Group
- Cardinal Buick-GMC
- CarHub
- Cincy Automall
- City Kia of Greater Orlando
- Clay Cooley Auto Group – Clay Cooley Enterprises
- Encore Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Fayetteville Dodge-Ram
- Findlay Automotive Group
- Ford of Elizabethton
- Frisco Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Gettel Automotive
- Gilroy Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Greenway Auto Group
- Group 1 Automotive Inc.
- Hanna Imports
- Hardin BuickPontiacGMC
- Hayes Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep of Gainesville
- Headquarter Hyundai
- Hendrick Automotive Group
- Hiley Automotive Group
- Holman
- Honda of Downtown Chicago
- Honda of Manhasset
- Houston Direct Auto
- Huntley Ford
- Hyundai of El Cajon
- Hyundai Stockton
- Integrity Automotive / MCS Integrity Co. Inc.
- Jack Phelan Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Jeff Wyler Automotive
- Jim Keras Automotive
- John Sisson Mercedes-Benz
- John Sisson Motors
- John Sisson Nissan
- Ken Ganley Automotive Group
- Ken Garff Automotive Group
- Killeen Hyundai
- King of Jamaica Auto Inc.
- Lancaster Mitsubishi
- Leader Automotive Group
- Legend Auto Sales
- Liberty Nissan
- Lithia Motors Inc.
- Lokey Automotive Group
- Mac Haik Auto Group
- McGrath Acura of Downtown Chicago
- McGrath Acura of Libertyville
- McGrath Arlington Kia
- Miami Lakes Chevrolet
- Midlands Volkswagen of Columbia
- Morgan Auto Group LLC
- Nissan of Cool Springs
- Noller Auto Group / Laird Noller Automotive Inc.
- NorthStar Kia
- Old Orchard Nissan
- Orr Auto Group
- Ourisman Automotive Group
- Page Honda of Bloomfield
- Page Toyota
- Prestige Imports Lamborghini Miami
- Rairdon's Honda of Burien
- Red McCombs Motors Ltd.
- Route 23 Nissan
- Route 46 Auto Group
- Safford Automotive Group
- Sanford Imports
- Serra Chevrolet-Buick-GMC of Nashville
- Serra Honda
- Serra Kia of Trussville
- Serra Toyota
- Serramonte Subaru
- Seth Wadley Auto Group
- Sonic Automotive
- South Shore Nissan
- Southern Team Automall
- Stream Auto Outlet
- Superior Ford Inc.
- Supreme Motors LLC
- Titanium Motors Inc.
- Universal Nissan Orlando
- Vancouver Toyota
- Victory Mitsubishi
- Visalia Hyundai
- Wagner Kia of Shrewsbury
- Zeigler Automotive Group
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM.