My dealership closed and now I have to drive 125 miles for service – I never would have bought this car if I had known

A CAR owner has been forced to drive 125 miles for services to her vehicle after her local dealership closed.

The owner said she would have thought more about purchasing the vehicle had she known the dealership would close.

Central Oregon Daily

Central Oregon Daily

Nissan owner Cari Fike purchased her car from Lithia Nissan of Bend in Central Oregon in 2023.

She currently owns a Nissan Titan and is leasing a Nissan Rogue.

However, in May of this year, her dealership closed, and Fike has been stuck with traveling at least 125 miles to get her car serviced.

“We never would have purchased our vehicles if we had known they’d be closing down in a year and a half,” Fike told Central Oregon Daily in May.

“Our concerns are service and where we go if there’s a recall on one of the vehicles.

“Currently, there’s a recall on our Titan that we haven’t been able to get in, and now we have to go into the Valley.”

The outlet spoke with two dealerships in Lithia, Oregon, and they confirmed they only do basic services such as oil changes .

Services such as factory warranty issues or recalls, which Fike is seeking, would need to be performed in Eugene, which is miles away.

In addition to having to travel far to get her car properly checked, Fike said her leased Nissan Rogue has a mileage cap.

Fike is worried she’ll face consequences in the future when she’s ready to turn her car in.

“There’s a mileage cap on our lease vehicle and so, now, having to commute a couple hundred miles just to have a service repair done or recall done, that adds to our mileage and goes against us when we go to turn it in in a couple years,” Fike said.

The Lithia dealerships told the outlet there wasn’t a service provided where the car owners could drop off their car at their dealership and have it transported to Eugene.

The responsibility would be up to the owner.

NO HEADS UP

Speaking about the moments that led to the dealership’s closure, Fike said she wasn’t warned.

She recalled visiting the Lithia Nissan of Bend location for an oil change weeks before and wasn’t given a heads-up.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

“When I was in a couple weeks ago to get an oil change, they were filled and I would have to make an appointment, which they were booked three weeks out,” Fike shared.

“No one ever mentioned at that time they’d be closing.

“Maybe they didn’t know, but it would have been nice to have some type of communication.”

She went on to say that Nissan should extend the mileage for situations similar to Fike’s.

“For individuals that have leased vehicles, maybe extend the mileage for us and increase our mileage limits on the leases.”

Central Oregon Daily