A dealership often inspects, repairs, and restores cars to near-showroom condition, leading buyers to assume that’s always the case. Most wouldn’t think a dealership would risk its reputation by altering wrecked cars to sell them at a reduced price.

But that’s exactly what a dealership group owner, Carnation LLC, was doing to customers in Witchita, Kansas. The dealership was buying cars, installing bypass devices, and selling them at full retail price. Without notifying buyers about the deployment.

“After purchasing the car, the consumer later found an airbag simulator device which disabled the airbag light on the dash, concealing the fact that the airbag had been deployed,” read a statement from the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, quoted by KWCH.

“Further investigation by the Consumer Protection Division found 12 more cars sold by Ajibolade and Carnation in the first quarter of 2023 with blown airbags. Ajibolade and Carnation failed to disclose the blown airbags when selling the cars to consumers from the car lot at 1301 E. Lincoln.”

The investigation revealed the dealership sold over 12 cars this way, putting those customers in danger. Therefore, the AG ordered Carnation LLC to pay $2,000 in restitution to each affected car, totaling $24,000.

The court ordered the company to pay $390,000 in civil penalties, court fees, and investigation fees.

Authorities have caught the dealership red-handed before

In 2019, authorities caught Carnation LL performing the same alterations to cars. This led the state to revoke the car-selling license of its owner, Olukayode Ajibolade.

The AG used this incident to remind buyers to be careful when car shopping.

“Because devices can be used to conceal that a car is missing functioning airbags, even if inspected by a mechanic, it is important to also examine a Carfax or similar history of the vehicle before purchase to identify accidents that may have resulted in the deployment of airbags,” wrote Marc Bennet, the Attorney General of Sedgwick County.

“In addition, it is recommended that the consumer perform a general online search of the VIN of a prospective car purchase, which can often reveal photos of prior damage to the car.”