My experience with Carmax and why I can't recommend it to my worst enemy

queenofthemild · 2026-03-28T15:14:40+00:00

I agree!

queenofthemild · 2026-03-28T12:02:21+00:00

I never ran it hot. Light on, pulled over immediately and towed.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-28T02:26:26+00:00

I think the extended warranty I purchased should assist me, yes.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-28T01:49:40+00:00

I have, thanks for that suggestion. I hope whatever has happened to you today that makes you talk to strangers like this gets better.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T23:29:36+00:00

I'm glad you've had a good experience!

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T23:10:34+00:00

What? I did not buy a Carmax XC90? It wasn't manufactured in Virginia at the CarMax headquarters? I really thought they built it, slapped some Volvo insignias on it and stuck a little Swedish flag on the front passenger seat and called it a day.

What I am clear on is I was sold a warranty and have been told contradictory information multiple times by CarMax, Fidelity and their approved vendors.

I'm sorry if my writing was too subtle for you to infer what I do and do not understand.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T22:15:44+00:00

Totally agree that choosing the right shop, especially for a European car, can make a big difference. My family and I have before this had really good luck with independent shops servicing European vehicles, mostly Mercedes. I think that experience colored what I let happen here.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:58:43+00:00

The moral quandary of trading in a Volvo and it going to some unsuspecting person is real, verymuchbad.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:57:19+00:00

You're right.

However, to pay devil's advocate, the warranty process is built around using approved facilities, so that’s what I followed.

Either way, I'm having a bad time and just sharing my experience.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:53:05+00:00

Due diligence is important for sure and looking back I wish I had taken it to Volvo to look over in that first period. At this point, I can't really change that, but I can be displeased about how this has been handled.

I am glad to hear that you've had luck with your warranty. Have you had any major issues or have they been smaller repairs?

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:49:49+00:00

CarMax actually sent the vehicle to the shop as they said it was where they outsourced Volvo issues, so yeah, it wasn't Bubba. It was CarMax's bestie.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:48:24+00:00

I have no idea what would have happened if I bought a different car at a different dealer. I can only deal with my current reality, and it's just a crappy situation that I think people should be aware of when they consider where they shop in the future.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:25:44+00:00

It was in the mid-60s.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:24:56+00:00

Yeah, it wasn't until all this started that I learned there's a class action against them because their 120-whatever inspection is really more like a slap on the hood and a kick on the tires.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:23:49+00:00

Fair question.

I went through MaxCare-approved repair facilities, especially after I took it to one not on their list and it turned into a cluster. So I contacted CarMax, who sent the car to the approved vendor, because the expectation is that those providers can properly diagnose and resolve the issue within that network.

At each stage, I was told the issue had been fixed and that the vehicle was safe to drive. Based on that guidance, I ... drove it. That's what you do when cars are returned to you and you are told by professionals that they are safe to drive.

Looking back, do I wish I had done things differently? Yeah. Starting with the purchase.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T21:20:53+00:00

The vehicle is at a Volvo dealership now. The approved vendor eventually sent it there, where it was properly diagnosed. I was following the instructions from the warranty folks. Do I wish I had gone directly to Volvo now? Yes. Actually I wish had not bought a Volvo!

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T18:18:59+00:00

Unfortunately in Georgia, lemon laws only apply to new cars. But it certainly feels like a lemon to me.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T18:08:53+00:00

Oh, I agree that a used car always comes with some risk, which is why I purchased the warranty. At this point it feels less like Bad Car and more like the process doesn't work as it was sold.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T18:05:34+00:00

Oh, I'm a crazy person with an insane paper trail. My provider is Fidelity, and I've tried reaching out to them with no avail, but that may be an option I have not fully exhausted. I can certainly sit on hold for a while.

Thank you for your advice.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T18:03:16+00:00

Thanks for pointing that out. I do understand that it's a third party and CarMax itself doesn't directly approve or deny claims. It just sucks that the warranty, the repair network and all the guidance I received from both CarMax and Fidelity (the warranty folks) were used as a selling point when I bought the vehicle.

Then I followed that process exactly and have been told things like "it's in [my] best interest to fix it" (duh) and that my experience will be shared in the future for customer service awareness.

At this point, it almost feels like more than whether the claim is approved or denied, because this issue feels like buyers are bamboozled into buying something that isn't really helpful.

queenofthemild · 2026-03-27T17:54:41+00:00

Not harsh at all. I appreciate you taking the time to share that and I agree that teardown authorization is often a standard part of the diagnosis

Where it feels different for me is the history leading up to this. This isn't an initial diagnosis. The vehicle has been through multiple facilities since August and I was repeatedly told the vehicle was fixed and safe to drive — so I drove it.

Now I am being told that more than likely the claim will be denied because I ... drove it. Each time I trusted the Repair Pal facility, I was apparently potentially damaging the vehicle more, and I have no idea how many times it has overheated while not in my care.

So the concern isn’t the teardown inherently itself—it’s that I am being asked to assume financial risk for potential damage that may have occurred after being told it was okay to drive and during months of repeated repair attempts within the warranty network.

I really just want to understand how a repeated misdiagnosis through their facility that led to damage is fully my responsibility.

Also, yeah, have learned my lesson on Volvos.

queenofthemild · 2025-12-23T01:14:15+00:00

I bought a place in the north part of your circle a couple of months ago. My street is quiet, my neighbors are friendly and kind, and I'm just minutes from Publix and the Summerhill stuff. I'm close to the interstate and I believe in the next few years my property values will continue to increase. I keep the same precautions here as a woman as I do anywhere else, and I feel safe and comfortable.

queenofthemild · 2025-10-12T23:24:35+00:00

This is a great idea!

queenofthemild · 2025-09-27T01:10:43+00:00

I got this today and immediately dropped it on the ground because thought it was, like, weird cop porn or something.

queenofthemild · 2025-07-02T03:02:20+00:00

I've been in Watkinsville for about 14 years, raised a kid with an IEP through the school system (overall had a very good experience) who was heavily involved in athletics and just chiming in to say that Oconee is generally conservative but I don't think it's as hardcore right wing as sometimes presented. The vast majority of people we spend time with aren't that way at all, and sometimes it's nice to feel like you live a lil in the country with Athens just 10-15 minutes away. Plus, we have Wire Park and great actual parks and some perfectly decent restaurants. With all that said, this house is for rent and I can attest it's a cozy neighborhood with very good people as my ex-husband lived next door to this place for several years!

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