A Brooklyn car dealership has been accused of selling a luxury vehicle with a falsified odometer reading and a voided warranty.
The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Wonil Ji against Grand Auto Group, LLC, doing business as Brooklyn Volkswagen, centers around Ji's purchase of a $334,000 Lamborghini Urus from Brooklyn Volkswagen. According to the complaint, Ji discovered that the odometer reading had been tampered with and that the vehicle's warranty was void due to this alteration. The lawsuit accuses the dealership of violating federal and state consumer protection laws, including the Federal Odometer Act and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Ji alleges that he was misled into believing he was purchasing a barely-driven luxury SUV when it actually had nearly three times the advertised mileage.
In mid-April 2023, Ji found an advertisement for the Lamborghini on CarGurus. He contacted Brooklyn VW and communicated primarily through text messages with salesperson Steve Kirton. Despite language barriers and being unfamiliar with U.S. car buying procedures, Ji trusted Kirton to handle all aspects of the transaction. Kirton assured Ji of honesty and transparency throughout their communications, but failed to deliver on these promises.
The complaint details how Ji faced numerous issues post-purchase, including a persistent check engine light and delays in receiving proper registration plates. Despite repeated attempts to resolve these problems with Kirton and Brooklyn VW, Ji received little assistance or resolution. The situation escalated when mechanics at Paramus Lamborghini discovered the odometer discrepancy during a service visit in June 2023.
Ji is seeking judgment against Brooklyn VW for actual damages exceeding $75,000, statutory damages of $10,000 under federal law, treble damages under New Jersey law, attorney’s fees, costs related to bringing this action, and other relief deemed just by the court. He also demands revocation of acceptance due to nonconformity substantially impairing the vehicle’s value.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Russell W. Dombrow from Dombrow Law Firm. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case No. 1:25-cv-2210.