agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

N.J. Dealer Agrees to Pay $136,000 to Resolve Consumer Fraud Investigation

NEWARK, N.J. — Sansone Hyundai has agreed to pay $136,000 to resolve charges that it failed to disclose the total price of certain advertised vehicles and charged consumers for F&I products listed at “no charge” on certain leases and sales contracts,” New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs ... Read More »

August 23, 2017
2 min to read


NEWARK, N.J. — Sansone Hyundai has agreed to pay $136,000 to resolve charges that it failed to disclose the total price of certain advertised vehicles and charged consumers for F&I products listed at “no charge” on certain leases and sales contracts,” New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs announced on Friday.

The dealership, winner of DealerRater’s 2016 and 2017 Consumer Satisfaction Award, also agreed to change its advertising, sales, and leasing practices, including disclosing all costs and fees associated with the purchase or lease of a vehicle before consumers sign on the dotted line.

Ad Loading...

“Consumers should be able to purchase a new car without having to worry about misinformation and hidden costs,” said Attorney General Porrino. “This settlement ensures that consumers will receive transparency and honesty from this dealership, as required by law.”

The settlement was announced three days after New York’s Nissan of Rochelle, located two hours north of Sansone, agreed to pay more than $298,000 to settle Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s charges that it willfully defrauded 298 car buyers by tacking on a window-etch programs after customers agreed to a price for the vehicle and often without their knowledge.

In a consent order with the Division of Consumer Affairs, Sansone Hyundai and its directors agreed not to add and charge for aftermarket products, such as window etch and service contracts, without the consumers’ knowledge and/or authorization, or represent to consumers that certain dealer-installed options are mandatory when they’re not.

The New Jersey dealership also agreed not to sell consumers aftermarket products that overlap or provide similar benefits the consumer has already purchased through the lease and sale transaction; accurately reflect in leases the “gross capitalized cost” as required by the consumer leasing act; provide consumers with an opportunity to review all leases and/or sales documents and/or aftermarket contracts prior to signing; and not identify the advertised prices of vehicles by reference to the MSRP sticker, when the vehicle includes an addendum to the MSRP sticker that reflects a higher total price.

The dealership must also comply with all applicable state and/or federal laws, rules, and regulations, including the Consumer Fraud Act, the Motor Vehicle Advertising Regulations, the Automotive Sales Regulations, and the Consumer Leasing Act, according to the consent order.

Ad Loading...

“Dealerships must fully disclose all costs and fees associated with the purchase or lease of a vehicle before consumers sign on the dotted line,” said Steve Lee, director of New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs. “We will continue to enforce the laws and regulations in place to ensure consumers have the facts they need to make informed decisions.”

More Industry

Photo of Cadillac Lyriq SUV on road with partly cloudy sky in background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Used Autos Selling for More

A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.

Read More →
Photo of facade of Waldorf Toyota car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Maryland Auto Group Sells

A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.

Read More →
Line graphic showing Cox Automotive's March Credit Availability Index status
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 13, 2026

Auto Lending Opens Up in March

Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
electric vehicle next to an urban charging station. EV Demand Diverges. F&I and Showroom logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 10, 2026

EV Interest Varies Regionally

U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Read More →
Photo of the rear of a Mercedes GLC 400 electric SUV with a skyline in the background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

Brands Weighed on Projected Recalls

Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.

Read More →
Photo of white 2026 Ford Bronco on a sandy beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

March New-Vehicle Sales Don’t Reflect War

Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of several cars on lifts in a service center
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 9, 2026

Franchised Dealers Stand to Gain Service Business

Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.

Read More →
Photo of office desk with open laptop on it and an empty chair next to it
IndustryApril 9, 2026

What Matters Most in Building Your Agency

The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.

Read More →
car with hood open, an arm holding a wrench, The most loyal generation text, Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 9, 2026

Service Drives Gen Z Loyalty

The dealership profit center plays an important role in customer retention, and generation Z customers are showing the highest loyalty rates, based on recent CDK Global data.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of man with most of his face hidden as he types on a computer keyboard
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 2, 2026

Fake Auto Dealer Websites Frauding Consumers

The Point Predictive study traced a pattern across more than 100 websites it believes are being developed by an international theft ring.

Read More →