General Motors Company, Jim Koons Management and Lithia Motors Inc. have agreed to settle separate Federal Trade Commission administrative complaint allegations that each touted how rigorously they inspect their cars, yet failed to disclose that some of the used cars they were selling were subject to unrepaired safety recalls. The FTC's complaint against General Motors cites the company's representations for "Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles," such as: "172-Point Vehicle Inspection and Reconditioning Process is conducted only by highly trained technicians and adheres to strict, factory-set standards to ensure that every vehicle's engine, chassis, and body are in excellent condition. The technicians ensure that everything from the drivetrain to the windshield wipers is in good working order, or they recondition it to exacting standards." The FTC alleges that GM advertised numerous Certified Pre-Owned vehicles at its local dealerships using these claims without disclosing that certain used cars offered for sale were subject to previously announced open (unrepaired) recalls for safety issues.

According to the FTC's complaint, those cars subject to recalls had defects that can cause serious injury, including a key ignition switch defect that can affect engine power, power steering, braking and airbag deployment, problems in the body control module connection system that can affect braking, and chassis electronic module defects that can cause engine stalls. The FTC's complaint against Jim Koons Management Company, which also does business as Jim Koons Automotive Companies, notes the company's purported "guarantee" that: "Every certified Koons Outlet vehicle must pass a rigorous and extensive quality inspection before it can be sold. Certified mechanics check all major mechanical and electrical systems and every power accessory as part of rigid quality controls." The complaint alleges that some cars were subject to unrepaired recalls, including those involving the key ignition switch, alternator-related defects that could cause unexpected vehicle shutdown or an electrical fire, and a rear suspension defect that could result in a fuel leak or fire.

The FTC's complaint against Lithia Motors cites claims for its dealer-backed "60- Day/3,000 Mile" warranty, including: vehicles are put through an exhaustive 160-checkpoint Quality Assurance Inspection. inspect everything from the tires and the brakes to suspension, drive train, engine components and even the undercarriage." Nonetheless, the complaint alleges, some of the cars Lithia advertised were subject to unrepaired recalls involving defects in the key ignition switch and other safety issues. Under the proposed consent orders, which would remain in effect for 20 years, the companies are prohibited from claiming that their used vehicles are safe or have been subject to a rigorous inspection unless they are free of unrepaired safety recalls, or unless the companies clearly disclose the existence of the recalls in close proximity to the inspection claims. The proposed orders also would prohibit the companies from misrepresenting material facts about the safety of used cars they advertise.

These proposed orders will also require the companies to inform recent customers, by mail, that their vehicles may have an open recall. For GM this requirement applies to Certified Pre-Owned used vehicles purchased between July 1, 2013 and the final order date; for Lithia, this requirement applies to Lithia Warranty used vehicles purchased during the same time period. For Koons, it applies to certified used vehicles purchased between July 1, 2013 and June 15, 2015.