ALCOA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission issued penalties against Ole Ben Franklin Motors for selling new vehicles at used car dealerships, a consent order shows.
Ole Ben Franklin Motors in Alcoa is a used car dealer. However, a complaint filed to the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission in February 2023 shows the dealer advertised itself as "Ole Ben Franklin Mitsubishi of Alcoa." The consent order said Ole Ben Franklin Motors in Alcoa advertised at least 47 new vehicles from its used car lot.
Ole Ben Franklin Motors in Oak Ridge is a licensed Mitsubishi dealer. Mitsubishi's website said it's the only authorized dealer in the area, the next closest are in the Chattanooga and Tri-Cities areas.
Another consent order, issued to Ole Ben Franklin Motors in Oak Ridge, shows the dealer sold or advertised at least 75 new vehicles at three different Ole Ben Franklin Motors used dealerships.
Ole Ben Franklin in Alcoa agreed to a $119,250 penalty and Ole Ben Franklin in Oak Ridge agreed to a $75,250 penalty.
"The civil penalty may appear unusually high given the total number of violations documented in these two specific instances," said the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission in an emailed statement.
The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission has previously issued consent orders against Ole Ben Franklin Motors.
In 2018, Ole Ben Franklin Motors received a $2,000 penalty for misrepresenting the condition of a vehicle, the consent order said. Another order shows that in 2022, Ole Ben Franklin advertised a car for $27,085, but offered to sell it to a customer for $35,885, with a $8,800 "market adjustment." The motor vehicle commission issued a $250 penalty.
The full statement from the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission is below:
The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission has assessed similar punitive amounts in the past. This civil penalty may appear unusually high given the total number of violations documented in these two specific instances. We encourage the public to file complaints with our team when they feel they have been treated unfairly or if they have witnessed unlicensed or illegal activities. Contact us at tn.gov/commerce today.
WBIR reached out to Ole Ben Franklin Motors for a statement, but did not hear back Friday night.