COMPLAINT FILED 4/2/2026
Coral R
Sold a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda with a 100 percent red light on ACV’s platform. Announcement: AS IS NO ARBITRATION FRAME TMU. Sold to a dealer in Ohio. They received the vehicle and arbitrated it, stating the vehicle did not run. However, according to NAAA an as is vehicle in excess of 20 years old cannot be arbitrated for mechanical issues. ACV NEVER had this vehicle officially checked; they only sent their ACV inspector, who was NOT a mechanic. Frank Zielonka took the buyer’s side, going against the NAAA policy that they follow when it is in their favor.
They sent the vehicle back in the agreement we wouldn’t lose any money. They deducted 499.00 for shipping I was told I would get back (in writing),) but it never happened. We received the vehicle back and found the wiring to the starter had been disconnected. We then contacted ACV with this information that the buyer clearly sabotaged the vehicle, and then ACV asked to get the vehicle running, and they would relaunch on their platform and make good. Per ACV Customer Success, I had the wiring repaired and replaced the new battery that was in the vehicle that mysteriously went “missing,” and the vehicle started right up. ACV attempted to send an inspector, but the inspector stated he would not come to our location, as he was being instructed not to do so by his local manager, Kevin Mull, and to ignore Buffalo’s request to inspect; after communicating with ACV Buffalo, they finally were able to make the inspector come out. They relisted the vehicle with NO ADDITIONAL disclosures, and the vehicle sold for 12,250.
This would have put a 1500 positive balance in my account. I then received a phone call telling me that the bid was bogus and the car was being unwound back to me again! It is, in my opinion and ONLY my opinion, that this was done by design, as they did not want me to walk out with a positive outcome. They then relisted the vehicle again and sold it for HALF the money, 6250.00. I was never reimbursed the 499.00 shipping they deducted from my account WITHOUT my knowledge. I was never reimbursed the garage bill of 996.09 to replace the wiring that the original buyer purposely damaged to make the vehicle not run. This is just one of ACV’s attempts at bad faith. The arbitration manager has been against me for years.
My account roughly purchased 20-35 vehicles a month with an arb rate normally about 3-5 percent. To show bad faith, I also want to quickly explain an arbitration earlier in late 2024, which carried over until 2025 I purchased a 1972 AMC Javelin in good faith on the ACV platform; the sale amount was in excess of 12,000. This vehicle was purchased from their big seller, Basil Group in New York. Upon receiving the vehicle, we immediately noticed that the vehicle identification number A2M798Z244564 was not connected to the rivets, and the holes where rivets would go were rounded and damaged, glued to the plastic cover, Not in the riveted steel panel, clearly showing the VIN was drilled out. Located in the “hidden VIN” location for the secondary VIN was a completely different VIN number. Immediately we contacted ACV, and at first, they stated, Over 20 years old, nothing we can do…. (But on Barracuda the same rule didn’t apply?) I then became very persistent, sharing videos, photos, etc.
ACV contacted Basil Group, and they stated they were not able to obtain a transferable registration as they were aware of a potential VIN discrepancy and stated they purchased the vehicle in Florida this way. They continued to fight me on it, and after about two weeks they decided it was better just to shut me up rather than me dragging their buddy Basil group all over social media. SO rather than returning the vehicle to Basil ( like they returned the Barracuda to me), they relisted it on their platform WITH NO DISCLOSURES ABOUT THE ALTERED VIN / TWO VINS! They sold to a classic car store in North Carolina, in which HE ARBITRATED FOR THE SAME EXACT THING! NC DMV stated to ACV this unit was either going to be impounded or it was going to be returned to seller Basil in New York. ACV once again relisted it and sold it to a remarketing company, and it was then relisted on Manheim Express and sold for a fourth time!
ACV does not care about the buyers, and what ACV does not realize is that the buyers are the ones that buy the wholesale off their big sellers. This has gotten worse over the last two years, and although there are some (not many) people in ACV that actually do care, their hands are normally tied by keyboard warriors that do not like to confront issues.
[IN PROGRESS]
COMPLAINT FILED 1/21/2026
John S
Last 8: N/A
Date of Issue: 2026-01-21
Auction Contact: Mike Watterman
AUCTION RESPONSE: 2/26/2026
“Hello, Sorry for the late response here again, but yes, I know there has been a lot of movement and activity to get this all resolved on our end and I think we’ve finally gotten to a resolution for all the issues that were outstanding from what I’ve been informed of! As of now any debt or open invoices that stood between Seibel’s Auto Warehouse and ACV are considered closed & resolved. Currently I know our payments team is just doing all the backend finalization / logistical work to fully finalize it, but that’s just the backend processes that they are finalizing, no further action on Seibel’s end is required. We had a mishap where our system kept sending automated reminders to him, to which I’m just making sure those stop coming.
[RESOLVED]
COMPLAINT FILED 12/23/2025
Brian M
Not willing to unwind or give a proper arbitration. This was a green light sale with no announcements. The car is missing the rear catalytic converter, needs to have the torque tube rebuilt 15 book hours and they will only pay 8, and the “good” tires are all dry rotted, the passenger seat has holes and was advertised with 2 keys.
They said the car only has the front 2 cats and that is not correct, and would help on the tires and torque tube, but no were near the hours or proper fix. Offered $1,500 vs the $5,000 this would cost not including the missing key and puncture holes in the seat (not ware).
[RESOLVED]
COMPLAINT FILED 12/2/2025
Coral R
Hello, I Sold a vehicle on the ACV platform. 60 years old. 100 PERCENT RED LIGHT WITH STRUCTURAL AND TMU 5-DIGIT ODOMETER ANNOUNCEMENT. ACV TRANSPORTATION picks the unit up; the driver does not speak English, cannot drive stick, starts the car, drives to the middle of the road, and stalls it. starts back up and drives to his trailer. The vehicle had no parking brake, so the transporter used his winch-to-winch vehicle on his trailer. Sometime between transport and possession by the new owner “ALLEGEDLY,” there were wires in the dashboard, and the vehicle would not start. ACV seems to have different rules for everyone. The disclosures ACV uses in their as-is vehicles is “AS-IS VEHICLES ARE ONLY SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION FOR TITLE ISSUES, TMU, AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES.” PER NAAA vehicles in excess of 20 years old are not arbitrable for anything. However, ACV is unwinding back to me (the seller); they NEVER had it inspected, and they took the buyer who clearly has buyer’s remorses word. This auction clearly DOES NOT follow NAAA guidelines. Also, in fact, I purchased a vehicle a month ago from ACV, and the seller’s transport company damaged the transfer case, and it was in pieces; however, they stated, “as is, no arbitration.” sold me a 1971 Javelin with 2 VIN numbers, one detached from the dashboard, as is NOT ARBITRABLE. Sold me a 66 Galaxy. NO FLOORS, NO TRUNK FRAME ROTTED, stated not arbitrable, and no announcements present. ACV indicates they follow NAAA guidelines, which is false. Purchase a 95 Chevy truck from Car Guys via the ACV website. The ACV inspector come to find out he was a seller for this dealer on and a active rep on his Manheim account and did not disclose the rotted roof and rotted rocker panels and structual cross member . cropped photos to hide damages, and ACV says it is not arbitrable. I was told by the title manager they do not care about auto auction reviews via text. I plan on posting this to Real Success of Car Business Google and hiring picketers to stand in front of three locations. I appreciate the help.
[RESOLVED]
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COMPLAINT FILED 9/23/2025
COMPLAINT FILED 8/12/2025
COMPLAINT FILED 6/26/2025
COMPLAINT FILED 04/17/2025
Dane H.
Purchased a 2021 Ford Ranger from ACV Auctions on 3/25/25. Payment was deducted from our account on 3/28. ACV sends us the pickup slip on 4/1. Our transporter goes to pick the unit up at Dealers Auto Auction in Florida, and is told that unit was sold in November 2024, and the vehicle is not there; the pick up slip sent was INCORRECT. Another pick up slip is sent by ACV on 4/3/25. Our transporter picks the vehicle up, and we receive the vehicle on 4/10. The condition report and photos are wrong; the unit has a huge rust hole in the bed (and considerably more undisclosed rust) that was not disclosed in the photos or description of the vehicle. An arbitration is filed on 4/10, within 10 days of both the first INCORRECT pickup slip, and within 7 days of the CORRECT pickup slip being sent on 4/3. Jason with ACV is denying the arbitration claim because he states “payment was not made on sale day”, and that we are out of time frame on this claim. He never stated what the time frame SHOULD have been. Jason is failing to take into consideration that whatever delay in payment ACV is claiming is offset by the delay in us receiving the correct pickup slip. He also admits that the pickup slip is held for 3 days once payment is received (and we received the INCORRECT one on 4/1). We have been told by our ACV rep that the arbitration clock starts when the buyer (us) receive the pickup slip. There is no scenario here (regardless of payment on sale day) where we would not have been in compliance with arbitration time frame. We requested a buyback of this unit; had the inspection been legitimate and proper photos taken, we would not have purchased the vehicle. Jason offered $500 and said the arbitration department would not revisit the claim. There are several troubling things here: 1) ACV is holding me accountable for “not paying on sale day”, but yet is not taking any responsibility for sending an incorrect pick up slip creating a delay on their part. 2) The inspection performed on this vehicle is at best negligent and at worst fraudulent; ACV would not answer to that. 3) ACV’s policy of not disclosing who a seller is rears its ugly head once again- our filters are set to Franchise Dealers and Fleet/Lease. In my opinion this seller was neither of those. Overall, we enjoy doing business with ACV; we have had previous issues with inspection and light announcements, but for the most part, ACV attempts to do the right thing. In this situation, I believe they are way off. ACV should do the right thing here and unwind the deal. A $500 adjustment is NOT going to compensate for the awful condition report that significantly misrepresented the vehicle. Lastly, any discussion about our “no payment on sale day” is invalidated by ACV’s failure to produce a correct pick up slip in a timely fashion.
Last 8: MLD21323
Date of issue: 2025-04-10
Auction Contact: Jason (ACV Rep)
UPDATE BY DEALER 4/25/2025
ACV agreed to buy the vehicle back and the issue was addressed.
[RESOLVED]
COMPLAINT FILED 03/24/2025
Kalli S
I held off on publicizing this experience due to benefit of the doubt, but as it goes on a month of age and continues to worsen I’ve realized this is merely a statistic. On February 12th, I “won” a 2015 6.7 Ford through (you probably guessed) ACV. This was my first transaction with them, so I waited a 4 day hold period after my payment cleared before they gave me a pickup slip which I received on the 18th. I received the truck on the 24th. Much to my dismay I immediately noticed sections of rocker panel missing, on both sides, consistent with what one could only assume was result of the factory running boards being ripped off of the truck. Being someone who takes pride in thoroughness, I wondered how I missed such damage. But upon going over the listing photos, I realized I didn’t miss it… ACV just felt the need to take the pictures conveniently in front of the missing sections on both sides. The “virtual lift” did no justice either as it was very clearly taken too close to the truck as to not show the rockers, either. The physical damage starts to make more sense as I then open the title envelope and am greeted with repo papers that also weren’t disclosed at any point. Albeit it being minimal I believe in giving credit where it’s due, ACV did do the right thing and unwound the deal, which was decided on the 27th and I was told I’d see my money back in 24-48 hours. The next day I was refunded my transport cost, but got an email with a FedEx label and changed stance that the amount of the truck itself would not be given back until they received the title again. They sent someone to come get the truck from me on Monday the 3rd, and they received the title back at their office on the 5th. For the second time I’m told in 24-48 hours I’d be refunded. As of this morning still, my bank has not so much as seen anything pending from ACV and ACV’s last communication with me was “the money left their account” but “has no trace number” and they “don’t know what happened”. Not only could I have sold that truck several times over had it arrived as advertised, but the money invested in it was purely wasted in the meantime with no sense of urgency to return it. Messes undoubtedly happen, but this has been nothing but serial negligence that you couldn’t even make up. I have photo evidence I took followed by the photos ACV took I can provide in order to show the intentionally hidden damage.
Last 8: FEC11452
Date of issue: 2025-02-24
Auction Contact: N/A
UPDATE BY DEALER 3/12/2025
I wanted to follow up regarding Kalli’s recent experience. I followed up with her and she has ensured that everything has been resolved now.
[RESOLVED]
7 Reviews on “ACV Auctions”
I purchased a Chevy Equinox from ACV on February 27, 2025. The vehicle had 43K miles on it, and ACV called P301 misfire code. Long story short, the engine had a dead cylinder. I filed an arbitration, and the team required from me a compression test (80 pounds), and the required video and audio. The arb team was professional and reimbursed me to repair the engine. Needless to say, I was very happy with the result.
I started back buying on ACV about a month ago, reluctantly. I had read some of the nightmare stories on Real Success on Facebook, but due to high prices at the auctions, I tried again. I have bought over a dozen cars in the last month, and the inspections have been accurate and have done pretty well on the cars. Other than the high cost of transportation, ACV has been a good source to buy from.
I filed a complaint earlier in the week regarding an arbitration that was denied. ACV’s team “met me in the middle” with a settlement on my issue. I feel like it was a good effort on their part. It’s nice to know that at times compromises can be met. Thanks again to the ACV team.
I want to thank ACV’s customer support staff for turning a bad situation into a positive. After an unfair arbitration resolution, I posted on Auto Auction Review to advise other potential buyers on ACV what to expect from arbitration. I did not expect a response from ACV as the “case was closed”. Thanks to Liv’s involvement we were able reach a favorable resolution as she agreed with me and did what ACV should have done from the onset. Thank you Liv for your excellent customer service.
As a small independent, we buy from all the major auction houses. We gave ACV a try as we have been moving to more Online auctions and were very happy with Openlane. ACV in my opinion is the worst of them all. The 1st car we bought, they could not get the title after 85 days and declined our arbitration that cost us over $1,000. And had the audacity to try and not unwind the sale by offering me $500. For a car with no title! Thanks. The 2nd time was my fault for trying them again. This time we received the car and lots were missed on the inspection from cosmetic to transmission issues. The car needed over $5,000. In repairs that they said it can be done for $1,500. The labor rates, parts and what they called book hours are not even close and the car was missing emissions and would not do a thing but the $1,500. For a transmission fix. Plus it took them 3 weeks to complete the arbitration. They are a joke, buyers beware.
I have had multiple concerning experiences with ACV Auctions that I feel should be shared with other dealers.
In my experience, there appears to be inconsistent treatment between franchise stores and independent dealers. The arbitration process has been particularly frustrating and, at times, unclear.
One example involves a vehicle that was announced as “TMU FRAME STRUCTURAL – NO ARBITRATION.” Despite this, I later received notice that the vehicle was being arbitrated and returned without prior clarification.
In another case, I purchased a 1972 AMC Javelin from a franchise seller (Basil Auto Group in New York). The vehicle had significant VIN discrepancies — including a VIN plate that appeared to be improperly attached and indications of a second VIN. Initially, I was told nothing could be done. After continued escalation, the deal was eventually unwound.
However, the same vehicle was later relisted and sold again without clear disclosure of these issues, and reportedly went through arbitration again with another buyer.
Additionally, I have concerns about how title corrections and documentation are handled, as well as overall communication during arbitration.
Based on these experiences, I strongly encourage dealers — especially independent dealers — to carefully review vehicle details and arbitration policies before purchasing.
I have serious concerns regarding data privacy and internal access controls based on my experience.
It appears that sensitive dealer information — including personal details such as photos, dates of birth, and addresses — may be accessible beyond what would be expected for certain roles within the organization. This raises concerns about how data is being managed, accessed, and safeguarded.
Additionally, I have reason to believe that internal systems may not have sufficient oversight or controls in place to prevent potential misuse of dealer information.
Due to the seriousness of these concerns, I am pursuing this matter through the appropriate channels, including reporting it to relevant parties.
I encourage ACV Auctions to clarify:
Who has access to sensitive dealer and insurance-related data
What safeguards and monitoring systems are in place
How unauthorized access or misuse is prevented
Data security and dealer trust are critical in this industry, and greater transparency in this area would be beneficial.