A Novi mother of five says her family has been stranded for months without their SUV after a Wixom used-car dealer allegedly rewrote her loan behind her back and electronically “signed” her name. The 2019 Chevy Equinox she bought last summer later lost its brakes while she was driving with her kids, she says, leaving them scrambling for rides and forcing her to miss chunks of her children’s sports seasons.
Paperwork Shock and a Different Loan Amount
According to Toria Clay, she bought the Equinox on Aug. 16, 2025, for about $14,000. But when she checked with the financing company, its copy of the contract showed a loan roughly $5,000 higher and paperwork dated Aug. 19 instead.
Clay told Local 4 the signature on the lender’s file looked computer-generated, and she said the lender also told her it did not even know the dealership had closed. Local 4 tried to contact the owner and did not hear back, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
Dealer Listings Point to Multiple Lots
Records from the Better Business Bureau show Wixom Motors with multiple locations and an “out-of-business” alert. The BBB profile links Brighton Motors and Grand Lake Automotive to the same management and address.
The entry lists business locations at 7100 Grand River Ave in Brighton and 29710 S Wixom Rd in Wixom, and names Josh Tauriainen as a principal contact.
Other Buyers Say They Were Burned Too
Clay said she spoke up after seeing earlier reports about Wixom Motors, and she is not the only one with a story. In a prior investigation reported by ClickOnDetroit, the state’s Regulatory Monitoring Division wrote that management admitted an employee forged a customer’s signature and said the problem would not happen again. One couple was later cited over an improper odometer disclosure.
Hoodline also highlighted a South Lyon couple who say the dealer faked a signature and left them stuck with costly repairs.
What To Do If You Were Affected
Drivers who bought a vehicle from the lot are being urged to hang on to every scrap of documentation. That includes the original purchase paperwork, copies of any contracts and titles from both the lender and the title office, repair invoices, and written or electronic correspondence.
Consumers can file complaints with the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team through the office’s online complaint portal. The Secretary of State’s dealer regulator can also help with questions about titles and dealer licensing. Forms and instructions are available via the AG’s complaint portal at the Michigan Attorney General.
Legal Lines Dealers Cannot Cross
Under Michigan law, dealers are required to provide accurate odometer disclosures and are prohibited from signing a buyer’s paperwork on the buyer’s behalf. Those rules fall under MCL 257.233a and can carry both civil and criminal consequences.
The statute treats false odometer statements as prima facie fraud and lays out paths for buyers and prosecutors to pursue damages and penalties, according to the Michigan Legislature’s code.
