California Woman Takes Car to Dealership. Then She Claims They ‘Lost’ Something Important. Rather Than a Quick Fix, They Make Her Wait Hours: ‘Big No’
She had personal belongings in the vehicle.
A Hanford, California, woman’s frustration went viral after she claimed Freeway Toyota dealership employees misplaced her car keys and left her waiting for hours before the keys were eventually located. TikTok user Y (@xoxoymv) shared a video documenting what she described as a stressful experience.
According to Y’s TikTok video, she arrived at the dealership for an appointment and expected a routine visit. Instead, she said employees could not immediately locate the keys needed to access and return her vehicle.
A dealership employee allegedly then explained that staff members were searching for the missing keys “Unfortunately, we cannot find them right now,” the voice said in the video. “We’re gonna have to look through the cars. I’m so sorry.”
They Offered a Rental Car, but She Had Important Belongings in the Vehicle
The voice identified as an employee told Y that the dealership would replace the keys if they could not be found and offered her a rental vehicle while the search continued. “If anything and we cannot find it, we will replace it,” the employee said. In the meantime, the voice said, “I can provide you with the rental at no charge to you. I know you have somewhere to be.”
Y said the delay created a major problem because she had important belongings inside the vehicle. “I had the baby’s car seat,” she said. “I had my computer.”
She also said she had already been waiting for about two hours despite having a scheduled appointment. “We have an appointment. Like, we’ve been here for two hours,” Y told the employee. “It’s not okay.”
The dealership employee apologized and said they would continue looking for the lost keys. Y captioned the post, “Horrible experience! And to think I wanted to trade in my SUV and buy a bigger one there. Yeahhh big no lol.”
Commenters Noted an Easy Solution
The video sparked a discussion among viewers, with some questioning why the dealership could not provide a faster way for Y to retrieve her belongings while employees searched. One commenter who identified themselves as a dealership employee suggested the dealership could have cut a temporary physical key. “All they have to do is cut a blade key by your VIN,” the commenter wrote. “That can open the doors so you can get your stuff.”
The commenter also suggested the dealership may have wanted to avoid the additional cost of replacing and programming keys. Y later posted an update in the comments section of her TikTok video. She said employees offered a rental vehicle several times, but she declined because she needed her own car.
According to Y’s update, the keys were eventually located at a worker’s desk. She said employees explained the issue resulted from poor communication between staff members. Y also alleged a dealership representative planned to contact her the following Monday to discuss the situation and determine how to address her concerns.
(Featured image: James086, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons., Image by JeepersMedia, CC BY 2.0.)
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