(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and the Federal Trade Commission announced a $4 million settlement with Manchester City Nissan and its owners and managers, resolving allegations that the business double-charged customers for “certified pre-owned” vehicles and collected unnecessary fees without consumer authorization.
In January 2024, Connecticut and the FTC sued Chase Nissan LLC, which did business as Manchester City Nissan, along with its owners and managers over alleged unlawful conduct at the dealership.
“Manchester City Nissan systematically ripped-off Connecticut customers through needless, unauthorized junk fees. We sued in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, and today’s settlement will now send millions of dollars back to customers. Car costs are through the roof right now, and Connecticut families deserve honest and fair prices,” said Attorney General Tong.
“Today’s settlement with Manchester City Nissan marks another critical step in the Commission’s goal of advancing price transparency in the auto marketplace,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Price transparency is essential for protecting consumers from deception and for preserving the integrity of competitive markets. When businesses compete openly and honestly, consumers benefit from better prices, higher quality and greater trust. The FTC remains committed to enforcing these principles across the marketplace, ensuring that every consumer can shop with confidence and every business can compete on a fair and equal footing.”
The FTC and Connecticut alleged that dealership data showed customers were frequently charged thousands of dollars in unlawful fees.
According to the complaint, some consumers were told they had to pay to “certify” used vehicles that had already been advertised as “certified pre-owned.” Other charges, including total loss protection, were allegedly added to financing agreements without consumers’ knowledge or consent.
Under the proposed settlement order, the defendants must pay $4 million for consumer redress and are prohibited from making misrepresentations, including claims about whether vehicles are certified or include a limited manufacturer warranty.
The agreement also requires the dealership to clearly and conspicuously display the maximum total price a consumer must pay for a vehicle, excluding only required government charges. The defendants must also obtain express, informed consent from consumers for all charges.
The proposed order is available at:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2026/stipulated-order-81926.pdf
The Federal Trade Commission voted 2-0 to approve the stipulated final order. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Assistant Attorneys General Michael Nunes and Allison Frisbee and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer, Chief of the Consumer Protection Section, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.