UPDATE: NC Attorney General investigating dealership after Action 9 reports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Last week, Action 9 reported customers and a former employee accused Auto House of intentionally mislabeling some Nissan Altimas to make them look like higher-end, more expensive models.

On Friday, the North Carolina Attorney General's Office confirmed to Channel 9 it is now investigating the dealership.

After the Action 9 investigation aired, 1) customers filed formal complaints with N.C. DMV, 2) Action 9 found Altimas weren't the only vehicles mislabeled, and 3) Auto House offered some customers refunds.

READ ACTION 9'S ORIGINAL STORY

1) Customers filed formal complaints with N.C. DMV

Department of Motor Vehicles agents started their own investigation last week, based on the Action 9 report. Since Auto House has two locations -- one in Mooresville and one in Salisbury -- which are in two separate DMV districts, agents from both are working together. They say more than 10 people have filed complaints with the state agency about Auto House.

One of those customers is Crystal Moore. She bought a 2015 Nissan Altima from Auto House. It said SL on the back and on the window sticker. But, the VIN indicates the car is the more basic S model. She overpaid. The Blue Book value difference is $5,000.

"I ain't very happy with them right now," she said.

2) Action 9 found Altimas weren't the only vehicles mislabeled

Former Auto House salesman Oscar Emmary said the dealership altered Altimas and Ram 1500 pickups. He said Auto House put "Big Horn" emblems on the back, which made the trucks look higher end than they were.

"They [would] slap [the emblems] on the back [of the trucks]," he said. "That changes the price."

Another former employee also told Action 9 that Auto House added "Big Horn" emblems to lesser models, and even sent us a picture of spare emblems he said Auto House had.

Moore didn't have only an Altima from Auto House. She had also bought a Ram 1500 from the dealership. The truck and the window sticker both said "Big Horn." Action 9 ran the VIN and her Ram was also mislabeled. So it looked like the more expensive "Big Horn" model, but was really a regular "SLT" model. The Blue Book difference in this case is at least $1,000.

Moore plans to tell the DMV about this vehicle too.

3) Auto House offered some customers refunds

The dealership's been contacting customers who complained in the Action 9 report or on social media, offering to resolve their complaints.

One of those customers is Philip Helms. He appeared in Action 9's first report. He said he unknowingly bought a mislabeled Altima and paid thousands extra for it. He realized the problem last December and complained to Auto House. The business wouldn't give him a refund then. But, last week, when Auto House knew Action 9 was investigating, Helms says the dealership called him an hour before the report aired, told him to bring in his car and gave him a full refund.

"Action 9. That's the only thing. Only thing I know of. The only thing that changed," he said.

Eddie Lowery also appeared in Action 9's first report. He said Auto House offered him money back, but that he took a trade-in instead.

Another customer contacted Action 9 on Facebook. She said Auto House appears to be sending customers letters. She got one.

It says, "Auto House sold you a Nissan Altima between December 1st 2015 and April 30th 2016. You may have been overcharged for the vehicle." It offers to "trade out" the vehicle, "buy back the vehicle" or "refund the overcharged amount."