Crain's got 'em.

It seems the Arkansas Attorney General's consumer complaint division has an ongoing investigation of the Crain Automotive group.

There were 54 complaints filed against dealerships under the Crain Automotive umbrella in 2003, with 20 settlements between Crain and cranky auto buyers.

It's uncertain how many complaints have been filed this year, but at this point about 30 complaints are still open in the investigation. It is normally hard to get details about ongoing investigations, it's a lot easier when complainants decide to file suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court--as three have done.

Kimberly Adams of Lonoke, Marilyn Carlock of Little Rock and Donna Van Tassel of Maumelle filed suit on March 12. Named as defendants were Crain Automotive Inc., Crain Automotive Holdings LLC, Crain Kia LLC, Crain Chevrolet-Oldsmobile LLC and Larry Crain Sr.

They claimed breach of warranties, fraud, and violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. They're represented by attorneys Michael R. Johns and Dawn D. Bicker of Dover Dixon Home PLLC of Little Rock.

Particularly interesting was Van Tassel's claim that a 2002 Honda Civic EX bought at Car Wars at War Memorial Stadium in August 2003 had two VIN numbers.

She bought the car for $15,002 for her teenage son to drive, according to the suit. Her son reported grinding noises, a faulty gas gauge and gasoline fumes, and mechanics at Bale Honda told Van Tassel that all of the gauges were aftermarket parts. Later, internal transmission damage was found, three motor mounts were broken, and fuel tank brackets were bent, other after market parts were found, and body work had been done.

A different VIN number was found on a front fender--from a car with a junk title--the lawsuit claimed. She filed a consumer complaint with the Attorney General in November but has had no response, she said.

Adams claimed sales staff told her a 1999 Mercury Sable she bought in March 2003 for $9,653 had never been in a wreck. The car soon had problems, the lawsuit claimed, and a body shop told her the car been wrecked at some point and had significant damage at the rear. At sale, the vehicle had cleared a search on its accident history.

Adams filed a consumer complaint with the Attorney General against Crain Kia in July 2003. The dealership responded within days and said a Carfax reported indicated no accident history.

Carlock claimed in July 2002 she bought a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu LS from Crain Chevrolet for $21,809. By late July the suit claimed grinding noises during operation could be heard and in July and August mechanics at different shops told her the car might've been wrecked at some point due to visible undercarriage damage, the lawsuit claimed.

She filed a complaint with the Attorney General in September 2003, but which Crain hasn't responded, the lawsuit claimed.

Crain didn't respond to our request for comment, so we can only give you the plaintiff's side of the story for now.