Car Owner Buys Motorcycle After BMW Repair Exceeds 1.5 Years, Over $26k Paid

Kelvin Lucas, a 31-year-old resident of Palmas, has been waiting for over a year and seven months for his 2009 BMW 118i to be repaired. He left the luxury car at an auto shop in Palmas in early 2025 for engine work and claims to have paid over R$26,000 in advance for the service. Due to the prolonged delay, Lucas was forced to purchase a motorcycle to commute and is now facing a second year of paying vehicle taxes (IPVA) on a car he cannot use. The case has reached the courts, which have issued two orders for the immediate repair and return of the vehicle. The auto shop, Ruicar Imports, stated that the car has been ready since May and is awaiting pickup. However, Lucas disputes this, asserting that the problem remains unresolved and that the car's condition has worsened, with a failing engine, burnt headlights, and faded paint from being exposed to the elements. The court has imposed a daily fine of R$500 on the shop for non-compliance, capped at R$15,000. An attorney consulted by TV Anhanguera advised that consumers in such situations can pursue forced fulfillment of the service or seek reimbursement of the amounts paid, with monetary adjustment. In extreme cases where the vehicle is not returned satisfactorily, the legal action can be converted to seek the full value of the vehicle as material damages.