MAGA Motors, a now-closed auto repair business in Tea, SD, has left a trail of irate customers and legal challenges in its wake. People who sought repairs found themselves embroiled in a financial and psychological nightmare, they told Dakota News Now, with cars either not fixed or further damaged, leading to significant financial strain and emotional distress.
Judy Kubiszweski, a resident of Harrisburg, SD, shared her experience with Dakota News Now, after the news outlet published an article about another customer who paid MAGA Motors $1,000 for repairs, only to find out later the business had been evicted and her car had been towed elsewhere, costing her more money.
Kubiszweski said MAGA Motors performed a series of failed repairs, ignored requests for invoices and overcharged her, culminating in the total loss of her vehicle. Kubiszweski, who depends on her car for work, described the ordeal as a severe blow to her livelihood.
Kubiszweski said she knows dozens of other people with similar experiences with the now-defunct business, who have shared their stories on a consumer website.
MAGA Motors, owned by Tracy Hicks, opened in 2022 and operated for 18 months. It now has seven lawsuits filed against it in the state. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and his Consumer Protection Division did not disclose specifics to Dakota News Now, but acknowledged the severity of the allegations and said the business is "very much on his radar."
