Kirkland car dealer to pay $74,000 over misleading mailers

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) _ A Kirkland car dealership has agreed to pay $74,000 to settle allegations that it sent out misleading mailers.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson says Rairdon's Dodge Chrysler Jeep sent out more than 7,000 mailers that mimicked official recall notices. The mailers implied to recipients that there was something wrong with their car and offered to purchase the vehicles. But the official-looking documents did not clearly disclose that the offers were not in fact connected to any recalls.

Ferguson said the mailers violated the state Consumer Protection Act. The dealership agreed to pay $35,125 in civil penalties and more than $39,000 in costs and fees.