The state has settled a consumer fraud action against a Tucson automobile dealer for $152,000, Attorney General Terry Goddard announced.

Complaints from consumers prompted the lawsuit against Precision Toyota of Tucson, Mr. Goddard said. From Aug. 20 to Aug. 30 of last year, the company’s two dealerships ran advertisements in newspapers and on radio and television offering new Toyota vehicles at “50 per cent off MSRP,” Mr. Goddard said. But once consumers went to the dealership, they found they had to take out a 36-month lease and then would be eligible to buy the vehicle at 50 per cent less than the residual value.

The deal constituted fraud because it clearly misled consumers by creating an expectation that they could buy a car for half of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, he said. “Precision Toyota tried a bait-and-switch tactic and it backfired,” Mr. Goddard said. The $152,000 will go to the Attorney General’s Office to help defer the costs of investigating and litigating the complaints against Precision Toyota and to educate consumers. A news release states that the settlement is one of the highest ever under the state anti-fraud statute for deceptive advertising.