Used Car Buyers, Beware of Flood Damage!

When college student and 1-800-LEMON-LAW client Ryan Robinson purchased the car of his dreams, a 2007 Ford Mustang with 13,000 miles, he had no idea he was stepping into a puddle of problems. However, even though the Carfax was clean, Robinson found his car turned out to have previously been flooded. He has filed suit against the dealer for misrepresentation and remarkably enough, we signed another client today who purchased a flooded BMW from the same dealer.

CBS 3 Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has Robinson’s story, and also some important tips from ASE Certified Mechanic Steve Ruch on how to spot a flood car. You can read the story and view the video by clicking here (URL no longer valid, removed).

Also remember, when purchasing a used car, there are a lot of questions you need to ask to make sure your dream car was not previously someone else’s nightmare. Check out our Lemon Dodger worksheet, and make sure you read some of our past blog entries on used car buying. Even though you are purchasing a used vehicle, you still are making a significant financial commitment and if you don’t watch yourself, you could find yourself paying out of pocket for costly repairs and part replacement. We have seen many instances where it cost a consumer more to purchase a used car than it would have to purchase a new one.

Lastly, if you feel your car was misrepresented at the time of sale, inquire about your rights with us or another consumer attorney. It never costs anything to ask a question and the advice provided could prove to be invaluable.