Another Used Car Question.

Yooper Time · 03-23-2008, 09:36 AM

My wife and I purchased a 2007 used car in December. We were told the car was a clean car and that the carfax was clean. (The car looked very clean and was in good shape.) We were not shown a carfax. Since owning the vehicle it has been in the shop about 5 times for various "problems" including sensors, the rear alignment was so far off we ruined the tires in a few thousand miles. A rear wheel bearing also went on us. The back window gasket fell out and had to be replaced. The dealership that fixed it told us the gasket wasn't even for our vehicle and someone cut it to fit...put it in with black silicone. The window gasket and alignment were not covered under warranty..or the new tires. We have also had a friend of ours point out lots of discrepancies in the trunk area..ie parts missing, silicone where welds should be bolts not lined up.

We finally ran our own carfax and found the car was in a bad accident in Portland last year and should have been totaled. Is there anything out there that states the dealer who sold the vehicle to us is responsible...we just want to dump our "problem". He says he is not legally responsible for anything...but will take the car off our hands if we like another vehicle on his lot...or if we find one we like at a dealership he works with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

matttheduck · 03-23-2008, 09:44 AM

Were I you, I would contact the Attorney General's office to file a complaint and to find out if you have any rights in the matter. It might benefit you to tell the dealer that's what you're doing before you do it, unless he refunds 100 percent of your money immediately.

anglingaddict · 03-23-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matttheduck

Were I you, I would contact the Attorney General's office to file a complaint and to find out if you have any rights in the matter. It might benefit you to tell the dealer that's what you're doing before you do it, unless he refunds 100 percent of your money immediately.

BINGO!!! Nuff said!

flyfish101 · 03-23-2008, 09:59 AM

Car fax is not fool proof. I purchased a vehicle with a clean bill of health. I found out it was in an accident because the owner had paperwork stating what had been done to it. Car fax only works if the body shop is willing to put out the effort to report. Your dealer may not have known it had been in for work (giving the benefit of doubt). Did you purchase the car AS IS? Look in your paper work. If so, try working with the dealer. It seems he has put forth a good effort to try to help. That doesn't mean not to contact the A.G. office. But that should be if the dealer cannot satisfy what you need.

Yooper Time · 03-23-2008, 12:26 PM

We've been doing a little research and found something in the Oregon Revised Statutes under civil laws and liabilities. It looks like the dealer is still responsible even if the buyer signs an "as is" form. It says the dealer is required to inspect the vehicle and disclose all visible problems to the buyer. I will call the AG on Monday to see if this applies...thanks.

Duckwheat · 03-23-2008, 12:45 PM

IF you could unload it without a lot of problems and not much money I'd take the dealers deal.

You may be a year from now posting new events on the car fiasco.

Move on quickly...........

DW

HntnFsh · 03-23-2008, 02:56 PM

If you can prove he knew the car was repaired.He could be in big trouble.If you got a carfax.I would call the previous owner and ask if the dealer knew of the problems.I think there is also a liability issue if the car is deemed unsafe and he sold it to you.
I would definiteley pursue this.You have more rights than you may think.

I'm going to eat Easter dinner.I'll give you a good example later.