Car lot sold me a salvage car! What do i do?

Question

SO I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I RECENTLY STARTED REALIZING THAT THE FRAME IS NOT SRTAIGHT AT ALL. THE BACK TIRES ARE CRUCKET.. ITS OVIOUS ITS BEEN IN A WRECK. WHEEL BASE IS ABOUT 1 INCH OFF. THE TITTLE WAS CLEAN...NOT SALVAGE.. AND NOW I SEE THAT IT IS A SALVAGE CAR AND THEY DIDNT TELL ME....WHAT DO I DO...? I BOUGHT IT OFF A SMALL DEALER!!! I NEED SOME OPINIONS....THANX

Answer 1

You may have a claim against the dealer. Most states have laws that a buyer must be informed if a vehicle is salvaged. Are you absolutely sure though, that you were not informed? Are you sure you did not sign some paper, saying that it was salvaged? How did you find out it was salvaged? Did the previous title say Salvaged?

Answer 2

See if you can go through Car-Fax, with the vin number and find out if it had a salvage title. Dealers can take a salvage title into another state and have them changed. I hope you only both the car two months ago, and have not tagged it yet, so you haven't take ownership of the car. I bought a Mercedes a few years back for my daughter, from a small dealer, within the first month the car would run no more. They installed a stereo, and the 2 main wires were hot and it destroyed all the wiring system in the car. I had not tagged it yet, so I got all my money back. I told them that my family had owned a business in this town for many years and if they wanted to continue to have a decent name, they would make it right with me. Don't be intimidate by them at all. Most have financial backing from an individual, if they bring that up, then tell them to talk with their investor and being a businessman they will do the right thing. OR THERE IS COURT. I would get it back ASAP! Good luck!!!!

Answer 3

Two months have past, and you are just now realizing that the car has a problem? The dealer is not going to do anything, and to tell the truth, I can not blame him! In two months a lot can happen to a car.

Did you have the vehicle checked out by your own mechanic prior to purchase? If not, why not? If you did, why did your mechanic not notice the problem?

It is possible that the vehicle had prior damage that the dealer did not know about! You did not notice it for 2 months, so it could not have been that obvious! You say yourself that the car had a clean (not salvage) title!

Right now you have three choices. You can have the car repaired. You can drive it the way it is. You can sell it and buy another vehicle.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!!

Answer 4

Let me get this straight: It's been 2 months, and now you realize that the wheels are "crucket" and the wheelbase is an inch off. First of all, how did you measure the wheel base? That's not the easiest measurement to be exact on without proper tools. Secondly, a car with these problems would have been noticed immediately. I'm sorry to say this, but i think you are stuck.

It is going to be impossible to prove that the dealer knew it was a wrecked car when they sold it to you, two months have past, and it's your responsiblity to check the car properly before buying. There is too many things against you at this point.

Answer 5

First off, if the title is clean and clear, it is not a salvaged title vehicle. You should have had the car checked out by your mechanic before purchasing the vehicle. If you bought the car from a mom and pop small lot, good luck getting anything back from them. If you bought from a larger dealership and want to raise a really big stink about it, they might help you out just on a customer service level but I dont think they are obligated to do anything for you.

If Carfax shows a title was never salvaged, then you dont have a leg to stand on.

Answer 6

I'd say consult an attorney about what you should do in this situation. Also, report the lot to the Better Business Bureau. And next time, have a car checked out by a mechanic before you buy it. I'm sorry this has happened.