About a month and a half ago I purchased a 2005 Accord Hybrid from a dealer. He pulled up the carfax report and it looked clear. I however didn't care for the car and tried to trade it in today...The owner confronts me to let me know that the carfax report that he pulled on the car shows that last year it had been in a severe front on collision, airbags were deployed, and damage to the frame were noted. The dealer did not disclose this information to me at sale. What are my options? (I live in Ohio) Is sueing the only option, how long would that take and would it be worth it? I owe 17,000 on a car that is not even worth 4,000 now. Anyone have any experience with something like this? Whats my best course of action?
Thanks!
2007-12-27 15:12:03 · 17 answers · asked by uwilltap1029 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
You will own that dealership. See a lawyer.
2007-12-27 15:19:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
First of all, anyone that is telling you that your car is only worth $4000 is lying!! Even with salvage history and frame damage, (assuming that the mileage is not way off the charts) that car is going to be worth over $11,000 wholesale!!!
Do you have a copy of the carfax report? Does it show the damage? If the damage is not shown on the report, you have no case at all against the dealer. They ran a check and it came back clean. It is not the fault of the dealer if the report was wrong!
Does your contract say anything about a clean vehicle history? Even if the dealer told you a lie, unless you can prove it, you are going to have a hard time proving any fraud!
Did you have the car checked out by your mechanic prior to purchase? If you did, why did the damage not show up in the inspection? If you did not. why didn't you?
Sorry but unless you have something in writing, it is going to be your word against the dealership, and you are not going to win!!
2007-12-27 23:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't know but in the future, it's worth getting a 30 day Carfax subscription before you buy. Dealers can type in one number or letter wrong and bring up the wrong car with just a color code. You might not have noticed. Probably not much to do if it was used to start with.
2007-12-27 23:17:17 · answer #3 · answered by Smurfette 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
What you describe sounds like possible fraud to me. I am the former owner of the Ford Taurus From Hell (10 tow-ins during the first 5 months of ownership). When I got rid of that car, I didn't know about lemonlaw.com, but I wish I did. Though I've never dealt with them personally, I think they're worth a call for you, especially since they say they practice in Ohio. If they don't deal with this type of possible deception, I bet they know someone who does. I still think I would not have had to take as bad a loss as I did on that Ford if the Internet had been available to me back when I traded it.
2007-12-27 23:52:08 · answer #4 · answered by Latrice T 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Carfax has a buyback guarantee. I would contact them directly. If this accident was not disclosed at the time you purchased the vehicle, they may have to buy the car from you. After that, I would contact the dealer. If that doesn't work, I would call the state attorney general's office. A call from that office should speed up actions in your favor.
2007-12-27 23:23:53 · answer #5 · answered by Tracy H 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Go back to the dealer and show him the info that you have from carfax (you also want to verify that carfax is correct, they do make mistakes too!) tell the dealer that you are willing to turn the vehicle in minus the milleage and payments made so far and you will not sue him. I know (in Michigan) we have many "lemon laws" that protect car buyers (both new and used). I would definetly talk to your original dealer soon, the longer you wait, the less your chances are of getting rid of that car!!! Good luck!
2007-12-27 23:18:16 · answer #6 · answered by TOASTEE 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Lawyer.
It's the principle not the cost of fighting these car thieves.
Read the link below and do more research. If you can prove the hidden damages were not disclosed to you there may be some serious recourse. Only a lawyer can do that for you.
Good luck and hope you own that dealership before it's over.
2007-12-27 23:21:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
First, did the dealer print out that report and do you have a copy? if you do, you might be able to prove fraud against the dealer. You might want to contact the DMV in your state to find out what constitutes Auto Fraud. The contact information is:
Ohio Bureau Of Motor Vehicles
ATTN. Investigations
PO Box 16784
Columbus, OH 43216-6784
2007-12-27 23:29:02 · answer #8 · answered by Van!! 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Unfortunately, it will be very difficult for you to sue if the title is not salvaged and you do not have the carfax the dealer presented to you. One option, however, is if the dealership is reputable (i.e. a franchise dealership of Accord's), you can file a report with the franchiser and the Better Business Bureau.
2007-12-27 23:16:55 · answer #9 · answered by thinking wise 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
what he did was completely illegal. check your states "lemon law". Most states have laws protecting consumers against dealers like this. Your best course is to contact your better business bureau immediately! they can help you better. or ask a real dealer what up.
2007-12-27 23:18:12 · answer #10 · answered by DPCar10 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You may still be convered under your lemon laws. Contact your department of consumer affairs
2007-12-27 23:24:51 · answer #11 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋