Warning for anyone considering purchasing a used vehicle (flood damage)

[Leon]

I think these might be state laws so they could vary. I believe in Texas you have to disclose certain damage and if it is bad enough, there might be a salvage title. I would think you definitely have some actionable cause against the dealership for not disclosing the damage. However, I don't know the law so am not positive. I would be checking into it the way you are David.

[steve B]

Yeah, not sure about TX, but in MA it's worth pursuing. Even stuff that's not even close to what you've got has to be disclosed.

I worked for a dealership that had a couple cars they'd sold to a taxi company. The taxi place added the roof signs and never paid so they were repossessed and sent back to the dealer. Faux convertible top added to cover the roof hole from the taxi sign (it was the late 80's, so not as out of style as it sounds.) They didn't want to take a loss so they ended up having them around for something like 2 years. Eventually one got sold when a new manager came in who was willing to sell them at a loss.

Except they never disclosed that it had been a taxi for 3 months.
The buyer found out when he went to buy an extended warranty from a 3rd party.
And sued.
The it came back again, only instead of being on the books at the 9000 it had been before, now it was on the books at 27000 Yep, unfair and deceptive business practices, 3x damages. They should have just offered him a new one when he first complained, but they decided to fight it. NOT smart.

I think that's probably a record price for an 87 Reliant.......

Steve B