Overhaulin'

When a car dealer doesnt tell you the car has been in an accident?

Recently we bought a 2004 Chevy Tahoe (January 08). We put a dent into the back end while backing up. I decided that since we just got the darn thing, No sense it looking ghetto so i decided to get a quote and turn it into insurance. The quote was around 1700 dollars so we decided to have it fixed. When we went to pick it up, the guy at the shop asks me if I knew that the vehicle had been in an accident. We told them no and in fact we specifically asked the salesman that question and he said one owner, no accidents. Trusting people that we are, we believed him. Hindsite being 20/20 we should have had them pull a CARFAX on it right there. We didnt. We did when we got home and turns out the vehicle we rear ended back in 05 and has had more than one owner. My question is, Is there anything i can do because the dealer lied to me? We went through a couple other bad things with this dealer also. (they snuck in the cost of extended warranty when they told us that they were throwing it in for free. still dont know how that paper got our signature on it.) This would be the final straw.

Public Comments

1. I know for a fact that you won't get anything resolved without a lawyer. So you need to determine whether or not it's worth your time and money to get these people back. It's not right that they lied to you and yes there are several legalities that you win with, but being a car dealership, they know all the loopholes to shut you down, and they've already got a lawyer. You might as well get one too.
2. Sorry to break it to you, but it was too long ago. Also, when buying a used car, it should almost common knowledge to get a Carfax Report. If you had it on tape saying that it has been in Zero Accidents, it would be another story, but there is not enough evidence. Sorry
3. The salesman just sold you the car on what info HE had. The only time "disclosure" is an issue is when the car was damaged by someone BEFORE it was titled. I had the same thing happen to me when I was in service management for a GM dealer. We had a new car damaged and they repaired it before they sold it. The new owner had a problem with the paint and took it to a GM dealer in his hometown. The hood had body filler on it and a different primer than original equipment. We had to buy the car back and sell it for a used one. Best to get the advice of an attorney though as laws vary from state to state.
4. Read the papers you were given that you signed when you bought the car. That's all that matters. The salesman's comments don't mean a thing to anyone. You could have, and apparently didn't, have the vehicle inspected before the sale, or run a CarFax report on it. Since you didn't, you have an "as is" car that is now fixed. Enjoy driving it. They buy them at auction, know nothing about the car, but will tell you it was owned by a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sunday.
5. I don't know what its like State-side (but I would assume there is a similar type of law), but here is Australia that would be a breach of the Trade Practices Act as he gave you misleading information before you purchasing the product, which out here is a fine of AU$1.1 million per offense. But, then again, they do buy the cars at auction, so he legitimately may not have known that it had been rear-ended.
6. "He said, she said" as far as court goes. Judge Judy doesn't even go for that. If you do not have that statement about no accidents recorded in some way, shape, or form, you are out of luck. Boy, that small investment in an inspection feels great about now, doesn't it? Enjoy the ride. You did buy it! P.S. Carfax may not have shown anything, either, unless insurance covered the repair! Rest on Carfax alone and you may be sorry.