Overhaulin'

Bought a truck..just found out it has frame damage?

Yep...the dreaded car salesman pulled one over on me..I think. My question is..Do I have any recourse in this situation? When I bought the truck, it had a sign on the window stating the truck was being sold "as is". The salesman disclosed to me that there weren't any problems with the truck. I test drove it. It drove and handled fine. (I drove it about 40 miles...the salesman didn't like that). Recently, I purchased a 30 ft camper. The truck was very capable of hauling this camper..but it didn't have enough room for my family. I went looking for a truck with either an extended cab or a 4 door with a back seat. I offered my truck in trade. After giving the "new" salesman the information on the truck and letting his guy drive the truck...he came back to give me some very interesting information. He came back with reports from CARFAX.COM and Experian Auto Check. Both had information that would make trading this truck in very hard. The reports both told of an accident in 2005. Also the truck had been repossessed. But the final piece of information stated that the truck had structural frame damage. The report said that "all" of this information was announced at the auction where the first salesman purchased it. I decided to call the auction to verify the reports I had been given. The guy in charge of the auction stated that all information on "every" vehicle is announced over a loud speaker just prior to the vehicle's sale. Therefore, the dealership I purchased this truck from knew of this structural frame damage. This is where it comes back to my question. With the truck being sold as is..can he still sell the truck without disclosing the truck was flawed structurally? The damage was listed as "Driver Side B Pillar". I haven't checked to see if this damage is bad, good or otherwise. I have used this truck to pull 9 horse slant trailers, my aunt's 30 ft trailer...my pontoon boat. To me, I see no problem structurally with the truck..yet because of the information announced and listed at the auction where it was purchased, I cannot trade the truck. Do I have any recourse in this situation? Unclereeky I found out that that at the auction where it was purchased..it was announced prior to the sale of this truck that it was being sold with Frame Damage. Therefore, the dealer I bought it from knew it was damaged, yet failed to disclose this to me.

Public Comments

1. You learned a hard lesson. Never buy used especially from a car lot.
2. Yea that's a very hard lesson, eh it happens to the best of us, I went down a similar path
3. Nope. If you would have done your due diligence and ran a Carfax report before purchasing this truck you would have known it had frame damage. That is not the dealers fault. This is your responsibility as the buyer. You have no recourse against the first dealer. The only exception would be if the truck is deemed unsafe to drive and a hazard to the road. Which is obviously not the case since you;ve been using the truck all this time with no incident. If you wouldn't have tried to trade it in you would have never known it was repaired. Frame damage, while sounding bad is repairable. Body shops can do amazing high quality work these days. If the truck has a good title (not salvaged or rebuilt) then the damage couldn't have been that bad.
4. If it was a car lot, they have to disclose this information if it was available to them, you definately have a law suit there. Even as is, a car lot can not with hold that information. The fact that you have the car lot listing the damage as b pillar only, and can prove they knew about the frame makes this open and shut.
5. Technically, depending on which state you're in, you are probably protected against this to some extent. Frame damage is considered major most of the time and may also require a "rebuilt" or "salvage" title. I would at least consult a lawyer. the statement that, buying used "especially off a car lot" is bad, is foolish. all my vehicles have been used and I've not had any problems from them. You just gotta know what to look for.
6. Some states have a disclosure requirement for this stuff, so it may be that a crime was committed. That's different from getting your money back, of course. You should still talk to a lawyer. Also, beware of bookkeeping errors. Convince yourself that the truck was actually wrecked.
7. when it says a car are truck is being sold as is that should make you think i mean how many other cars did you see with that sign the dealer must have seen a big sucker sign over your head when he saw you