Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (2024)

Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (1)
  • Motors

SOGGY SALES

Find out where to look for signs of a scam

  • Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter

CAR buyers have been urged to carry out a crucial check as drivers across six states reported their vehicles "rotting from the inside out".

More than 100,000 vehicles are believed to be affected, but the damage may not be visible to the naked eye.

1

In the past month alone, the south-eastern coast has been devastated by twin hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Thousands of people were forced to evacuate as torrential rain and winds of over 140mph swept in.

One consequence of the horror storms was significant flooding across the region, with homes, workplaces and roads all submerged.

And, according to experts at Carfax, more than 138,000 cars suffered water damage as a result.

READ MORE MOTORS NEWS

Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (3)
RED FLAGS Used car buyers warned over stolen vehicle sales - key details to look for
Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (4)
FIX UP Nearly every Hyundai SUV sold since 2019 recalled over issue that could cause fire

But this isn't just a disaster for their owners, as scammers and shady dealers have been known to snap up stock in storm-hit areas at rock-bottom prices.

The unscrupulous sellers then superficially dry the vehicles out before passing them on at a bumper profit.

Anyone landed with a flooded car could find themselves liable for massive repair bills or, at the very least, troubled by some funky smells in the cabin.

What makes a car a lemon?

Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (5)

Each law has different parameters on what defines a lemon, but generally, a car is lemon when it's in the shop for longer than it's on the road.

Progressive Auto Insurance describes a lemon as a car with "a significant defect or malfunction that makes it unsafe to drive," though exact parameters vary by state. All 50 states have lemon laws covering new vehicles, but only seven have lemon laws to protect used car buyers.

Federally, however, consumers are protected under U.S. Code Chapter 50 covering consumer product warranties. In layman's terms, the law dictates that consumers be compensated by the manufacturer when "multiple attempts to repair a vehicle under warranty fail."

What to do if you think you bought a lemon:

  1. Research your state's lemon laws and their exact parameters.
  2. Contact the dealership, especially if it's still under factory warranty.
  3. If the dealership refuses to repair the issue, contact the Automotive Consumer Action Program or the National Automobile Dealers Association.
  4. Send a certified letter to the manufacturer with an explanation of the issue, with documentation and proof that you've contacted a dealership.
  5. Depending on the outcome, you can report the dealership to the DMV for selling a car that needs immediate repairs.
  6. Consider small claims court.
  7. Consult an attorney specializing in lemon law through the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

Source: Progressive Auto Insurance

The Carfax team has urged buyers to be vigilant, especially when considering any car they know to have come from the worst-hit states - Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee.

Most read in Motors

PARKED ITDriver ditches brand new $75k Rivian at 'significant loss' after major issue

SNAP TO ITDrivers risk $3k repair bills if they fail to do crucial check - use 50/50 rule

RARE FINDVintage car that survived WW2 hits auction for $1m after 50 years in a museum

Faisal Hasan, the firm's vice president for data, said: "These cars may look showroom fresh, but they're literally rotting from the inside out.

"After cleaning up the cars and moving them across the country, these scammers will try to lure unsuspecting buyers into thinking they're getting a great deal."

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is hit in the face by hurricane debris live on air as he's pummeled by Milton's wrath

Fortunately, he was able to share some of the red flags you should watch out for.

First of all, you should make sure to get a full vehicle history check, which will reveal where the car was previously.

If it was registered in any of the six states most impacted by the hurricanes until recently, that could suggest it was hit by flooding.

Similarly, always inspect the car thoroughly, especially places like under the seats and the edges of the trunk.

These areas are harder to dry out quickly so any dampness there is a major indication of a problem.

Likewise, musty smells and discolored carpets or surfaces could hint at water damage that has been covered up.

Cars 'rotting from inside' across 6 states as buyers urged to make crucial check (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5501

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.