I am SO MAD!

I recently took my car in for body work repairs after a small accident. (I scraped the side of it underneath the door.)

When I got the estimate done with my insurance company, they asked what happened previously to the car--I told them this was the first thing that ever happened. The guy told me that there was some body work done already--but I bought the car new from the dealership.

This means that my dealership sold me a new car that had been in an accident or something beforehand, and did not tell me.

It could have been before I even got the car or it could have been when I had it serviced at the same dealership (It took over a week for them to fix a problem with the car leaking.)

Do I have any recourse in this? Can a dealer sell someone a new car that has had body work, and not tell them? I don't know how much work was done on it before, if it was a big crash or just like a door hitting it, I have no idea.

My friend told me that I can't prove that the dealer did this--that I could have had work done and am just trying to get money from them. I really want to know what happened to my car though!

If you read this far, thank you!

Re: I am SO MAD!

As your insurance company for the proof that there was work done on the car already with dates etc. If they are the ones telling you this, they should have no problem providing the information to prove it.

Then show them the paperwork that you purchased your car on whatever date.

I'd be taking a stroll down to my dealership with this information as well.

Re: I am SO MAD!

First, run a carfax report using your VIN to see if any reports were filed..

Secondly, you need to have this car re-inspected by another mechanic to confirm their findings..

This happened to us.. we bought a certified pre-owned car from a BMW dealer and noticed the hood was off, when it was taken it to be checked out, the guy told us that work had been done because it wasn't the original hood.. I did a carfax and BAM, it came up that it was indeed in an accident.. needless to say, they felt like absolute sh!T and did compensate us for it and we ended getting a new car instead..

Re: I am SO MAD!

If damage occurred to the car during transport (if it came over on a boat, or was transported on a truck) the dealer could have fixed it before you took delivery.

Re: I am SO MAD!

It's very common for a car to have "lot damage" - dings or dents that occur during transport or just parked on the lot. The dealer doesn't have to disclose that there was repair work done. Carfax isn't the only company that gets reported to, sometimes it comes up clean when in fact there was previous work done.
My DH is a wholesaler and arbitrates between buyer and seller -- he says the only way you have recourse is if the car has frame damage. Ask your body shop to check the frame thouroughly - if there's any bending or repair work to the frame the seller has to disclose that. Unfortunately if it's any other repair they are not required to tell you.
You might have more luck talking to the sales manager and telling him that you want a GREAT deal on your next car in good faith to keep you as a loyal customer.
HTH.

Re: I am SO MAD!