My wife purchased a Brand New 2005 Buick Lacrosse CXL on 9/25/2005. We've never had any problems with it. We purchased it from a Dealer that we have purchased 4 other vehicles from. I decided to get the Car Fax report on another one of my cars, but I did all the others just for fun. Well, it turns out that the Lacrosse was in a front end collision with another vehicle a month and a half before We purchased it. It was enough damage to have it towed as the Car Fax Report stated. It happened on the same street that the dealer is on. My guess is that someone test drove it and wrecked it. Now...The dealer did not tell us this. I found it on the CF report. Is this illegal? it only has 42,000 miles on it and we have already had both front tie rods replaced. and been through 2 sets of tires. We just thought it was fluke. Who could I contact regarding this? Attorney General?

Thanks for the help!

 

Well honestly I would call everyone and anyone I could think of. Better Business Bureau, Attourney General, Local news station, consumer advocates office. Anyone.

FIRST bring it up to the dealer (And by dealer I mean the OWNER, the guy with HIS name on the front of the building) and see if they can or will do anything for you!

 

Well, I have two observations.

1. It is not uncommon for vehicles to pick up some minor scratches and dings during delivery and which the dealer fixes before selling the vehicle as "new".

2. Having said that, any damage that is sufficient to be listed on a CarFax report would certainly not fall into that category of minor scatches and dings.

I agree with redline. And if you don't get satisfaction most newspapers and TV stations have consumer advocates that would be more than happy to feature your problem in a column or segment. But give them a chance to make it right first.

 

CarFax only lists insurance claims
(one of the problems with thinking CarFax knows everything-they only know what went through the ins.co.)
If the CarFax report isn't in error, then someone made an insurance claim on that car
I don't know if a dealer claim would show up on CarFax

 

Yeah, I thought of that. Only thing I can think of is that it was the other guy's fault and somehow that got the car in question logged??? Can't imagine in any case why the dealer wouldn't just discount it and disclose the prior damage repair.

 

The police report stated it was in a Front end wreck with another vehicle. I guess this could have happened on their lot maybe. Maybe someone just rounded the corner and smashed into it as it was parked...LOL. I'm waiting to get the full report. Is it normal to have to replace both front end tie rods within 42,000 miles? I think it is rediclous. I went into Best One to get a set of $400 tires and walked out of there paying $1600 for front and rear end repair. (The rear needed new cam bolt kits - not related)

 

Maybe try to post your thread in the insurance forum. I was told once that the dealer only needs to tell the buyer if the damage is over a certin pecentage of the cars cost. [by law]

 

They would do it so they MAKE THE MOST PROFIT!

 

Not true. Any repair that any dealer does is also reported.
Carfax gets the information from the auto companies.

 

Gotta go with redline & towguy, give owner or manager of dealership, opportunity to make it right, with the understanding that all local media will be notified, and will have access to all you've found out so far, and that you'll post your own full page add in local newspaper if necessary, and they better not drag their heals. Don't forget to call GM head office to report the dealer, and what he sold you, if the dealer doesn't move on it, as the manufacturer doesn't usually take to kindly to dealers who do that crap, and may rattle the dealers cage a little for you, with the threat of pulling his franchise if too much negative publicity comes from this.