Q: What can I do if I find out my New/Used car was in several car accidents not listed on the CarFax?
I bought a New/used car from a Honda Dealership in the Bay Area of California in Feb 2020. It's a 2016 Honda Civic touring. The price came out to $21,000. I noticed something a little off about the paint job after few weeks after purchase but thought it was the effects of the paint. Getting my car detailed the detailer started pointing permanent watermarks in the paint on the car that I can now see clear as day. After he waxed and polished the car you can now see someone written DTLAI into the paint of the car with their finger, It's permanent. I took it to a AAA body shop and was told this car was in several accidents in the back and both passenger and driver side and wasn't reported to the insurance and got very cheap work down out of pocket. Now that I got my car waxed and polished you can see my car is now 2 tone and DTLAI written into the car front driver side panel thanks to the cheap paint job was done. I was told buy honda my car was a leased car from their dealership.
A: Sorry for your issues. Start by opening up a "DMV Investigations" inquiry into what happened. They will put pressure on the selling dealer to get to the bottom of this. Then contact an auto fraud attorney, who should review at no charge or for a low fee and if s/he takes the case should only get paid IF/WHEN they win!
Daniel Timothy LeBel agrees with this answer
A:
Dear Bay Area driver,
I agree with Mr. Kaufman and add that it is unlikely a dealership could miss the telltale signs of collision damage combined with poor quality repairs. Even more so if the vehicle was in more than one collision.
The dealership cannot hide behind a clean CarFax report and has a duty to inspect the vehicle and not misrepresent or omit material information.
Your Honda Civic should also be checked for frame damage and other issues which could present a safety concern for you, your passengers and the anyone that shares the road with you. Good of you to ask and take action like you're doing.
Stay safe,
Dan LeBel
A:
MORE INFO NEEDED.
I WOULD REPORT TO POLICE, DMV FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND THE GOVERNING ORGANIZATION FOR CAR DEALERSHIPS.
THE HONDA DEALER SHOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN OR BE FORCED TO DO SO;.
YOU CAN ALSO SUE THEM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT WHILE YOU KEEP THE CAR.
HOWEVER HAVING SAT AS A JUDGE PRO TEM , I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO SHARE YOUR POSITION WITH THE COURT. I ALWAYS LIKE WHEN THE PLAINTIFF (YOU) HAD WRITTEN A DEMAND LETTER SUMMARIZING ALL THE FACTS ETC.
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