by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 06/08/2017 at 08:00
by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 06/08/2017 at 08:00
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STARS: 2
Recent news reports tell of a rash of car burglaries. Groups of hoodlums breaking into new cars on dealer lots and prying out the nav systems. The bad news? Those cars will all be patched up and sold as “New.” Welcome to Michigan.
In this state, dealers can repair damaged unsold cars and NOT disclose so long as they can sneak the repairs in under one of three different exceptions in the law. And the law was drafted and lobbied into existence by the car dealerships. So guess how easy that is?
So my prediction here is that the 100+ cars will all be repaired and sold as “New” without any disclosure by the selling dealers. And if the buyers ever find out? Tough. They’ll have no legal remedy.
Like I always say: I don’t write the laws; I just explain them. Here’s the story in audio:
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And video:
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And the top shot was in a junkyard I saw on the side of the road in northern Michigan, while I was driving out and about.
Follow me on Twitter: @stevelehto
Hear my podcast on iTunes: Lehto’s Law
Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 25 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and Michigan lemon law. He wrote The Lemon Law Bible and Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow.
This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
06/08/2017 at 08:08, STARS: 1
If I were to go buy one of the cars next week, & asked if it was damaged would the dealer have to tell me it was?
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
06/08/2017 at 08:41, STARS: 0
I’m not sure how the law reads here across the state line in Ohio but I know we sold Chevy Trackers as new that had to be repaired many years ago. The thugs cut the rear or side windows on the convertible tops for access. When inside they stole the radios, damaged dashes, put screwdrivers through the instrument clusters and cut seats. All the damaged items were replaced with new parts and nothing was McGyvered. I saw nothing wrong with sales doing that.
However I’ve seen new cars come in where body damage had been repaired by the manufacturer or transporter and not disclosed, which should never be concealed. I just discovered an undisclosed damage repair in my wifes 8 year old car last month. Hopefully it was just a factory quality control repair.
"facw" (facw)
06/08/2017 at 08:45, STARS: 0
We had an oppo encounter more or less this issue this weekend: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/non-disclosed-damage-on-new-car-purchase-1795801474
"jimz" (jimz)
06/08/2017 at 08:54, STARS: 2
I’d wager they could say whatever they wanted (e.g. “no”) and so long nothing is in writing on the purchase agreement, you’d be SOL.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
06/08/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 1
Just found out from coworker that the law here in Ohio is over $500 in repair has to be disclosed. Not sure when that went into law here but this varies widely from state to state.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/08/2017 at 09:07, STARS: 2
The one thing I’ve learned from Steve’s podcast is that they can tell you whatever they want.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
06/08/2017 at 09:13, STARS: 0
No. At least not legally.
"Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street." (demon-xanth)
06/08/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 1
Classy looking EM left in that field.