My friend bought a used car yesterday, but its already got problems, can he return it?

[RGN]

He bought a car from a dealer, and already the check engine light is on, and there is a new clunk in the front end. He wants to return it. We are in Illinois, any ideas?

 

[MemnochtheDevil]

Good luck, I know here it would be entirely up to the dealer and what promises they made. Some offer a warranty for the first 10 days/1000 miles. Otherwise once you finished the paperwork and drove off the lot its yours!

 

[AU Tiger]

A little Google help for you.. It doesn't look good for your friend.

 

[Ornery]

I don't know about you, but I expect to make repairs on the used cars I buy. If you plan on owning the thing for several years, it all shakes out in the end. I prefer to put the parts in ASAP, so I get the most use out of them. Nothing worse than throwing a bunch of parts in a car, and selling it soon after. I'd rather be the one to get most of the use out of those parts. Have it repaired by a mechanic you trust, and enjoy the thing!

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: AU Tiger
A little Google help for you.. It doesn't look good for your friend.

usually, if i buy a used car, i would look in the classified section,like the washington post.

I'm in Northern VA

 

[spanky]

u should look up lemon laws.

 

[The Stigenator]

it depends on state laws and stuff.

my dealer (galpin motors) actually had a thing that if I am not satisfied witht eh used car in 1000 miles or 3 days I can ask for a refund or another car.. this was against the thing right behind the finance guy who was sitting there.

But then galpin is a big dealer...

 

[Jadow]

If its a reputable dealer, they should fix it for free.

I had a headlight go out 2 days after I bought my used car, took it in, and they replaced it for free, its about goodwill, and having me come back there to buy my next car.

 

[ManSnake]

No cooling-off period...

 

[StageLeft]

What did he buy and how much?

After paying $15k for our 2000 maxima in November I was thrilled when, about a week later, driving down the road the engine light came on. I'd read about them earlier on this model and guessed it was probably an oxygen sensor (turns out it was, so I did it myself for under $100), but there is nothing quite to give one pause like buying a used car and having a problem right away. The dealer did not have a warranty on it and I didn't hassel them over it. I guess it was just bad luck though in retrospect it IS possible they knew about this and reset the computer (this particular problem only comes on after a few hundred miles and if you reset you get another while out of it). Sucks - but chances are that engine light problem is a small one. Get him to bring it to autozone and they'll check it for free.

The clunk in the front end would concern me but really that could be a number of things.

 

[T2T III]

Hopefully, the dealer will take care of you. Have your friend try not to put any more miles on the car until the dealer is contacted tomorrow. If the car has only been driven 50 miles or so, the dealer should take care of your friend. If the dealer is a shady dealer and doesn't care to help your friend out with the issue, I'd suggest to your friend to write a "letter to the editor" of your local paper describing the activities of the dealership. The letter will be printed in the local paper and give the dealership some bad press - something they really don't want.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Hopefully, the dealer will take care of you. Have your fried try not to put anymore miles on the car until the dealer is contacted tomorrow. If the car has only been driven 50 miles or so, the dealer should take care of your friend. If the dealer is a shady dealer and doesn't care to help your friend out with the issue, I'd suggest to your friend to write a "letter to the editor" of your local paper describing the activities of the dealership. The letter will be printed in the local paper and give the dealership some bad press - something they really don't want.

I dunno...I'd ask the dealer to see if they can fix you but unless something nasty was done (like they reset the computer just before he bought it) I don't see any reason the dealer should pay over your friend. Afterall it is a used car and things do go wrong... I have this opinion as well after having particularly sh*ty luck with my first used car, but thems the breaks I guess.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: spankyOO7
u should look up lemon laws.

well first off lemon law usually does not apply to used cars.

second: the lemon law aplies to a part that dies 3+ times. not a car that has troubles.


your friend is most likely SOL. it depends on the dealership. Most used cars are bought as-is. But if it is something serious and he can prove the dealership knew then he can do something. If i was him i would take it back and see what they can do.

 

[Zenmervolt]

In Ohio there is three day law. Meaning that you can change your mind within three days of the sale. Call your state's Attourney General's office to find out what the laws are in your state. Mind you, the three day law applies to new cars in Ohio, not sure about used.

ZV

 

[T2T III]

Have your friend re-read his contract. If the contract states "As-is" "where-is" then he is SOL because a 3-day right to rescind on the contract would not be permitted. Usually, most states prohibit the right to rescind the contract within three days on vehicles. Other stuff, like vacuum cleaners are usually covered by this law.