Watch Out for Remarketed Defective Used Vehicles
Auto safety recalls are always important to follow. A recent recall involving Takata airbags has resulted in hundreds of injuries and affected almost 42 million cars. Is it possible that a used car dealer, aware of a vehicle’s potentially dangerous recalled products, could still sell the car to someone as long as they let them know that parts of the vehicle are on recall? The answer is yes, and this is the topic of a legal debate between General Motors and two used car dealers. Keep reading to learn ways that dangerous cars are being remarketed.
Ways Defective Cars Are Remarketed
Standard titles on remarketed recall cars include “repaired for safety issues” or “subject to inspection.” These titles are vague, and the real meaning of those terms can be lost in the sales process. The real danger of purchasing one of these vehicles should be made much more evident in the marketing. More like “car contains a potentially dangerous recalled airbag.” This would make it harder to sell the car, but the debate is whether these cars should be resold at all.Laws have been enacted against car manufacturers for selling recalled vehicles, and in 2016, a similar law was passed to regulate the sale of recalled vehicles by car rental agencies. There is no regulation of used-car companies. However, there are laws requiring the dealer to repair the recalled item fully or to disclose to the buyer that the car is still subject to recall.
Is the Manufacturer or Used Car Dealer Liable?
In the event of a dangerous product recall, both the manufacturer and the used-car dealer may be found liable if certain conditions are met. The used-car dealer is not responsible for having cars with recalled parts. Still, they are responsible for clearly communicating to the vehicle buyer that the vehicle contains recalled products and has been repaired, or that the recalled product in the car is still pending repair. It’s when the remarketing is poorly explained to the buyer or uses overly vague wording to explain the problem clearly. This is where the means of a debate have arisen. The manufacturer of the recalled product is liable for personal injury lawsuits and compensatory damages. These remarketed cars are dangerous, and if you have purchased a used car with a defect, you may be eligible for compensation. Lufkin car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are experienced in many kinds of auto accident cases. Injured? Call us today.