Driver facing $6k repairs when car springs ‘massive leak’ day after purchase – dealership told him he’s out of luck

A DRIVER is requesting legal advice after buying a used car that he almost immediately discovered had an oil leak.

The Facebook user said the dealership that he purchased his car from told him that they wouldn’t help him with the necessary auto repairs .

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“I just purchased a 2013 Subaru WRX from a Chevrolet dealership,” Conner Cox said in the post he made in a group for free legal advice.

“They said there [were] no issues with the vehicle, my One Mile test drive drove fine. I go and sign and purchase the vehicle, along with asking 3 times if the vehicle has a warranty, which it does, 3 months / 3k miles powertrain warranty.”

He explained that he purchased the vehicle on a Saturday, just 15 minutes before the dealer closed.

“I start my drive home about 3 hours, 30 minutes in the car stalls and starts up but with a rough idle,” Cox went on.

“I called the salesman’s personal number he gave me, asking what fuel they had put in it. They said 87, meanwhile, the car takes 93. Thinking this could be a problem for the engine, I put an octane booster in it and carried on my way.”

The Facebooker said that he was driving home with the car on cruise control when it started to stutter “but the dealership is already closed and I’m halfway home.”

“I decided to keep going home since I work at a dealership and know I can bring it on Monday and check it out,” he said.

“Monday Morning I decide to get on my lift, Realized I have a massive Oil Leak that was not disclosed while purchasing the Vehicle.”

When Cox called the car salesman, he said the dealer told him “there is nothing they can do to help.”

That led to him facing up to $6,000 in repairs for the automobile he had just purchased.

“I call the general manager right away and tell him the full story and what was wrong with the vehicle,” the driver explained.

“He states the car did not have an oil leak during their inspection which I refuse to believe because of the amount of old built-up oil covering the frame of the car,

“This wasn’t a new oil leak that happened in my 100-mile drive home.”

Cox expressed feeling like he was just out of luck because the dealership said they couldn’t do anything to help him with the engine issues.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

After he told that car salesman that he was “not paying for any repairs,” the dealer advised that he set an appointment with a Subaru Dealership.

“I did just that,” Cox said.

“Waiting on my appointment currently to see what the quote is (I’m thinking around 4-6k in repairs) Along with them missing the Control arm bushing being busted, fog light out, rear wiper, and a broken wheel stud.”

After laying out the details of his conundrum, Cox said he’s just “trying to see what I can do legally about this.”

He stressed that he’s not “going to spend $20k on a car that was said to have no problem to find out I need to fix it for another 4-6k next day after purchase.”

“I told him I wouldn’t have bought the car if I had known about this issue and could see it before purchase,” Cox stressed.

“He said ‘we are salespeople we don’t look under the car’ which I understand, but there is no way this is my fault. I want to return it, but they do not take returns. So it seems I’m stuck with this.”

Over 70 Facebook users reacted to the driver’s post, some providing advice.

“Stay away from Subarus unless you turn wrenches yourself there easy to work on swap a motor in 2 hours but get used to swapping motors,” one person said.

“Since you get a power train warranty you may have not bought ‘AS IS,'” someone else added.

“I would look at your paperwork and see if anything thing is marked ‘AS IS.’ You might have a lemon law case or consumer protection case if you bought under warranty.”