What is the name of your state?VA
Last month, I bought a 99 Chevy S10 pickup from a large dealership. They lead me to believe it had passed their "128 point inspection." They made it sound like the car was in great shape. The first day I drove it, I realized the gas gauge was acting funny. I took it to my local auto shop and they found many things wrong with it: leaky oil coolant lines, leaky power steering pump, defective gas gauge, defective power mirrors, and worn serpentine belt and tensioner. The dealership agreed to fix the gas gauge and the power steering pump. At the time it was at the dealership, they also found that the lower intake manifold was bad and the water pump was leaking. They expect me to pay over $500 dollars towards those repairs. There is still about $500 more in repairs that are left outstanding. They claim they've already spent $2,700 in repairs (due to inflated dealership repair costs). However, they admit they never had the car inspected by their mechancs before the sale.
They also slapped on a state inspection sticker fraudulently--because a brake light wasn't working.
The "buyers guide" on the window states they only need to pay half the cost of internally lubricated parts of the engine--which means, technically, they don't have to pay for any of those leaks.
However, I did not sign the Buyers Guide that was on the window.
There is another document I signed (headed "VA used car warranty") that says they'll pay half of anything wrong with the engine, transmission, front or rear axles, or electrical.
Under VA law, a merchant is not allowed to mislead a consumer or misrepresent what they are selling.
Do I have any chance of winning this case--and not paying anything out of pocket, based on their verbal "misrepresentation"?
I need to decide if I should take them to court. I may end up paying $1,000 out of pocket.
Are the oil coolant lines and rear pinion seal part of the "engine?" How do I get clarification on their vague language of what's part of the "Engine"? Does the dealership have to provide specifics if I demand more details?
My biggest question---is "misrepresentation of goods" easy to win in court? I have two separate mecanics that said the car was unsafe to drive based on the leaks.
Also, if they argue that they spent $2,700 already in repairs--will that affect the outcome in court?
Last month, I bought a 99 Chevy S10 pickup from a large dealership. They lead me to believe it had passed their "128 point inspection." They made it sound like the car was in great shape. The first day I drove it, I realized the gas gauge was acting funny. I took it to my local auto shop and they found many things wrong with it: leaky oil coolant lines, leaky power steering pump, defective gas gauge, defective power mirrors, and worn serpentine belt and tensioner. The dealership agreed to fix the gas gauge and the power steering pump. At the time it was at the dealership, they also found that the lower intake manifold was bad and the water pump was leaking. They expect me to pay over $500 dollars towards those repairs. There is still about $500 more in repairs that are left outstanding. They claim they've already spent $2,700 in repairs (due to inflated dealership repair costs). However, they admit they never had the car inspected by their mechancs before the sale.
They also slapped on a state inspection sticker fraudulently--because a brake light wasn't working.
The "buyers guide" on the window states they only need to pay half the cost of internally lubricated parts of the engine--which means, technically, they don't have to pay for any of those leaks.
However, I did not sign the Buyers Guide that was on the window.
There is another document I signed (headed "VA used car warranty") that says they'll pay half of anything wrong with the engine, transmission, front or rear axles, or electrical.
Under VA law, a merchant is not allowed to mislead a consumer or misrepresent what they are selling.
Do I have any chance of winning this case--and not paying anything out of pocket, based on their verbal "misrepresentation"?
I need to decide if I should take them to court. I may end up paying $1,000 out of pocket.
Are the oil coolant lines and rear pinion seal part of the "engine?" How do I get clarification on their vague language of what's part of the "Engine"? Does the dealership have to provide specifics if I demand more details?
My biggest question---is "misrepresentation of goods" easy to win in court? I have two separate mecanics that said the car was unsafe to drive based on the leaks.
Also, if they argue that they spent $2,700 already in repairs--will that affect the outcome in court?