CALL 6: Car sellers often don’t disclose hidden problems

We take a look at some of the crimson flags you should look for when buying a car from a private seller online.

INDIANAPOLIS — A Call six Investigation exposes private sellers often not disclose a car`s hidden problems to potential buyers, including open recalls, prior crashes, as well as branded titles such as «rebuilt» and «not actual mileage.»

While some car owners may deliberately hide the information, others simply don`t know about a car`s defects and therefore do not expose that information in their ads or in person.

The practice of not disclosing a car`s problems can be flawlessly legal for an individual seller, but can cost you the consumer money and even put you and your family in danger.

About a third of all used car sales these days are done through private sellers, or peer-to-peer, using Craigslist and other forums, according to Chris Basso, public relations manager at Carfax.

For many people, buying a car on Craigslist can be less intimidating than buying from a car salesman at a dealership, and it can be a superb deal.

«People want to attempt to save money,» said Fishers attorney Robert Duff, of the Indiana Consumer Law Group. «But every single day, I get complaints about used cars.»

Unlike licensed car dealerships, Craigslist and other sites are typically unregulated.

«People can put anything online that they want to sell, and no one`s truly checking up on what that individual is signifying,» said Basso.

Basso said safety recalls, prior wrecks, and branded titles can reduce a car`s value, providing sellers an incentive not to disclose those issues.

On Craigslist, it`s effortless to find vehicle ads that sound superb with phrases like «clean title,» «amazing form,» and «no problems at all.»

Call six Investigates used the plate numbers to run vehicle history reports on sites like Carfax and Autocheck and uncovered problems like open safety recalls, prior crashes, and branded titles.

We set up nondescript email accounts to arrange appointments with the sellers just to look at the cars, as many consumers do before buying.

We met them in public parking lots with a camera in plain view, but the sellers did not know we were with Call six Investigates.

The Craigslist ad shows the one thousand nine hundred ninety nine Ford Explorer has a «clean title» and «runs good.»

However, vehicle history reports showcase it actually has a «not actual mileage» title, which typically means the odometer has been substituted, tampered with or bruised at some point.

The Explorer also had crashes in 2006, two thousand ten and 2014, as well as an open safety recall for a speed control switch that can overheat, according to vehicle history reports.

The explorer`s proprietor and seller, Dale Manners, told Call six Investigates he did not know much about the car, because he recently bought it at auction while signifying local dealer Bill Shank Auto Parts.

Call 6: So, you said it`s got a clean title on it?

Manners: Yeah, I`ve got to put it in somebody`s name.

Call 6: Has it been in any wrecks that you know of?

Manners: None that I know of.

Manners said he does not run vehicle history reports on cars before he sells them.

The seller did provide a copy of the title when Call six Investigates embarked asking questions about it.

Once Call six Investigates exposed we are working on a story about private used car sales, Manners said many dealers are selling cars on Craigslist to make money.

«Most of the vehicles on Craigslist are dealers,» said Manners. «I`m not out here robbing anybody, or tricking anybody. I`m fair with people.»

Bill Shank told Call six Investigates he knew nothing about the sale, and that Manners violated the company`s policy on buying cars for private use.

«To quote Donald Trump, ‘you`re fired`,» said Shank. «It`s pretty shady to me.»

Shank said he permits associates to purchase cars for their own use, but only if they`ve been with the company for at least six months.

Manners had only been with the company for a month, Shank said.

The one thousand nine hundred ninety nine Toyota Sienna minivan is advertised on Craigslist as «amazing form,» «amazing condition,» and «no problems at all.»

Vehicle history records display the Sienna has an open recall for a cable that can break and cause a vehicle crash.

The car was also crashed in two thousand six and again in April 2016, according to vehicle history reports from Carfax and Autocheck.

The April two thousand sixteen crash involved front influence harm with another car, the air bag deployed, and a vehicle was towed, records display.

Call 6: Are there any recalls on it?

Seller: I do not know anything. I don`t think so.

Call 6: Is there any way I can look at the title? Do you have a copy of the title?

Seller: Not with me.

Call 6: Has it ever been in a wreck?

Seller: I think. I`m not sure. I think in 2006, maybe?

Call 6: So, it hasn`t been in any wrecks recently?

Seller: As long as I know, but don`t quote me on this.

Chris Basso, spokesperson for Carfax, said your antenna should go up if the person selling the car doesn`t have a title to demonstrate you.

«Absolutely, it`s a crimson flag if the title is not available,» said Basso. «The possessor of the vehicle should have a title available to give you at the time of the purchase. If not, walk away.»

When Call six Investigates pressed the seller about a wreck in April 2016, he replied «it was not a big crash.»

Once we told the Sienna possessor we`re with RTV6, he did not want to response any more questions and attempted to grab our camera.

«Gravely, guys, I am not doing anything,» he said.

The Craigslist ad shows the two thousand ten Acura TSX as a «clean title.»

However, vehicle history reports from Carfax and Autocheck both display it was totaled by the insurance company in 2014, and issued a rebuilt title in 2015.

The proprietor, who calls himself Mario, told us in person he`s had the car for Two.Five years.

Call 6: I was looking at the ad. It says clean title. It has a clean title?

Mario: Yes, yes, I believe.

Call 6: I actually ran a Carfax on it. It says it has a rebuilt title.

Mario: It does have a rebuilt title? See, I didn`t know it had a rebuilt title.

However, when we contacted Mario via email to inquire about the car before our meeting, he told us about the rebuilt title.

«I had a serious buyer that backed out last night we did a Carfax and the car has a rebuilt title,» read the email, which he sent before the meeting with us.

A fresh Indiana law says it`s a misdemeanor crime to sell a car with a rebuilt title without disclosing it to the buyer in writing.

Call six Investigates did not reach the point of buying the car or signing paperwork with Mario.

Mario did not want to talk to Call six Investigates once he learned about our story.

The owners of the Acura, Sienna, and Explorer all eliminated their Craigslist ads after our meetings.

Protecting Yourself as a Buyer, Seller

Consumer law attorney Robert Duff said while it`s not illegal to be clueless about a car`s history, you can get into legal trouble if you knowingly misrepresent or lie about a car`s problems.

«Be fair, that`s the best protection,» said Duff. «You don`t have to spew out every problem with the vehicle as soon as you talk to a potential purchaser. It`s up to the buyer to ask ‘hey, do you know of any problems with this vehicle?`»

Duff said you can also disclose problems in writing to the buyer to protect yourself from potential lawsuits if the car violates down.

«Most sellers are not going to take the time to do that, but for the ultimate protection, have them sign off that I disclosed x, y and z to you,» said Duff.

Duff said selling a vehicle with an open recall can be illegal in Indiana, but the law typically applies to dealers, not individuals.

Chris Basso with Carfax said what we found is proof you need to do your due diligence before you buy, and not rely on what the ad says or what the seller tells you.

«When you`re buying a used car, you should do three things,» said Basso. «Take it for a test drive. Get a vehicle history report. And have a mechanic inspect it. Those three steps are a superb way to protect yourself from someone attempting to lure you into buying a car with hidden problems you might not know about until it`s too late.»

Craigslist did not react to requests for comment on this story.

Copyright two thousand sixteen Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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