Used car caught on fire after 20 days... what are my rights?

Traffic Laws Forum
1

I bought a used car from a dealer 20 days ago, and while driving on the interstate, it started smoking. My husband got off the highway, and then it burst into flames. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but it injured a volunteer firefighter and almost injured an officer. Has anyone dealt with something like this? What are my rights with used vehicles in this kind of situation?

2

Whoa, that sounds terrifying! I think your consumer rights will depend on the state where you bought the car. Did you get any warranty or guarantee when you purchased it?

3

Dakota said:
Whoa, that sounds terrifying! I think your consumer rights will depend on the state where you bought the car. Did you get any warranty or guarantee when you purchased it?

Nope, I didn’t get any warranty. This is actually the 8th car I’ve bought from this dealer, so I’ve never really done that before.

4

I’ve heard that if a car has a major issue like that, even if it’s used, you might still have rights. Did you get the car inspected before buying it?

5

Kim said:
I’ve heard that if a car has a major issue like that, even if it’s used, you might still have rights. Did you get the car inspected before buying it?

No, I didn’t get it inspected. I usually don’t with this dealer, but this is the first time something like this has happened.

6

This sounds like something for a Consumer Protection Lawyer. They can help you figure out if the dealer violated any laws or if you have a case. If you didn’t get a warranty, it might be tricky but worth looking into.

7

Wow, that’s insane. I think you should definitely talk to a lawyer about this. I believe there are laws about used car sales that protect buyers, but it depends on where you bought the car.

8

Olen said:
Wow, that’s insane. I think you should definitely talk to a lawyer about this. I believe there are laws about used car sales that protect buyers, but it depends on where you bought the car.

Thanks! I’ll reach out to a lawyer for sure. Didn’t realize there were laws for this type of situation.

9

I had a friend who bought a car and had a similar issue, they ended up getting some help from a lawyer. If your car caught fire, that’s a serious safety issue and you could have some legal options!