On the way home from purchasing this 2.5i Premium the BRAKE light started flashing when I got to 40mph. - yes, the emergency brake was off. Car was roaring like the brake was on-ablut 5 mi. to home. When I drove it back to dealer/service to get a few minor “We owe” things done, same thing happened again when up to 40mph. This was reported to service and car was driven by service manager. They reported a bad wheel bearing front R, and later in day found out rear R wheel bearing also bad. Yes, to be replaced… This car apparently a rental in Virginia Beach, VA later sold at auction in FL. So— a lemon? did someone leave it sitting on the beach overnight? Should I tell them to take it back? Forgetaboutit
If they will take it back that is what I would do. Certified Preowned has got to be on of biggest jokes in the used car business.
My personal feeling is buying new what you can afford rather than 1 year old used cars. Why is a 1 year old on the market so soon ?
The lemon laws usually require you to attempt to get it repaired 3 times. But check your local laws.
I’d advise taking it to an independent mechanic to get the suspension and frame inspected.
The bad wheel bearings don’t explain the brake light, so this needs some investigation.
Is this a 2015 or a 2011 model year?
Bill - Lemon laws only will apply to the original buyer of a new car. I do agree the brake light and the wheel bearings should be separate items.
“did someone leave it sitting on the beach overnight?”
The presence of two bad wheel bearings on a 2015 vehicle makes it a fairly certain thing that this car was immersed in water. In addition to wheel bearing damage, that type of situation usually leads to all manner of electronic problems for the hapless second owner.
“Should I tell them to take it back?”
Does state law in your state of residence permit that type of thing?
Probably not…but it is worth checking into.
However, if my memory serves me correctly, federal law gives you a three day Right of Rescission on contracts.
That might allow you to get out of this situation.
"However, if my memory serves me correctly, federal law gives you a three day Right of Rescission on contracts."
Only if they come to your house unsolicited.
There is no excuse for this problem on a car that is supposed to go through a detailed check before attaching the Certified Pre-Owned tag to it. The dealer charges more for it because they supposedly checked it out. I would take it back and insist that they take it back. Don’t threaten anything if they refuse. Do contact an attorney if they refuse. BTW, did you buy this at a Subaru dealer? If so, Subaru may be interested in what games their dealer partner is playing with CPO cars. If I were Subaru, I would step on their toes hard. Again, no threats, just understand that you have options beyond the initial contact with the dealer for a return.
Yes, Georgia’s law apparently only covers NEW cars. I plan to go to the General Manager/ salesman / service manager and have a “sit-down”. I will probably try to get owner involved also. Or I could just have a “screamin’meme” fit in the middle of the showroom floor. Unfortunately I paid for car - not financed. Yes, it’s a 2015 with only 11, 495 mi. wrap" package. Maybe then take it to another Subaru dealer for service?? YIKES what a mess for an old lady to deal with. Expletive.
That didn’t turn out right - My son suggested if necessary make them give me the 7 yr. warranty “wrap package”.
There’s no way two wheel bearings should be bad on a 2015 Subaru.
This usually means (as VDCdriver correctly alluded to) that the car has been underwater.
Another potential cause seeing as how the bearings are bad on one side only at this point is that the car suffered a broadslide into something hard on the right side.
I would strongly suggest having the car checked for signs of collision and alignment issues.
Ideally the best move would be to have them take the car back but good luck on that. A lot of good luck…
I give up, what the heck is a wrap package?
No rants just yet. Give them a chance to make it right. This could be returning your money or trading this car for another of at least the same value. They did not go over this car as they should have before applying the CPO tag, and you may not trust them to give you one that they actually did provide the full CPO inspection. If that is the case, then a return might be all you will accept. It is up to you. Start at the sales manager. If you don’t get satisfaction, go to the general manager and then to the owner. Give each one a chance to make it right. Don’t let them say that you driving it makes the car less desirable and worth less. If they drag their feet, it is their problem.
car sales lingo - “wrap package” supposedly covers everything - extended warranty 7 years from date of when car placed on the road–Can I trust these guys with that - ??
They sold you a CPO with problems and you ask if you can trust them. Me thinks the answer is NO.
I’m with VDC on this. I strongly suspect the car was immersed in water-at least at some height. If they don’t take it back, have it gone over at another shop or dealer to look for water lines. Its possible this should have been declared a total loss and fraud is being committed. Electrical issues plus the bearings = something fishy-pun intended.
In defense of the dealer they bought the car at auction and may have no idea if the car was underwater at some point.
It’s also quite possible if the car had been and was declared a total for that reason the title could have been laundered before the car went to auction.
The car is a 2015. Note the date on this…
http://legacy.13newsnow.com/story/weather/2015/10/02/restaurant-under-water-bubbas/73240542/
There were a lot of cars underwater in that one area. One would have to be very naive to think that every one of them ended up in the salvage awaiting their turn in the crusher.
GAD- this link was scary - scary in that I have been taken to the cleaners. I didn’t see my car in the pictures but, yep, I bet it was there somewhere. Thank you sooo much.
I’d take this car to a good local mechanic, explain what’s happened so far, and ask for an inspection to try to determine if the car was submerged or in a serious accident. That will cost you perhaps an hour of labor, but I think it’s worthwhile to get a better idea what you’re dealing with here.
Do you have a Carfax report on this car? Their histories are frequently incomplete, but it would still be interesting to see if they list anything for this car.
I agree with lions9car about having this car looked over very carefully. The odds of wheel bearings going bad on an 11k miles Subaru are zero (especially multiple bearings) in my opinion unless they were damaged due to water or collision.
The thing about Carfax is that they only show what is reported to them. If the below is done and never reported then CF won’t have a clue. And as I said earlier, the dealer may not even know the title was washed; they simply saw a clean car at auction with a clean title and jumped on it.
I don’t remember the details due to the passage of time but I seem to remember a major insurer was caught some years ago participating in title washed cars by the thousands. It may have been Sxxxx Fxxx or Axxxxxxx but I simply cannot remember for sure.
"It may have been Sxxxx Fxxx "
I recall that Sxxxx Fxxx was implicated in that scheme, but it may have included others, as well.