Consumer News - Buyer Beware Flood-damaged Vehicles Could Be Headed To Market

LONG BEACH, May 31, 2011: A severe winter and above-average rains in the spring have caused many parts of the United States to experience record flooding in 2011, creating havoc for homeowners and residents. This flooding will also cause problems for unwary consumers shopping for used cars during the next 12 months.

From Cairo, Ill., to Burlington, Vt., to Natchez, Miss., record flooding and lake levels have occurred in at least 23 locations in nine states this year, according to The Weather Channel. As a result, flood-damaged automobiles will wind up on the used car market, in auctions and on dealer lots, all around the country as desperate vehicle owners will try to salvage whatever value they can from a vehicle inundated by floodwaters this spring.

AiM Mobile Inspections and its team of 500 full-time inspectors review vehicles throughout the United States, providing detailed condition reports for clients ranging from consumers, dealers and auctions to automotive manufacturers. AiM’s independent, 150-point inspection clearly identifies problems on vehicles for buyers and sellers.

“It’s important for used car shoppers to know how to spot flood damage no matter where they live, because these cars can end up on a dealer lot anywhere in the country,” said AiM Mobile Inspections’ Carl Sullivan, who has 16 years experience inspecting vehicles. “A car that’s been in a flood, with the engine submerged for any length of time, will never be the same.”

Many states issue a flood or salvage title to a vehicle that has been submerged or flood-damaged, information which can be found on a vehicle history report. Consumers concerned about flood damage should refer to the history report and also be ready to do some investigating of their own.

Sullivan offered these warning signs to help identify flood damage in a vehicle:

• Water or condensation in the headlights or taillights. Sullivan notes this could also be due to an accident, but water in these areas could also be a tip-off to flood-related problems • A musty odor in the vehicle, which may be from moldy carpeting or padding. If possible, pull up the carpeting to see how far water may have risen in the vehicle, and also if any moisture remains • Mud in the seat belt tracks or seat belt tensioners • Water in the spare tire well in a vehicle’s trunk. “If we see water in the spare tire well, it leads us to look a little further,” said Sullivan • A sagging headliner in the interior, particularly on a late-model vehicle • Look under the seats. “I found two fish under a back seat once,” said Sullivan, who was inspecting cars in Florida at the time. “That was a pretty sure sign the car had been flooded.” • Corrosion in the vehicle’s undercarriage, such as on brake lines or around the fuel tank. This could be a sign of saltwater damage. It’s different from snow-belt cars which typically get road salt on frame rails. But when corrosion appears near the top of the springs or shock towers are corroded, these are signs of flood-related damage.

“A car’s engine, electronics, fuel system, airbags and brakes are all extremely susceptible to flood water,” said Sullivan. “It’s extremely important to find any water damage before you invest your money in a used car, and a professional inspection will find flood damage no matter how a seller tries to hide it.”