6 P DARBY_ USED CAR ISSUES.transfer_frame_944.jpeg
If you’re in the market for new wheels this fall, an important factor that goes into buying a car is having a trusted dealership with a good reputation. In Utah, state law deems the consumer completely responsible for the used car they purchase and all the problems that come with it.
An Ogden woman faces a nearly $20,000 loss after she purchased a used car from a family run West Jordan dealership. Venessa Nielsen said the dealership had excellent reviews online and the vehicle seemed to be in great condition but broke down almost instantly after driving off the lot. Nielsen, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, was in the market for a reliable that could take her to doctor’s appointments in the wintertime.The inside was in pristine condition, the paint had no scratches, and the car ran smoothly during a test drive at the dealership.After purchasing the vehicle for $13,000, she soon found the car was too good to be true. Within days of taking it to the repair shop to fix steering and tire issues for another $4,000, the car’s check engine light turned on. The vehicle had a blown cylinder and was no longer drivable.Nielsen says the dealership stopped responding to her shortly afterwards.Lemon laws in the state only cover brand new vehicles, with restrictions. Used vehicles are not covered at all. “When you buy a vehicle in Utah, you buy it as is,” said Adam Watson, the Chief Investigator at the Division of Consumer Protection, “it’s a buyer beware state, so you need to be careful.”According to the Department of Consumer Protection, Utah has received 18 Lemon complaints since January 2022. None of them made it to court. "We do regulate some dealerships on some transactions,” said Watson, “they need to go to arbitration before they come to us.”The Consumer Protection Department says a consumer should always get a third-party inspection before buying a used car.Instead, look up the car’s history through verified sources at the National Motor Vehicle Information Title System website. It is also important for the interested party to test drive the vehicle themselves instead of allowing the dealership to do it.Finally, the Consumer Protection Department suggests that when purchasing a used vehicle, get the dealership’s guarantee the vehicle is in good working order, in writing in the contract. That way they may be found liable if the car breaks down. In total with the initial purchase and repairs, a 17-thousand-dollar car now sits dormant in Nielsen’s driveway where it has been for months.Now, Nielsen says all she can do is hope the family-run, West Jordan dealership will work with her, especially given her circumstances. “Buy it back, get me into something that runs,” she pleaded, “you know what I was after, you knew my situation.” Nielsen also wants to warn others not to make the same mistake as she looks for places to get the car crushed.