Could a brand new car be flooded?

Question

well i bought a brand new car but i had to wait for it to come in since the trains that were carrying the car were blocked because of the iowa floods. My car is a 2009 corolla and i heard its a good car, but my dealer wanted to sell me extended warranty. The car also has a wierd smell but then i dont know how a new car with cloth seats smells.. i still have to make the decision about the extended warranty. could the car be flooded and should i buy the extended warranty?

Answer 1

If you bought it new and it only had a few miles on it, there is an engine protection that is put on all new vehicles.  It will burn off after a little while.  I'm guessing that is the smell.  For a new car, if there was more than about 4000.00 in damage to the car (i.e. flood damage), the dealer has to disclose it to you.  I'm sure that it wasn't in a flood.  They are built in the states and shipped directly to the dealers, or in Canada.  No worries.  If the smell does not go away after a month of driving, take it in to the dealer.

From your friendly Toyota Salesperson.

Answer 2

take it in for  a 24 point test

Answer 3

A new car shouldn't have an unpleasant smell; you might want to visit a dealership that sells that make & model and stick your head into one of those and have a sniff.    If yours is a lot different, it's possible it did get wet.  

I don't usually buy extended warranties, but if you think the car did get flooded, that's a recipe for future electrical problems and possible other mechanical problems (if water reached high enough to leak into dipstick tubes, for example), so you might want to buy it.  

You could try lifting up some of the carpeting (usually requires removing trim) and looking for rust on any exposed, uncoated metal, or other stains that might tip you off.

Answer 4

Car dealers are not always honest.  You should take your car to a reputable dealer and have it inspected.  Take it to 2 or 3 and get their opinion.  If you find that it was affected by the flood, then you have a right to return it.  And yes, it could have been a car that had flood damage.  Most ladies are unsuspecting and trusting, but many dealers don't care-- all they want is a sale.   --- Toni D.  

Answer 5

I'd take it to an independent repair shop to have it evaluated for flood damage. If you find that it was flood damaged, the dealership would have to take the vehicle back or it is considered fraud. A flooded car in most states needs to be sold with a "flood" designation on the title.

As for the extended warranty, every dealership will try to sell you that on every car you buy. It's another way for them to make money, and has nothing to do with any flood damage your car may have.