Gateway Parts

I am being sued, think they will win on car deal?

I sold a car to a teenager with a rebuilt tranny and no radio. Him and his dad drove the vehicle a few times before buying, bought car and took it home. A week later they called and said they were installing a radio and it started smoking and it fried the electrical system cause when they would take the key out of the ignition the lights would go up and down and the car would still run. I am a mechanic and said I would diagnose the preoblem for them to save them money at a shop for free. They drove the car to my house 40 miles, and had to tow it the remaining mile due to the car dieing on them. The computer test I said the alternator was bad, so I got them my discount on the alternator and let them use my tools and garage to put the new one in, I did not assist physically but instructed them how to do it. They got the car running, drove it home, now the tranny is bad and are now taking me to court for the money back. I also advised them to take the tranny from a car I was junking, exact same car and year, as well as any other parts they may need, even told them to take for free, they didn't. I also offered to do a new computer test on the vehicle because the test alerts to the first main thing it finds and there could be other issues beyond the alternator that were wrong, but the kid just wanted to take his car. The car is a 91 Eagle Talon with electronic shift transmission.Will they win? So much for trying to be a nice guy and help them out. Thanks for your answers, a lawyer friend of mine said I had nothing to worry about, but it is so unnerving to be sued, especially when I went out of my way to help them out.

Public Comments

1. No. They won't win. Used car sales are "as-is" unless you specifically give them a written guarantee or warranty.
2. Let them sue you it is always buyer beware. The time difference from when they bought it to when they complained is another reason you will win. Don't worry they will loose
3. You were out of it when they first took that car home. You are under no obligation to these people. They bought the car as is and you have gone beyond that to help them. The suit will get tossed. Keep your cool and present your information and wait for the judge to toss it. Maybe Judge Joe Brown will want these morons on his show.
4. You have nothing to worry about. They cannot prevail in a lawsuit when the car was clearly AS IS. They drove it, bought it, and own it. You went above and beyond your obligations by helping htem with the alternator. The fact that they put a radio in and fried the electrical system alone is enough to get this thrown out. If you are a self-employed mechanic, file a counter suit for one day's average missed wages to defend yourself in this frivilous and unfounded action.
5. You sell a kid a 17-year old car, and you are being sued because they have problems with it? You have nothing to worry about. You don't owe him a dime.