Almost one year ago, Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeastern U.S., leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. Much of the cleanup process is still going on today, as New Jersey beach-goers find new debris scattered down the coastline on a daily basis. Unfortunately, though, some auto dealers are taking advantage of the this tragedy by selling flooded cars to unsuspecting buyers.
According to a recently published CarFax press release, there are approximately 212,000 cars which suffered from flood damage during Hurricane Sandy. What's even more shocking is that nearly 2/3 of those flood cars are back on the roads. After a car is flooded, the insurance company typically sells it to an auto company who either scraps it or makes the necessary repairs for resell. Unfortunately, there's no way to fully restore a vehicle that's suffering from extensive flood damage, especially in the case of Hurricane Sandy. The water seeps down into every electrical and mechanical component, create a nightmarish scenario that leaves the vehicle vulnerable to numerous problems in the future.
One of the biggest concerns with flood-damaged cars is mold. If the vehicle isn't properly cleaned and thoroughly dried, it could harbor dangerous mold spores. Even small pockets of moisture in the seats or upholstery can lead to mold. However, automotive companies do a pretty good job at replacing the flooded seats and drying out the mechanical components.
Another issue with flood-damaged cars is the electrical equipment. Even if the car cranks and runs fine initially, the buildups of rust will slowly degrade the wires and electrical equipment over time. It's not something that happens overnight, but one day the owner will be driving down the highway only to have their vehicle die in the middle of rush hour.
Thankfully, there are ways to check a car for flood and water damage, such as CarFax's flood checkertool. You can also perform a visual inspection for yourself to look for common signs of floor damage. Check under the hood and closely examine the electrical wires and surrounding components for signs of rust and corrosion. Auto dealers will spray these areas down with a pressure hose to try and remove most of the corrosion, but you can typically find areas of rust hidden in various pockets. If you see any signs of floor damage, do not buy the car.
According to a recently published CarFax press release, there are approximately 212,000 cars which suffered from flood damage during Hurricane Sandy. What's even more shocking is that nearly 2/3 of those flood cars are back on the roads. After a car is flooded, the insurance company typically sells it to an auto company who either scraps it or makes the necessary repairs for resell. Unfortunately, there's no way to fully restore a vehicle that's suffering from extensive flood damage, especially in the case of Hurricane Sandy. The water seeps down into every electrical and mechanical component, create a nightmarish scenario that leaves the vehicle vulnerable to numerous problems in the future.
One of the biggest concerns with flood-damaged cars is mold. If the vehicle isn't properly cleaned and thoroughly dried, it could harbor dangerous mold spores. Even small pockets of moisture in the seats or upholstery can lead to mold. However, automotive companies do a pretty good job at replacing the flooded seats and drying out the mechanical components.
Another issue with flood-damaged cars is the electrical equipment. Even if the car cranks and runs fine initially, the buildups of rust will slowly degrade the wires and electrical equipment over time. It's not something that happens overnight, but one day the owner will be driving down the highway only to have their vehicle die in the middle of rush hour.
Thankfully, there are ways to check a car for flood and water damage, such as CarFax's flood checkertool. You can also perform a visual inspection for yourself to look for common signs of floor damage. Check under the hood and closely examine the electrical wires and surrounding components for signs of rust and corrosion. Auto dealers will spray these areas down with a pressure hose to try and remove most of the corrosion, but you can typically find areas of rust hidden in various pockets. If you see any signs of floor damage, do not buy the car.
