Legal Question in Consumer Law in Illinois

What if someone purchased a used vehicle from a private party.

After customer test drives vehicle at highway speeds and in town, car works fine, an agreed as is sale is signed, paying cash.

Then after a week, customer drives away and tire falls off the vehicle at highway speed? ( due to aluminum wheel lugs were not tightened properly by previous customer whom admitted during sale he replaced brakes himself )

No injuries.

What legal rights does the customer have if he demands a refund from previous owner or at least pay for repairs?


Asked on 7/01/13, 5:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

None. It is your car. You are responsible for it from the moment you took title and paid for it. Fraud wouldn't even work for you: not knowing who this other person is you have no right to rely upon their having properly taken care of the car or not.

The typical advice to someone who wants to buy a car from a private party is that before you buy it, you take it to a repair shop and pay for a complete inspection. If that shop fails to reveal something they should have found, then THEY may be liable.

"CAVEAT EMPTOR".

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Answered on 7/03/13, 11:56 am


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