Posted on 01/20/2008 4:44:49 AM PST by T Ruth
Thanks for posting this.
***There are now almost half a million salvaged cars on the road that have been at one point in their lives been declared “totaled” by the insurance companies. You can bet that in their rebuilding of these cars, many shops do not replace or install new airbags. ****
Probably re built in southern Missouri and sold in Arkansas.
Our company bought a brand new car from a dealer near here. Paid CASH for it also. A couple of years later it was noticed that there was a minor difference in paint color on the rear quarter panel and trunk. Then cracks were apparent and it was evident that lots of Bondo had been applied to the auto.
NEVER BUY A USED CAR IN ARKANSAS unless you can get it inspected first.
I bought a nice used truck here. Not long after it wqas evident it had been in a flood.
When I look back, I realize that every used auto (except one)I have bought in Ark has been a wrecked rebuilder.
I’ve done quite well in accidents wearing seat belts (even before I was forced to by Big Brother). I’d be just as happy with no air bag (or a bogus air bag), then with a bunch of pyrotechnics staring me in the face.
(no to mention the 100+ decapitated kids from air bags that did work correctly)
So, I think these crooks are doing society a service.
Ditto. Saved my noggin and/or my life more than once.
Southern Missouri,is the name of the city most associated with such stunts the same as a troubled mid-eastern nation?
There’s a long article on just this issue in the most recent issue of Reader’s Digest, for those who are interested and/or prefer dead tree sources.
A friend purchased a new BMW from a most major Chicago dealer.
Couple of years later he had the hood up and I notice bits of over spray around the engine. This was his baby only goes out in the sunshine always clean. He says not a mark on it never been in a body shop!
This car was never quite right at high speed, it would wander a bit back and forth.
The dealer always had some line, the wheel was bent ($500), must be the tire was damaged two new tires (with less then 10k)....
He takes it to an independent who just does BMW’s, he knew the rest of the story.
He had worked for the dealer when this car came in they liked to “check out” the hot new models and with this one they hit a curb!!!
Yeah, you may wake up dead.
Oh, he think it’s ironic because it was her heart...well, I still think that’s just a ‘weird coincidence’ , not ironic, but anyway...
I almost bought a van in Ohio from a Dodge dealer in North Olmsted. I forget the name of the place. It was only about 4 years old but had rust inside the lower edge of the door and bubbled paint that leaked water you you popped the bubbles. The salesman said, “Oh, we can just sand that rust down and repaint. It will be good as new.” Sure. They had done a good job of cleaning the car up. It didn’t even smell. The clincher came when I saw the inside of the rear vents were covered with a thin layer of dried mud. Flood car for sure.
“I’d be just as happy with no air bag (or a bogus air bag), then with a bunch of pyrotechnics staring me in the face.”
I’ve thought of this. I have a 12 yr old Ram 1500 and I often wonder how stable ageing airbags are.
While I’m sure these things happen, it must be limited.
Vehicle repairs are traceable. An airbag that doesn’t deploy because it’s stuffed with rags equals someone being sued and potentially going to jail for life. I hate car dealerships with a passion having worked for a number of them back in the early 90s. I do know however, not a single one of them would scrimp on something so “sue-able” as not replacing an airbag.
Can’t the con artists be held liable for murder?
Nice to be posting on this site, where people don’t immediately buy the party line (and tell me how wonderful air bags are).
And if they did trigger on my car, and I could fix the damage myself, then no way would the air bags be replaced. From what I remember, you just need a resistor in the circuit to trick the computer (and big brother, if you have safety inspections).
As to stability...good question. Obviously cars are not the most benign environment in which to store pyrotechnics.
“Can’t the con artists be held liable for murder?”
Maybe, maybe not. Who’s to say that the airbags were not removed after the repair...maybe by a shop doing unrelated work, just to sell them on the black market. I’m not saying that it happens, just that there are defenses against being held liable, should an accident occur requiring air bags (which is unlikely anyway).
In any case, why would a shop that is fraudulent even care about being sued.
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Thanks Ralph Nader.
They seem to have mastered it in the middle east. ;)
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