Bought faulty car after Service Manager assured us it was in great shape

[Seize_the_Day]

Hello all, thanks for reading.
My husband and I bought a used vehicle from a private owner in Virginia (we live in North Carolina). Before purchasing the vehicle we spoke with a Service Representative of the dealership where the car has been serviced for the past six years. He assured us the car was in perfect mechanical shape and explained the transmission had been replaced a little over a year ago, that a computer had been reset and it needed to learn our driving habits so it would shudder a little. His statements gave us the confidence to make the investment.

After a month of requesting the service history and contacting higher management at that dealership, we finally received the records. We had it serviced and it turns out that shuddering is because it needs a new transmission (cost is 8,000 dollars). Do we have a case, being that a Service representative stated that the car was in perfect shape? This would be the fourth transmission for this car, and it has less than 100,000 miles on it. Can we sue the dealership for giving the vehicle a 'clean bill'?
Many thanks,

 

[bluemann33]

Hello all, thanks for reading.
My husband and I bought a used vehicle from a private owner in Virginia (we live in North Carolina). Before purchasing the vehicle we spoke with a Service Representative of the dealership where the car has been serviced for the past six years. He assured us the car was in perfect mechanical shape and explained the transmission had been replaced a little over a year ago, that a computer had been reset and it needed to learn our driving habits so it would shudder a little. His statements gave us the confidence to make the investment.

After a month of requesting the service history and contacting higher management at that dealership, we finally received the records. We had it serviced and it turns out that shuddering is because it needs a new transmission (cost is 8,000 dollars). Do we have a case, being that a Service representative stated that the car was in perfect shape? This would be the fourth transmission for this car, and it has less than 100,000 miles on it. Can we sue the dealership for giving the vehicle a 'clean bill'?
Many thanks,

You bought the vehicle from a private owner and you recieved info from dealer that the car was ok.?. If thats the case then the dealership is not liable for anything, they did not sell it to you, a private owner did. Its a bad break but the only one you can try and go after is the person who sold you the car. If that is the case then you are probably gonna be SOL. Hope everything works out.

 

[mightymoose]

Sadly, you don't have much of an argument to make. You bought from a private seller and it is your responsibility to thoroughly check the vehicle prior to purchase. YOU chose the dealer you trusted for an opinion of the vehicle. You could have taken it any number of places for an opinion.
Unless you can show that somehow the seller acted fraudulently, you will be out of luck... and even then you may have trouble since the sale is as-is.