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By law does a car dealership have to disclose that there were recalls on a used vehicle you are pruchasing?

We bought a used car from a dealership 3 yrs ago and had to take it in for some things to be fixed(under warranty) but while it was there the mechanic called and said there were some recalled parts that weren't fixed so he was ordering the parts. By the way the recalls happened 1,2 and 3 yrs before we bought it. We bought it 3 yrs old. Should we have been told this when buying it?

Public Comments

1. No they don't have to tell you . The salesman probably didn't know. It up to the previous owner and the service dept. to keep up on maintenance etc.
2. No there is no way for a used car dealer to know, and let me tell you a little secret aboutt recalls. An a new car the client hears about it FIRST the dealer gets e-mail abou the same time the letters are hitting mailboxes so there is no time to lay in a stock of parts (if necessary which will immediately be back ordered because of demand), or prep technician on the procedure for the recall before the let errs come pouring in. The SHOCK and AWE program was the NHTSA's idea not the manufacturers who suggested a 72 hour notification to dealers and parts depots to prepare BEFORE mailing recalls. The mechanic you spoke of ran a TSB on your car and it spit out the recalls in th course of his repairs. If you are concerned in the future take you prospective purchase to a franchised dealer and have it scanned for recalls the charge is nominal-you can demand it as part of your deal
3. No. When purchasing a used car it is the buyers responsibility to verify the history of the vehicle. Recalls are very common. It happens to all car makes. For a dealership to be required to notify the buyers of every recall on every car they sold it would be an impossible task.
4. No. They are not required. You should be appreciative they are taking care of it.