How to Avoid Hidden Damage on a Used Car
Tips for spotting problems caused by a flood, crash, fire, or theft
More frequent storms, millions of crashes annually, and limited availability mean that used-car shoppers are more likely than ever to buy a vehicle that’s been damaged.
Flooded Cars
Hundreds of thousands of cars are damaged by floods annually, and many end up back on used-car lots. CarFax calculates that 347,000 cars were flood-damaged in 2024, and it estimates that 454,000 flood-damaged cars are on the road nationwide.
Why it matters: Water can wreck a car’s electrical system, corroding wires and terminals and leading to circuit malfunctions and even a fire. It can also dilute engine oil and corrode mechanical parts. The damage sometimes doesn’t show up for months or longer.
How to spot trouble: If a car smells like mold or mildew, it may have had water trapped beneath the carpet or inside the dash. Look for rusted screws, evidence of a water line on lights or door panels, or parts and fasteners that look newer than the rest of the car. CarFax offers a free flood check.
Crashed Cars
Motorists file tens of millions of dollars in collision claims each year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Why it matters: Without proper repairs, collision damage can affect a car’s structural integrity, degrading steering and braking performance. Crash damage can also reduce the vehicle’s ability to adequately protect occupants in another impact.
How to spot trouble: If certain body and interior panels look too new, or if the color or texture is slightly different, they may have been replaced after a crash. Electrical problems, such as faulty wipers and window switches, can be a sign of collision damage.
Fire-Damaged Cars
There are about 215,000 car fires every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Car fires represent 16 percent of the 1.4 million total fire incidents responded to from 2018-2022.
Why it matters: Damage from smaller fires can sometimes be repaired, but heat from a fire can weaken a car’s structural, mechanical, and electrical parts, rendering it unsafe to drive. (Learn what to do if your car catches fire.)
How to spot trouble: Look for hood or body panels that are a slightly different color, new paint in the engine compartment, and mismatched dash and interior parts. Inspect glass for cracks and weather stripping for melted rubber. Sniff for a burnt odor, and look under the hood for warped plastic and aluminum parts, as well as any new wiring.
Stolen Cars
Car theft is a serious concern, even among more mainstream models. Vehicle thefts numbered more than a million for 2022 and 2023, but the figures dropped to 850,708 in 2024, according to the NICB, an industry membership organization. California has the highest vehicle theft rate at 463.2 thefts per 100,000 people.
Why it matters: The time a car spent unaccounted for is a big question mark. Was it vandalized, street-raced, or driven off-road? Any of those could damage suspension, structural, electrical, or mechanical components.
How to spot trouble: Look for paint that’s not perfectly matched, body contours that aren’t uniform, gaps between doors and other panels that look too wide or too narrow, and discolored upholstery inside the car. During the test drive, feel for vibrations or wobbles that could indicate that the car has been treated harshly.
More on Car Buying
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• Which Car Brands Make the Best Vehicles?
• Most and Least Loved Car Brands
• Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
• Which Brands Make the Best Used Cars?
• Which Car Brands Have the Highest Road-Test Scores?
• Who Owns Which Car Brands?
• Car Brands Ranked by Maintenance and Repair
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since it appeared in the January 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
