Is it possible to buy a flood-damaged car when purchasing a new vehicle?
2 Answers
Regular 4S stores will not sell flood-damaged cars as new vehicles. 4S stores are relatively standardized and generally do not sell vehicles with potential hazards, but this is not absolute. Some 4S stores may internally sell flood-damaged cars. To some extent, flood-damaged cars can be repaired, but they pose significant safety risks and may have numerous hidden faults. The hazards caused by water immersion include: 1. Damage to the electronic control system and various electronic components inside the car: For example, water immersion can cause corrosion and rusting of the vehicle's wiring, leading to sudden stalling or brake failure due to short circuits while driving, with unimaginable consequences. 2. Damage to the engine: When the water level exceeds the engine's air intake, water can be sucked into the engine cylinders. Since water is incompressible, if the engine stalls due to water ingress and the vehicle is restarted, the tremendous reverse force can bend the connecting rods and cause them to rub against the engine cylinder walls, potentially rupturing the engine block instantly and causing severe engine damage. Therefore, if a car stalls due to water immersion, never attempt to restart or turn the engine again. 3. Damage to the transmission: Transmissions are divided into manual and automatic types. Both types have ventilation holes, allowing water to enter. For manual transmissions, timely cleaning and replacing the gear oil may prevent excessive damage. However, automatic transmissions, due to their complex structure and high precision, may develop faults if not thoroughly treated, resulting in expensive repairs and vehicle depreciation. 4. Prolonged immersion can cause deformation, roughness, and odors in car carpets, seats, and other materials, fostering bacteria and posing health risks.
When I first bought a new car, I was most afraid of getting a flood-damaged vehicle because I heard that water damage is disastrous for electronic systems. After actually looking into it, I learned that new cars undergo multiple quality checks from the factory, are tightly sealed during transportation to prevent moisture, and are inspected by dealers upon receipt to ensure they are dry and intact. Flood-damaged cars are usually more common in the used car market, such as those from flood-prone areas or accident vehicles—the probability with new cars is very low. Manufacturers have disaster response plans, such as halting sales of affected vehicles during heavy rainstorms. When choosing a car, I recommend checking the manufacturing date to avoid recent natural disaster periods, and simply checking for musty smells or water stains inside the car. New car warranties generally cover such issues, and if anything seems off, you can exercise your rights to request a replacement. Choosing an authorized 4S store provides much more peace of mind.
