Signs of a Flood Damaged Car: How to Spot Hidden Problems

Don’t Get Fooled: Look For These Tell-Tale Signs of a Flood Damaged Car

Flood-damaged vehicles can pose significant risks, not only to the mechanical integrity of the car but also to the safety and finances of potential buyers. Whether you’re considering a used car purchase or assessing a vehicle after a flood event, it’s essential to recognize the signs of flood damage. Here are signs of a flood damage car.

1) Water marks on the upholstered door panels are signs of a flood damaged car

Think about it; how else could you get water stain on the upholstered door panels?

2) Unusual Smells — like air freshener

Salvage vehicle sellers know you don’t want to smell mold and mildew so they saturate the car’s interior with odor masking sprays. Does the interior smell like Fabreze, Lysol, baby powder, or “new car smell” deodorizers? If so, those smells are often the signs of a flood damaged car. The seller is masking the mold smell.

3) New carpet on an older vehicle

It’s just about impossible to get the floodwater smell out of old carpet and padding, so salvage sellers usually rip out the old carpet and install new carpet. Think about it; how many times have you seen brand-new carpet in a used car? Never, right? So, a new carpet is another one of the signs of a flooded car.

4) New paint

New paint on a used car is always a trouble sign. It usually means the car has been in a wreck. but it can also be a sign of a flood damaged car that has started to rust. By painting it, sellers want you to think they touched up rust spots, but the truth is after a flood, rust blooms appear everywhere. So the sellers sand them off and apply new paint. If you see new paint, assume it’s been in an accident or a flood.

5) Severely rusted underbody and exhaust

These components rust naturally, but floodwaters accelerate the rust due to all the chemicals in the floodwater. Look under the vehicle and check for more brightly colored (almost orange) rust. That’s the sign of new rust.

6) Inoperative or intermittent electrical issues

Once water gets into electrical connectors, modules and switches, electrical components either stop working or work intermittently. Test the power windows and seats multiple times to make sure they respond as they’re supposed to. Crazy electrical behavior or intermittent electrical issues are signs of a flood damaged car.

7) Salt stains

Flood water dissolves road salt and street chemicals. Once they dry, they’ll leave salt stains on the metal and fabric.

8) Title transfer date and titled location

If the Carfax or title information shows the vehicle came from an area that had recent flooding, be suspicious, that could be the sign of a flood damaged car.

Always have a used car checked out by a professional shop before buying. The money you spend up-front may save you a bundle in future repairs.

©. 2020 Rick Muscoplat