I just bought a used 2008 Nissan Altima and it failed inspection! What steps do I take now?

Question

Last Friday I purchased a 2008 Nissan Altima with about 47500 miles for $13000. It had a clean carfax with 2 previous owners. On Monday, I went to get it inspected (in Massachusetts) and the car failed for the tires. I immediately brought it back to the dealership where they told me that they had ordered new tires for the vehicle that should have been put on before it was sold. They also told me that there were brake pads, rotors and windshield wipers that should have been put on there as well. They told me to leave my car there and gave me a loaner car for the time being. Since I had the inspection performed within the 7 day allowance period, I'm covered under the Massachusetts lemon laws which state I can return a vehicle if it fails inspection and the cost of repairs would be more than 10% of its purchase price. Am I just looking at more problems to come from this car? I realize it is used, but after paying that much for a car I never, ever dreamed it would fail an inspection. As of right now the dealership still has my car and they say they're backed up for days. :( Any advice on how to proceed is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It sounds as though the dealer is doing all the right things.You couldn't return it under the 10% rule anyway. Just try to be patient and let them install the new tires,brakes,and wipers at no charge then return the courtesy car.

Answer 2

Given that the car only has 47k miles on it and it is only the tires and brake pads and rotors that need to be replaced, I would say those parts continually have to be replaced. You have a good car.

Answer 3

i wouldn't be worried about it, it just needed tires and well we all know they have to be replaced sometime, if the rest of the car is ok its a good car in my opinion

Answer 4

I never trust stealerships, I had one try to sell me a truck that had the firewall blanket eaten out by mice, then tell me three times it was fixed and it was still in the shop when I got there.

Yes, make them make it pass inspection, then go home and never look back. You can do far better maintenance in your driveway than the dealership can ever dream of because you know your car, you care about your car, you know if your car fails you're not going to work. They don't know or care about any of that.

That's about the best advice I can provide. My family maintains three Chevrolet vehicles:
1998 Blazer LS 4X4
2001 Cavalier 2.2
2006 Silverado 1500 4X4 Z71

We only go to the local shop for tires and air conditioning issues. Everything else we do in our driveway. I maintain the Blazer pretty much single-handedly, 155,000 miles and runs like new. I've never been stranded by any of those three. That's a lot more than anyone who goes to the dealer for service can say.