1. Texas – 87,400
2. Florida – 28,900
3. Kentucky – 24,900
4. Pennsylvania – 19,800
5. North Carolina – 18,700
6. Illinois – 15,600
7. New Jersey – 12,600
8. Louisiana – 11,500
9. California – 11,300
10. New York – 11,000
“What’s alarming about flooded cars is they are literally rotting from the inside out,” said Carvana Vice President Jeff Miller. “In addition to the financial consequences, there are significant health and safety concerns. Water eats away at the mechanical parts, shorts the electrical system and can impact safety, compromising important features like airbags and anti-lock brakes. It’s not also not uncommon to see dangerous mold and bacteria in the car.”
“Our research tells us cars with a waterlogged history are everywhere,” said Faisal Hasan, Carfax general manager of data. “The ramifications of water damage can haunt unsuspecting buyers for years. Used car buyers need to be vigilant about checking for the warning signs of flood damage no matter what part of the country they live in. Make sure you do your due diligence: take it for a test drive, have a professional inspect it; and check the vehicle history report.”
To help protect consumers, Carfax is letting them check for reported flood damage free of charge at carfax.com/flood.
Here is a list of the 7 telltale signs of flooding:
• A musty odor in the interior, which can sometimes be covered with a strong air-freshener
• Upholstery or carpeting which is loose, new, stained or doesn't match
• Damp carpets
• Rust around doors, under the dashboard, on the pedals or inside the hood and trunk latches
• Mud or silt in the glove compartment or under the seats
• Brittle wires under the dashboard
• Fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, exterior lights or instrument panel
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