Woman Sells SUV To Family Members At Discount Price Then Gets Asked To Pay For Engine Failure Almost 3 Months After Purchase
The family discount that came with a lifetime warranty nobody agreed to.
A woman is questioning whether she would be wrong to refuse helping with costly engine repairs after selling her SUV at a major discount to a family friend’s son.
A few months ago, her cousin’s son crashed his vehicle while visiting home. He has a young family and was in a tough financial situation. Around that same time, she had been considering selling her 2016 Acura MDX, which she had owned since new and used as her daily driver for nine years.
She checked comparable listings and realized she could have sold it privately for several thousand dollars more than what he could afford. Instead of holding out for market value, she accepted a significantly lower offer because of their close relationship and his circumstances.
She disclosed everything she knew. The car had regular dealership maintenance, recalls had been addressed when she was notified, and her last service visit indicated some larger maintenance might be coming within 6 to 12 months. Nothing urgent. Nothing unsafe. The vehicle ran normally when it left her driveway.
Now, about two and a half months later, he says the engine is making a knocking noise. After inspection, he claims bronze shavings were found in the oil filter and that it may be a bearing failure.
He also found online discussions about a possible recall affecting that model year, although she was never notified of any outstanding issues.
He reached out respectfully, asking if they could “find a solution that feels fair.”
She feels awful about his situation. But she also feels she already extended significant generosity.
Scroll through the screenshots below to read the full situation.
Let’s dig into the details
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We gathered some interesting comments from the Reddit community
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“Next time, sell it at market value and avoid the uncomfortable family issues.”
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“Next time, don't mix business with family/friends; when it goes sideways, it ruins relationships.”
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“NTA. The car is what it is when you buy used. Sounds like he got a very reduced price and you gave him all the service info.”
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“He's in a tough spot and maybe felt pressured to buy your vehicle at your price rather than looking longer at something else.”
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“NTA. You did not know about the issue before selling it to him.“
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“You sold the car as is. It was his responsibility to get an inspection done, if desired, to ensure he was getting a reliable vehicle.”
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“NTA. Welcome to adulthood. He bought a car at a great price. The car company will likely honor the recall item.”
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Legally, a private sale typically means no warranty. She disclosed what she knew and sold it well below market value.
If a stranger had bought it, there would be no expectation of reimbursement. But family changes the emotional equation.
He is in a tight spot, and she technically could contribute something if she chose to.
So what do you think? Is declining financial help reasonable after such a discounted sale, or does her generosity create a lingering obligation?
