It always pays to use caution when purchasing a used car, but that is never truer than after a serious flood. Hurricane Harvey displaced thousands of Texans, destroying homes and cars. We've been inspired by how communities have banded together to help, providing relief and aid to those affected—but we have also increased our scrutiny about pre-owned cars coming into our inventory.
The dangerous thing about flood damage is, it can be easy to hide. Shampoo the stains out of the upholstery, rinse the mud off the paint, and it looks good as new.
The problem is, all of its electronics and computer-controlled systems are damaged beyond repair. Even in older, low-tech vehicles, soaking in water causes rust in places that are not designed to resist rust. Most flood-damaged vehicles are only good as scrap metal—yet often, they wind up back on the road.
When you shop pre-owned vehicles at Cleburne Ford, always look over the CARFAX Vehicle History Reports. They can give you a clue about whether the title has been flood branded, and show you whether the vehicle was registered in an area affected by Hurricane Harvey.