Modern vehicles are incredibly complex. They include multiple different systems, many of which communicate through computers. Long gone are the days when people could fully disassemble vehicles in their home garages and make repairs or improvements. Modern vehicles require a variety of specialized tools and devices to diagnose issues and correct them. Two of the reasons vehicles have become more complex are to make them more efficient and to reduce their environmental impact.
Vehicles now have complex exhaust systems that diminish the environmental damage caused by individual vehicles. The catalytic converter is one of the most important components of the exhaust system. It is also one of the most expensive. Can a dealership remove a catalytic converter and sell a vehicle without one to save money on costly repairs?
Used vehicles should be in appropriate condition
Dealerships cannot sell used vehicles that are in unsafe or poor condition. They have to meet certain baseline standards, including having a functional catalytic converter. Though replacing a catalytic converter could be expensive, doing so is necessary if the dealership wants to sell a vehicle that aligns with current standards.
Removing catalytic converters has become a common criminal activity. In fact, state lawmakers have strengthened the rules seeking to prevent the secondary resale of stolen catalytic converters. Thieves steal these vehicle components because they are easy to access and contain platinum, palladium and rhodium. New rules aim to make it harder for thieves to sell catalytic converters to scrap or recycling facilities.
Unfortunately, dealerships have the information necessary to potentially sell used catalytic converters without necessarily violating that law. Some unethical parties might remove catalytic converters to make money by selling them or to save money by performing cut-rate repairs on the vehicle instead of replacing the damaged or nonfunctional catalytic converter.
However, the sale of a vehicle without a catalytic converter violates vehicle and clean air standards enforced by federal statutes. The removal of the key component of the exhaust system likely also violates state-level disclosure regulations. Buyers may only learn about missing catalytic converters when a police officer issues them a citation or they take their vehicle in for repairs because it runs loud or roughly.
Those who have purchased vehicles without catalytic converters from licensed dealerships may have grounds to take legal action. Recognizing missing catalytic converters as a potential form of autodealer fraud could help frustrated vehicle owners hold unethical dealerships accountable for wrongdoing.
Articles
