Online car sales are quickly becoming one of the more popular ways to purchase a vehicle, but a new study from Carfax shows that not all drivers are doing their homework before taking the plunge.
The study found that the number of cars for sale online with unfixed issues has grown by nearly 25 percent in recent years. In 2012 alone, about 2.1 million automobiles with open recalls were up for sale on various websites. Despite their prevalence, however, many people don't check to make sure the car had its problems fixed.
"Consumers seem to be more aware of this threat, but there's still a long way to go," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "Before a car changes hands, there's lots of opportunities for everyone involved to check for open recalls. Yet this data is proof that it's not happening enough."
Prospective buyers should be sure to do a quick search online to check for any open recalls regarding the make or model of the car for sale, and once the vehicle is purchased they should take it to an auto repair franchise for a tune up.