Shopping for a Ford Truck? Learn How to Avoid Flood Damage

The best way to avoid a flood-damaged F-150 is to remain alert and be informed. Some clues are common sense, but others, not so much.

Due to recent natural disasters, the risk of buying a vehicle with flood damage is at an all-time high. Whether it be the collateral of Hurricane Irma and Harvey or something less disastrous, buying a flood-damaged vehicle could have terrible consequences, and be extremely unsafe.

How to spot signs that a vehicle was damaged by standing water? Was the vehicle temporarily wet, or completely submerged for a long period of time? What should you look for under the hood, and behind the fuse box? Lastly, what steps can you take before heading to your nearest Ford dealership?

Our friends at Ford Truck Enthusiasts recently compiled an in-depth guide on how to spot signs of flood damage, and what to do if it’s too late? For example, did you know that the National Auto Dealers Association as an official guide with several steps on how to protect yourself on your future purchase?

While some tips are dead giveaways like looking under the seats for damp carpeting, or sniffing for musty odors in the trunk, others can be more complicated. Did you know that once dirty flood water evaporates inside a car, it leaves a dirt-like film residue in crevices? Finding this would be a definite sign of submersion.

Thousands of vehicles extracted from areas damaged by the floods are either totaled or auctioned off. Companies like Insurance Auto Auctions are already holding specific auctions for flood-damaged vehicles. In fact, this white 2011 F-150 you see here suffered from flood damage in the Houston area. To make matters even worse, once a truck like this one is detailed inside and out, an untrained eye could be easily fooled.

Don’t be caught off-guard, read this article and make a smart purchase.