NHTSA Complaint #11231894 — 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG

2016 VOLKSWAGEN TOUREG (VIN # XXXXXX) PURCHASED 5/25/2019. VROOM ASSURED ALL VEHICLES UNDERGO RIGOROUS INSPECTION AND WRITTEN GUARANTEE OF A CLEAN TITLE / NO FLOOD DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 6/17/2019. ON 6/18/2019 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR A STANDARD PREPURCHASE INSPECTION. I PAID $150.64 FOR THIS SERVICE. THE INSPECTION REPORT RETURNED SEVERAL AREAS OF INTERNAL RUST IN THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY SITTING IN WATER FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME, AS WELL AS OTHER CONDITIONS CLEARLY INDICATIVE OF FLOOD DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD VISIBLE RUST ON THE INTERIOR OF ALL FOUR WHEELS, WHICH IS OBVIOUS INDICATOR OF A FLOODED VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ON 6/19/2019 TO LET THEM OUR INTENTION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT. WE HAD NO ISSUE RETURNING THE VEHICLE AS WE WERE WELL WITHIN THE 7 DAY RETURN POLICY (CAN RETURN THE VEHICLE WITHIN 7 DAYS FOR ANY REASON). WE SPOKE TO MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS DURING THE RETURN PROCESS, AS EACH STEP REQUIRED A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. ULTIMATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY VROOM AND WE SPOKE TO AN INDIVIDUAL OVER THE PHONE TO GO OVER THE RETURN PROCESS AND ISSUE OUR REFUND. THE CONTACT WE SPOKE TO INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND THE VEHICLE DAMAGED, AND STATED THEY WOULD LIST THE REASON FOR THE RETURN AS 'PREFERENCE' (ALLOWING THEM TO SELL THIS DAMAGED VEHICLE TO SOMEONE ELSE). THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS TO HAVE A RECORD OF THAT THIS VEHICLE, VIN # (XXXXXX) HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY WATER AND IS NOW BEING ATTEMPTED TO BE SOLD AS A CLEAN TITLED CAR TO AN UNSUSPECTING CONSUMER. AS OF 7/15/2019, THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR SALE BY VROOM IN STAFFORD, TX. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).