Heavy rains in Metro-Detroit during the last couple days of September have likely damaged vehicles, and many will end up in the used car market. Vehicles with flood damage can appear for sale on the Internet or at car lots without any mention or obvious signs of the damage.

Water can damage vital parts of a car including airbag sensors, brakes, and electrical systems, and the damage may not show up right away. Weeks or months could pass before evidence of damage is known, putting the purchase past warranty and leaving a driver without a car.