A Nebraska legislator is pushing to tighten title regulations for previously totaled vehicles following growing concerns that unsafe repairs are allowing structurally compromised cars back on the road, some with airbags that may not deploy properly.
State Sen. Dan Quick, D-Grand Island, introduced a bill that would mandate vehicles with structural damage, such as those declared a total loss by insurance, receive a salvage-branded title instead of a rebuilt title, which often misleads consumers about the vehicle’s condition.
The issue was brought to light by John Reeves, chief strategy officer at B Street Collision in Irvington, NE, who demonstrated the risks firsthand on a car his shop inspected. Despite undergoing repairs after being deemed a total loss, the car showed clear signs of unsafe fixes.
“This is the worst one I’ve seen. This is just really, really egregious,” Reeves told KETV Investigates.
Reeves pointed out structural deficiencies on the car, including a rail patched with plastic filler to conceal damage. “The repair didn’t even hold, and the plastic filler cracked off. You can see the rail is still torn. See this big hole? That’s not supposed to be there,” he said.
He also flagged a hidden danger involving the vehicle’s airbag deployment system. “A side curtain airbag comes down right here... It is made weak — the headliner is — in order to rip. They’ve epoxied it back together,” he explained, emphasizing the area should have been replaced, not patched.
The vehicle had been totaled by an insurer, sold at auction, and later resold by a used car dealership under a rebuilt title. Reeves warns consumers to be cautious when purchasing any car with such a designation.
“People should really be suspicious when you're looking at a car that has a rebuilt title. If nothing else, Google it, see if you can find some images of it, know what you're looking at,” he advised.
Ryan Clark, vice chairman of the Nebraska Auto Body Association, also supports the proposed bill, noting the lack of oversight in how rebuilt vehicles are repaired.
“The manufacturers do have repair guidelines... However, there’s no police per se, to say, ‘This is repaired correctly’ or not,” Clark told KETV Investigates.
Quick’s bill remains stalled in committee, but his office confirmed efforts will continue during the next legislative session. Both Reeves and Clark stress that, until new laws are in place, consumers should remain vigilant when shopping the used vehicle market, especially when encountering a rebuilt title.
“It’s really just consumer safety,” said Clark. “It’s advocating for the consumer.”
