To the Doctor:
I have had my car, a Jaguar X-Type, for less than six months. I bought it used, and I just had to replace the engine due to sludge and lack of maintenance. Who is responsible for this?

The Doc Says:
Any true "responsibility" lies with the previous owner, who it appears from your e-mail didn't do a very good job of maintaining the vehicle. Unfortunately, used cars are generally sold "As Is" (you might notice stickers saying as much on used car lots), meaning whoever purchases the car buys it in whatever condition it might be in at the time of purchase, warts (or in this case, sludge) and all.

I generally recommend that anyone considering purchasing a vehicle take it to a trusted, certified mechanic or auto service facility for a third-party inspection. A lot of times, a good mechanic or auto technician can tell even after a cursory inspection whether or not a vehicle has been taken care of. They might charge a small fee for doing so, but it's worth it not to be stuck with a lemon.

I'm certainly sympathetic to your situation and wish there were some recourse I knew of. Situations like this are probably why the Romans came up with the phrase "caveat emptor," which means "let the buyer beware".

The advice described above is for informational purposes only. It cannot and should not be used in lieu of an actual, physical inspection and diagnosis by a trained mechanic or automotive technician. The opinions and advice offered herein are not intended to diagnose automotive problems or component failures; they are simply intended to provide information on what could be transpiring. VehicleMD accepts no liability resulting from actions taken as a result of this advice.