So I’m finally in a position to buy my first proper used car, and I’ve found a private seller with a 2017 hatchback that seems perfect on paper. We agreed on a price pending a pre-purchase inspection, which I just got back. The mechanic’s report is mostly good, but it flags that the rear brake pads are quite worn and will need replacing soon—like, in the next couple thousand miles. The seller is acting like this is just normal wear and tear and shouldn’t affect our deal, but I’m not so sure. Has anyone else had a seller shrug off a needed repair found during a pre-purchase inspection? I don’t want to be unreasonable, but it feels like a legitimate thing to discuss.
That rear brake wear is exactly the sort of finding a pre-purchase inspection flags that should influence the deal. It isn’t a total red flag, but it’s a maintenance item with a real cost and risk if you ignore it. I’d ask for a price adjustment or for the seller to cover the brake service before transfer, and I’d want documentation or a plan for replacing the pads (and possibly rotors) soon. The pre-purchase inspection is not a deal breaker, but it’s a negotiation hinge.
It sounds like the seller is brushing it off, which is a classic private-sale move. Worn rear pads that soon will need replacement aren’t nothing, especially for a safety item. If they won’t adjust the price or commit to repair, walk away or demand a holdback until the work is done.
I’ve been down that road. I bought a car where the seller downplayed a flag from the PPI and then the brakes squealed two days later. Lesson learned: treat the report as a conditional price point, not a nuisance, and be prepared to walk away if the seller won’t acknowledge the cost you’ll incur.
Why frame it as a fault at all? brakes wear is a normal maintenance item and the value should reflect that. Maybe reframe the talk around fair price for a car in this condition rather than blaming the seller's ethics. A straightforward price cut or a commitment to swapping pads might be more productive than moralizing.
I’d want a safe, road-ready car, so if the pads are near the end of their life I’d push for either a price reduction or the work to be done before closing. Also check other wear like rotors or calipers and ask for receipts; private sales hide fewer surprises when you insist on quality checks.
From a reader’s stance the way a seller talks about a repair can tell you a lot about transparency. If they minimize, you’re likely looking at a negotiator rather than a partner in this deal. Decide how much you trust the seller and what you’ll require in writing for the deal to move forward.
Maybe this is about risk tolerance and perceived value. Knowing a brake service is coming doesn’t doom the car, but it does tilt future costs. The inspection report doesn’t decide the sale, it just shifts the price math and your willingness to close.