Shopping at a reliable used car dealer is one of the most important things about purchasing a vehicle and one woman in Birmingham, Michigan, learned that the hard way. Several months after she bought a 2006 Ford Expedition the car began to smell like a rotting corpse and now she is suing the Ford dealership, Fox affiliate WJBK reports.

The woman claims she bought the vehicle in March but by the time summer rolled around the smell had become unbearable. And it was not just the smell that bothered her either, the SUV had some other significant drawbacks – including dead bugs and maggots littering the carpets in the front seats.

Perhaps most damaging is that the consumer was unaware of the car's lengthy and checkered history. The lawsuit claims that the SUV was originally a rental car in Florida before it was brought to Michigan. It also says that the Expedition was stolen. Both of these facts were not made clear to the owner.

"One that it was a prior daily rental," attorney Dani Liblang told the news channel. "They weren't told about that. Secondly, that it had been stolen and recovered, but worst of all, that it apparently had some kind of human remains in it that caused an awful decomposition-type smell."

If there's one thing the buyer's plight indicates, it's the importance of knowing a vehicle's history. Luckily, at New Jersey State Auto Auction such an experience would never come to pass. All the makes and models at New Jersey Auto are Carfax certified so you know the history of the car before you get behind the wheel. 

Despite concerns over a pair of Chevrolet Volts that caught fire after being involved in crash tests, General Motors was quick to downplay any risks of its newly-released electronic vehicle. However, their best efforts may not have been enough as a recent survey shows that the fires may have extinguished any enthusiasm consumers may had about the Volt, USA Today reports.

The survey conducted by CNW, which polled about 3,800 Americans, found that only about 0.6 percent said they were "very likely" to buy a Volt. That is down considerably from a the 1.3 percent who said the same thing in March. The results were just as poor for those who considered themselves "likely," which dropped from 4.3 percent to 1.1 percent.

The fires are just one of a number of setbacks for General Motors since the car first rolled out in late 2010. Most damaging, however, has been the car's surprisingly high price tag. Experts believe that the nearly-$40,000 asking price is turning a number of potential consumers away, and the statistics seem to agree.

"The underlying softness of the Volt continues to grow," CNW Research chief Art Spinella told the publication. "The price really turned people off."

Safety and an a good price are two major factors that consumers consider when buying a car, and at New Jersey State Auto Auction, they can find both. The dealer offers a wide variety of used cars that come at affordable prices so you can drive off with something that won't break the bank. As for safety, all products are Carfax certified so you know you're getting a car without any hidden problems. 

Buying a used car from its owner may seem like a good idea at first. After all, you can do business just between the two of you and you might be able to get a lower price. However, there are a number of pitfalls that can make the experience immediately turn sour and have you running toward New Jersey State Auto Auction. According to Cars.com, there are several red flags that everyone should be aware of when looking at used cars.

Among the most easily-recognizable indicators that you may be in for a bad experience is the lack of repair records. Most consumers want to see what, if any, repairs have been done on a car to be sure that it won't break down as soon as they buy it. At New Jersey State Auto Auction, however, that is not a problem because every automobile on the lot is Carfax Certified so you know it is reliable.

Another sign that you may want to take your business elsewhere has to do with the fluids. Specifically, taking a look at the oil and transmission fluid can help shed some light on how well the vehicle has been maintained.

According to Cars.com, accident damage is something that certainly has to be taken into account as well. Though something minor like a fender bender is nothing to be worried about, if your mechanic finds that much of the car has undergone some repairs it could portend much bigger problems farther on down the road.

The only fool-proof way to avoid any potential mishaps of buying a used car from a private seller is to visit a reliable dealer like New Jersey Auto. In addition to offering numerous makes and models at affordable prices, the dealer also provides guaranteeing credit approval regardless of whether you have bad, good, or no credit to speak of.  

The end of the year is widely considered to be one of the best times to purchase new and used cars, and as it turns out, this year it is also an ideal period to trade in your car. Experts say that used cars have been retaining their value over the last six months so if you've been waiting for the best moment to sell, it might be now, according to NBC affiliate KARE.

Over the last four years or so, few people have been buying new cars. As a result, this has lowered the number of used cars on many lots so most dealers are looking to buy, and some say they have no set limit on how many vehicles they want to purchase.

"We can't get enough trade-ins. We, like most other dealers in the cities will make really good offers just to buy used cars outright. We need them to sell them," industry insider Doug Sprinthall told the news channel.

New Jersey State Auto Auction is a great place to go if you're considering taking advantage of the excellent trade-in market. Due to its status as an authorized Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace Dealership, customers can quickly get a free appraisal.

Although experts say that most cars that are between one and two years old can get the close to their original value, there are a number of models that are especially high in demand. According to MSN Autos, the 2009 Ford Fusion, 2008 Honda CR-V and 2008 Hyundai Elantra are all popular choices. 

General Motors launched an investigation into what may have caused fires in its Chevrolet Volts after a federal crash test, and the manufacturer may have found a culprit. Experts believe that the fires may have been started by a coolant leak that managed to puncture the battery case, USA Today reports.

The first signs of trouble occurred several weeks ago, after the plug-in vehicles were tested by federal officials. Two of the cars experienced a fire days after the tests while a third one's battery heated up considerably. GM has addressed the issue by offering the estimated 6,400 Volt owners with a free loaner until the matter is resolved.

"It's just kind of a detective game to say, 'Is there something we can do to protect from this situation?'" GM product chief Mary Barra told the publication.

The fires come after already-disappointing sales for the electronic vehicle. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company will likely fall short of its goal of 10,000 cars sold this year – instead analysts estimate they will likely sell about 8,000. Still, despite the fires and the low sales figures, those who have purchased the car are standing behind it and officials are confident.

"There is no question in my mind that the Volt is safe. We are doing everything we can to make sure that it is even safer," GM CEO Dan Akerson told the Journal last week.

Whether electric or gas-powered, regular auto-maintenance is a must to keep cars running smoothly. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides motorists with its Total Car Care Center, which not only can perform general upkeep but also offers repairs on other fixes to the general public.