[fireman15]

I don’t trust any new or used car sales person or car dealer basically at all. I also don’t feel sorry for some rich doctor who figured out that his new $110,000 Tesla had a minor imperfection. Half or more of new cars have some kind of defect, and it used to be worse than that. New cars are not perfect, that is an unrealistic expectation, the good doctor probably just didn’t notice the issues with his other new cars. That is just one of the reasons you are typically better off buying a three year old car for about half the price. You expect something to go wrong, but typically the problems were ironed out by the previous owner.

[Bonemaker]

“I don’t trust any new or used car sales person or car dealer basically at all. “

Comforting to know that most politicians are far less ethical than these gonefs.

[DUMBGRUNT]

typically better off buying a three year old car for about half the price. You expect something to go wrong, but typically the problems were ironed out by the previous owner.

I come from a long line of horse traders out of Scotland, our Prius V was a demo/new and one or two new motorcycles (I was a partner in a dealership).
Forever it was used Volvos or Subarus, look for a nice body and motor problems.
Tow it home and rebuild the engine.
Good to go!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Industry and most consumers have long known about the early “infant mortality” failures that you described. Most people don’t know that there is actually a name for this effect: the “Bathtub Curve”:

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No freakin’ doubt. I’ve been buying cars that are a year or two used with 20,000 or so miles on them for about 15 years now and I’ve never had a problem. They’re probably better than new because the original owner had any problems fixed before I got it. I’m getting a car for 1/2-2/3 the price of new and it’s not even broken in yet, I’m crazy not to do it. And since I’m expecting a few dings, they don’t bother me when I find them. I care about how the car runs, not how perfect the paint job is.