Man Takes Vehicle With Clean Carfax Report For Test Drive. Then The Brakes Go Out In The Middle Of An Intersection

It’s the stuff of nightmares for most drivers: You press on the brake and nothing happens. Now imagine you’re an inexperienced driver, with little to no idea about what to do and how to stay calm.

One driver says this recently happened to them during a test drive, of all things.

A Test Drive Gone Horribly Wrong

In a TikTok, content creator Jemm (@jemmllc) explains that he went used car shopping with his daughter. Instead of forming a nice memory of buying what is presumably her first car, they wound up traumatized instead.

Jemm says that they went to check out a car they’d seen on a dealer’s site that had a clean Carfax with no reported accidents.

But when they got there, Jemm quickly noticed the car wasn’t quite as nice it seemed online. He spotted the first red flag before they got behind the wheel, noticing there were “clearly dents in the front and the back.”

He says things took a turn for the worse when they took the car out for a test drive. 

"My daughter almost went through the intersection because the brakes didn't work," Jemm says.

Back at the dealership, instead of apologizing and making some offer to make things right, he claims they asked Jemm to pay for a full set of brakes and brake pads.

"I quickly ran out of there," he says.

“Trust your gut when buying a car," Jemm adds in the caption.

Why A Clean Carfax Is Not A Guarantee

According to Carfax's own site, a Carfax report may not account for the entirety of a vehicle’s condition. The company explains that they pull accident data from thousands of sources, but not every incident gets reported, and not everything reported makes it into the database. Carfax itself recommends using the report alongside a pre-purchase inspection, not as a standalone.

Capital One outlines several common blind spots: accidents that were never filed with insurance or police, repairs done at shops that do not report to Carfax, and cosmetic damage like mismatched paint or repaired body panels that the previous driver didn’t file with their insurance company.

The bottom line is that a history report is a useful tool, but it is not a substitute for actually looking at the car.

What Should You Do If Your Brakes Fail?

If you ever find yourself in the situation Jemm daughter faced, staying calm is the most important first step. According to Commercial Tire, here's what to do:

• Pump the brake pedal rapidly: This can help rebuild hydraulic pressure in the brake lines and may restore some stopping power
• Engage the emergency brake gradually: The parking brake operates on a separate system and doesn't rely on brake fluid; pull it slowly to avoid locking up the rear wheels and causing a skid
• Stay calm and signal: Turn on your hazard lights, honk if needed, and steer toward the side of the road or a safe area, resist the urge to swerve or overcorrect
• Don't drive it afterward: Even if the brakes seem to start working again, call a tow truck and have the full braking system inspected before getting back on the road

A Terrifying Test Drive

Jemm comes across as more calm than many parents may have been in his shoes. He even jokes in the on-screen text, “Nothing says ‘passed inspection’ like almost missing a stoplight…”

“So scary! I'm glad that you guys are okay and found out before buying it,” one person wrote.

---

---

“Did have a similar experience but unfortunately I did buy it. And after 1 year had it towed,” lamented a second.

Motor1 reached out to Jemm for comment via TikTok direct message and comment and to Carfax via email. We'll be sure to update this if they respond.

 

 

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team