Have your friend check the following website (NHTSA) with his VIN to see if his car was actually part of the group of vehicles that were slated to be recalled.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Then he can check with manufacturer to see if his particular was brought in by a previous owner for additional rust-proofing.
It was.
I'd be the last person to defend a used car dealer. But I do know that they often take in cheap used cars in trade and put them right back on the lot right away with even looking at them.


