Bought a used car from a dealer - mechanic says it has flood damage that wasn't disclosed. What are my options?

Bought a 2021 Honda Accord from a used car dealership 6 weeks ago for $24,000. Seemed like a great deal - low miles (32k), clean Carfax, looked perfect.

Last week the car started having electrical issues - dashboard lights flickering, infotainment system freezing, power windows not working right. Took it to my mechanic who put it on a lift and said there's clear evidence of flood damage:

• Mud/silt residue under the carpets and in the spare tire well
• Corrosion on electrical connectors that shouldn't be there
• Rust in places that shouldn't have rust on a 3-year-old car
• Water line visible inside the doors when panels were removed

The Carfax shows no flood damage or salvage title. I'm guessing it was "washed" (title washed) from another state.

The dealer is saying they "had no idea" and sold it to me "as-is." Is that even legal? What can I do? I'm in California and I feel completely scammed.

Went back to the dealer with the NICB report and NMVTIS history. Demanded a full refund plus my inspection costs.

The sales manager got defensive, said I was "trying to scam them" and that the car "was fine when we sold it." When I mentioned the word "attorney" and "CLRA," suddenly the general manager came out and said they'd "look into it."

They're supposed to call me back tomorrow. Not holding my breath. Already have a consultation scheduled with an auto fraud attorney for next week.