I purchased a truck from a local car dealership, only reason the truck was purchased was due to the fact that I needed four wheel drive to get home on my dirt road when it rains. Three days into having the truck, but only the first day to drive the truck aside from when we brought it home, while driving down 190 the transfer case for the four wheel drive exploded and the drive shaft came through the floor board. The reason I was driving the truck was because the four wheel drive wouldn't activate so I was taking it to the closest mechanic to get it checked out. When the transfer case shattered it cause 10 thousand dollars worth of damage. The truck was an '07 and a trade in so the dealerships mechanics should have check everything, they would have noticed that the four wheel drive wouldn't activate when it was brought in for as a trade in. Can I sue them for neglect and endangerment.
You can bring a lawsuit. That's your right. You won't prevail in this case, unless the dealer guaranteed, or warranted the truck, including the parts that exploded. If the dealer guaranteed this, you'd not be considering a lawsuit.
Furthermore, buying a 7 year old four-wheeler (in or near Bell County & Ft. Hood) that's extremely risky, those young soldiers and local wannabe cowboys destroy those things "mudding"!!!!
Read your purchase contracts. Even if it's guaranteed, it's very limited. A 7 year old truck, especially an old 4 wheel drive truck, normally wouldn't be covered.
Finally, if you're going the JP route (small claims), ALL you can sue for is monetary damages.
My guess, you bought an old bucket of bolts. Dealers sell used junk everyday. Very few buckets of rattling, rusting bolts are ever guaranteed.
Count yourself lucky you're not dead, or in critical condition in Scott & White or another great hospital. That's a very big win.