I ran a VinAlert (similar to CarFax but only $10) and learned that the car was subject to a "manufacturer's buy back" (manufacturer repurchased the car under lemon law terms):

http://www.vinalert.com/view.php?r=0...554e1f1917790c

I'm not sure if that link to the report will work but I paid for the report already and you may as well get the benefit too. It doesn't seem to be quite as thorough as a CarFax but it at least revealed what may be a bigger issue with the car.