When a listing just says "mechanical damage," why isn't the specific problem named?

Mechanical damage is reported by the seller (often an insurer or fleet company) at intake, and in most cases no diagnostic work is performed beyond a visual or basic operational check — nobody has actually pulled the engine apart to find the root cause. The label flags that something mechanical is wrong without claiming to diagnose it. If you need more certainty, request any available engine-start video, review the run-and-drive status field, and budget for an independent pre-bid inspection if the vehicle is local to you.