The "device that was used/abused" was referring to the semiconductor device and not the appliance. Abuse can come in the form of what operating conditions it had to withstand, but it also includes how the device was originally soldered to and then ultimately removed from the PCB. Was this done with the correct thermal profiles and anti-static precautions? Are there still traces of flux chemistry and/or oxidation on the pins? Have they been properly baked and sealed to prevent moisture issues? Way too many gotchas that are nearly impossible to test for after the fact.

Recycled semiconductor parts are not something I would want in my car (or any other device that I depend highly on). You don't know how that device was used/abused in it's prior life and it may or may not perform as per the manufacturer's spec. Yes, the recycler could make some rudimentary checks, but are they really going to 100% check all of the devices that they recover to the same extent as the original manufacturer? I doubt it.