Can I take the seller to small claims court to recover money I have had to spend to fix a car I bought from him that I was told was in good condition?

Found a used Durango for sale from a man that owns a mechanic shop and sells used cars also in this very small town. I was told by him that the engine light was coning on, but he had his personal mechanic that worked at his shop look at it and said it was the gas cap causing the light to go on and I would need to buy a new gas cap. He told me I would eventually need new tires but not until next year,2018, and they would get me through the winter. He told me that except for the wearing of the leather in the car, the mechanic had looked over the car and it was in good condition, and he had also bought it from someone he knew in town so he knew it was well taken care of. I believed him. He is well known in his little town. So I bought the car for $3800, knowing I would need a gas cap and within 6-8 months would need to buy tires. I took the car in to Firestone to get the oil changed and a new gas cap. He called me after a routine check of the car...and told me it needed $3000 of repairs.