Hard to say with any certainty. Could be as simple as someone doesn't know how to operate it, or maybe just a broken slip collar on the hyd pump, or even possibly a bad pump. Hyp pumps rune around $400 range plus labor to install. Just guessing labor and parts in our area would be $1200-1500. If it could be bought for $1800-2000 I don't think you would get hurt as long as you can hear it start and run.
Rich