Worn brake pads on used car from a dealer

petetidball

We bought a used car (55 plate Nissan Almera Tino) from a dealership in January this year. They told us it had had an MOT and full parts service.

This morning the wife took it to the local Nissan garage as the computer was saying it needed a P2 service (which we knew would be due). The mechanic doing the service has had to replace all the brake pads and discs as they are completely worn. He also told the wife that six months ago they would've been between 80-90% worn and should have come up on a parts service or MOT and has written this on the service report.

The question is, do we have any leverage to make a complaint to the dealer we bought it off? The repairs cost nearly £300 and we don't have that sort of money spare.

Any thoughts or input would be gratefully recieved.

Paradigm

I'd be off to the dealer I bought the car from... complete with the service report & a record of mileage done since you bought it.

I'd also fully expect the dealer to come out with the usual BS about an MOT only verifies the car is roadworthy on the day of the MOT (which is strictly true) & "these are wear & tear items" not covered under any warrenty etc etc both contradicted by the Nissan mechanic.

Backed up by the mechanics opinion I'd guess you have a case, don't expect to get anything without a fight though!

Have the Nissan garage still got the parts they removed from your car? Would be helpful to have them for an Independent inspection.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I'd want to see the worn out parts before making a song and dance over this.
Without those parts a complaint will be rightly rejected.

There have been many discussions on various forums about dealers fitting brake parts long before they're due.

Brakes are easy fit items with huge mark ups.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Would Brake pads and discs 80% worn really last 6 months without majorly showing in the driving.

I doubt it

jeannieblue

Before you go in, all guns blazing, how many miles have you done in the five months that you have had the car?

If it is not alot, the brakes could've corroded. Personally I wouldn't have ok'd the work - but asked to see the brakes first and then gone to an independent who could source good quality parts alot cheaper and the labour would also be alot cheaper too.

Wear and tear items are rarely, if ever, covered by any warranty. There are exceptions, of course, but very rare.

Sirbendy

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Would Brake pads and discs 80% worn really last 6 months without majorly showing in the driving.

I doubt it

I recall driving one of my old cars home from an MOT where it had passed fine, then rounding an S bend and the car totally losing the plot, ripping the wheel out of my hands and sliding to the wrong side of the road in front of an incoming lorry...It was a 2 handed "grab and wrench" recovery, followed by a skid steer stop nose first in a grass bank.

I got applause off the lorry driver for the recovery, and he helped me get the wheel off that had caused the issue (drivers front wasn't moving!)...the brake pads had disintegrated, temporarily locking up the rotor on that wheel and putting the car out of control.

Went back to the MOT place, queried their pass...they whipped the calipers off, and the pads were mostly scored metal backing..totally and utterly worn away.

New pads and discs later, it goes to show that even MOTs don't pick up on all issues..so dealers may not either.

petetidball

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Would Brake pads and discs 80% worn really last 6 months without majorly showing in the driving.

I doubt it

I don't drive myself (only had money for one of us to learn so the wife did) so wouldn't know if it was affecting the driving. maybe she's always driven badly?!?

It's also only our second car, the first one being a 12 or more year old renault megane that was a near wreck when we bought it so she's never driven a decent car before (she learnt in a jazz after all) and may not have realised if anything was wrong.

We've done around 4000 miles since january and she didn't ask to see the parts because she didn't know they'd let her take the car away. Don't know if they'll have kept the old parts either.

Thanks for your replies.

steveo3002

cant see you will get anywhere going back , they cant tell if youve been racing it around like a madman or driving like a nun

its also been known for dealers to exagerate brake condition to get some extra ££ from you

jeannieblue

I doubt that you will have any chance of a comeback on this.

Re MOT - the wheels are not taken off, the inspector will look through the and if the pads look very thin and dangerous, its a fail. Also they will carry out a brake test and sometimes vehicle will fail that, could be due to discs & pads or handbrake or caliper.

If it fails due to the above, only when taking wheels off and inspecting brakes, discs, pads etc will it be apparent why the car has failed.

If it is a good garage, they will keep you informed and get you the best prices.

Brakes wear in accordance with use. An automatic (obviously) will go through brakes quicker than a manual - that is driven correctly. If the driver is a consistent late braker, as in up my backside ( I hate those ) all the time, then they will brake alot as opposed to someone who keeps back and uses their gears more to slow down.

OP - its wear and tear, it has been five months and 4k later, things wear. Next time, get a good independent to service your car at a good competitive rate.

blue_haddock

You got two hope on this - bob and none!

Even if the brakes were worn if you want the original dealer to either replace them or contribute towards them you should have spoken to them BEFORE getting the work done.

Plus as others have said its not unusual for a dealer to exagerate the amount of work done in order to make a few quid.

terryw

Pete mate,

Take the general advice offered.. Learn by your experience, but also take a few lessons in doing simple jobs on your car. Your local FE College will offer such classes quite cheaply.

terryw