HPI check clear when car purchased, now car undriveable, HPI changed.HELP!

Magoo7

Can anyone please give me some advice?
I bought a car from a small garage in April 2011. HPI check from the garage showed no crash history, paid £3250 and was very happy with the car.
Approx 9 months ago, started having major problems with the steering, which eventually resulted in two tyres being completely worn through and dangerous. Had new tryes, tracked etc. These lasted three months. Just happened again.
Took car to main dealer who couldn't work out what the problem was, couldn't fix it. They did a HPI check, which had changed and showed car had be in a category D accident 21 months prior to me buying the car.
I can no longer drive the car as it is not safe, won't hold the road etc.
Can this be right? Can an insurance company not inform of an accident after 21 months??
I'm not sure what to do, I have a car I cannot use.
I would not have bought the car had I known about this in the first place.

prowla

Cat D is light damage, easily repairable; it should not make the car undriveable..

Robisere

Contact your local Trading Standards, via your local Council.

It may take time, but they will act for you. You will need all the original documents, garage invoice, log book, MOT certificates, as much as you can get hold of.

As an ex worksop foreman, if it is old enough for an MOT I would have expected any Tester worth his pay, to have spotted something wrong. I experienced 2 cases like this in my years of testing and inspections, brought both to the attention of the then Testing Authority. (One case, against the wishes of my boss the owner) I spotted another (from another garage) as I drove behind it one day. The car was "crabbing" - i.e. going down the road at a slight angle. Obvious that the body was misaligned.

If there is an MOT certificate, try to read the testing station number and name.

Robisere

prowla wrote: »

Cat D is light damage, easily repairable; it should not make the car undriveable..

Selling garage should still have informed the buyer.

forgotmyname

12 months before issues started?

Tracked but have they done a proper 4 wheel alignment? The dealer probably wont have the equipment for this. A decent body repair shop will.

They can advise on what works been done, And whether it was done properly.
Possible the car was repaired properly and you have something thats failed recently. Steering joing or suspension bush.

Broken spring even. I had a broken spring once, No knocks or bumps or anything, Still looked level. They they replaced it and it started knocking after.

Bit late now but future reference. Always do you own HPI check.

rxbren

small garage either lied about being hpi clear or if poosible had bought it as cat d repaired it before the cat d became live
eiter way your only option is to go through the garage but doubt you will have much luck

Magoo7

Yes, had wheel alignment done several times since the trouble began.

Garage I purchased it from did 12 months MOT when purchased, and subsequently has my own done locally, no problem.
Dealer garage told me they think that some serious damage was done to the chassis, but will cost a lot to investigate and put right.

The reason it is now not in a driveable condition is that the dealer attempted to correct the steering/balance which has now resulted in drving as if I was on an ice rink!! Too scary by far.

My question now is, why would it take an insurance company who knew about the damage 21 months to disclose it to HPI?? Is this legal?? As I said before, I would not have purchased this car. Definately not full market price.

Also, the guy I bought it from obviously did the repairs, chose not to mention the accident to me, and somehow knew the HPI would be clear???

I am confused and really angry.............does this sound a bit fishy to anyone else..??

demonted

I had similar problem as yourself, if not the same.

My car, a Ford Escort, I bought wishbones/track control arms off ebay, new and at a fraction of the cost would pay normally.

Fitted by myself, alignment checked by garage and my car passed MOT with the new wishbones fitted.

Within weeks, maybe a couple of months, my car was driving like the front wheels were on ice, slightest acceleration the front was all over.

Also my steering wheel would not return by its self.

After striping parts, checking all steering and suspension components and finding nothing untoward, I was stumped.

I had the steering and suspension check at numerous garage, not one could find the problem, all stating the car must of been in an accident in the past and either something is bent or the body is out of alignment.

I happened to visit and mention it to the garage who did the wheel alignment, his suggestion, " it's your whishbones, probably made in china, the rubber bushes move"

Back home, I jacked car up, all looking well and no movement felt by hand.

However, with the wheels back on the ground, through the wheel I noticed the rubber bushes in both wishbones had popped out, yet there was no movement when wheels rocked by hand when off ground.

When jacked up, the bushes would pop back into place, if normal solid steel wheels fitted, I would probably not have noticed.

So, I bought two new wishbones from reputable suppliers (Partco) at 3 time the cost.

I fitted the new wishbones myself and all is back to normal.
My steering wheel returns back by its self and my car is driving as it should and feels solid.


As for the Cat D, from a safety point, it's not too much to worry about, my car was written off, declared a Cat D due to a damaged Catalytic Converter.
Also, Car Insurance will write cars off regardless of damage if a car is close to 10years old, as it's cheaper due to labour cost and any Courtesty car charges.

As for the HPI check, if the dealer did their own HPI check and like yourself, it came back clear, it will be difficult to hold the dealer responsible.

This normally occurs as the Insurance have failed to update records, you could possibly make a claim against the insurance but only if the car dealer can prove they have a clean HPI check on your car.

forgotmyname

Wheel alignment is not a proper 4wheel setup. A proper setup would show any chassis damage.

As above you probably have A worn part and not yet had a decent mechanic that has spotted it.

Only undriveable since the dealer fixed it?

Its happened before. HPI appearing after a cars been purchased. Have you done your own HPI?
Seller changed the date on his form or forged the HPI completely?

Or was it clear when he HPI'd it?

Gees

Hi Magoo7

Sorry to read of your troubles.

You are able to check the MOT history for your vehicle by visiting direct.gov.uk, unfortunately as a new user I am unable to post the link.

I hope it helps.

demonted

I don't think a 4 wheel alignment check will detect if body/chassis out of alignment, unless so seriously damages it would be obvious without an alignment check.

I believe it's a Caroliner jig which can detect if body out of alignment.

Most cars don't have option to adjust rear wheel alignment, only the front wheels are adjustable via the track rods.

Other than faulty wishbones/track control arms, a bent suspension insert or worn top mount can also cause car to feel unstable when driven.