sold as a 4x4 but missing propshaft do i have a claim?

forgotmyname

Fit a used prop and see if it actually works or if there is another fault.

shaun_from_Africa

motorguy wrote: »

I cant see anyone doing anything with a letter other than ignoring it. A letter smacks of formality, and i'd doubt the previous owner will want to get involved.

I agree that you are probably right but for the sake of a 2nd class stamp (and possibly another one if the OP encloses an SAE), there isn't really too much to lose by trying.
For an outlay of well under £1, there is a small possibility that they will get proof that the vehicle they were sold already had the shaft removed when they bought it.

Sophsters1982

Just thought id post an update, i spoke to CAB and they said the dealer is obliged to remedy the problem, so i called the dealer.

He said hes never heard of such a thing, after selling 1000s of 4x4s hes never come across the front prop shaft being removed for any reason, i find this hard to believe as has been said on here all you need to do is google it youll see how common it is.

I explained what the CAB had told me and he said he was going to call me today before 5pm, im assuming hes off to do his homework!

ess0two

Sophsters1982 wrote: »

Just thought id post an update, i spoke to CAB and they said the dealer is obliged to remedy the problem, so i called the dealer.

He said hes never heard of such a thing, after selling 1000s of 4x4s hes never come across the front prop shaft being removed for any reason, i find this hard to believe as has been said on here all you need to do is google it youll see how common it is.

I explained what the CAB had told me and he said he was going to call me today before 5pm, im assuming hes off to do his homework!

As stated before, how do you prove it wasn't there when purchased?

enfield_freddy

Sophsters1982 wrote: »

Just thought id post an update, i spoke to CAB and they said the dealer is obliged to remedy the problem, so i called the dealer.

He said hes never heard of such a thing, after selling 1000s of 4x4s hes never come across the front prop shaft being removed for any reason, i find this hard to believe as has been said on here all you need to do is google it youll see how common it is.

I explained what the CAB had told me and he said he was going to call me today before 5pm, im assuming hes off to do his homework!

the time to worry , if when the thieves come back in the dead of the night and steal your rear propshaft ,

forgotmyname

Dealer probably on the phone to the CAB who will tell him not to worry, the buyer will need to prove that the shaft was not there when they purchased the vehicle. And with it being over 6 months since the sale they have little to worry about.

movilogo

I must admit I found it very weird. If drive shaft is removed, you should have received some kind of warning light in the dashboard too.

Kia sorento is not a full time 4x4. It is FWD most of the time and becomes AWD only if wheel slip is detected. There would be chances that you never faced such situation if car was always driven on road under normal condition.

However, any 4x4 fault should thorw a warning light in dashboard.

It would be very difficult to prove that you didn't remove the shaft yourself after purchasing the vehicle.

Get rid of the vehicle ASAP. Someone must have tampered with its ECU to hide the defect. The car may behave erratically at most difficult situation.

Just take the hit and move on.

It is also worth getting it looked at a Kia dealership and get the quote for getting it fixed. If too much, then think of selling the car.

As it took you so long to discover missing drive shaft, it indicates you don't really need 4x4 car.

AdrianC

movilogo wrote: »

Kia sorento is not a full time 4x4. It is FWD most of the time and becomes AWD only if wheel slip is detected. There would be chances that you never faced such situation if car was always driven on road under normal condition.

It'll have a viscous coupling in the transfer box, which starts to lock up when the front and rear driveshafts are spinning at different speeds. If that VC goes faulty, it can be permanently locked - and that'll cause problems when there's differences between the front and rear because of tyre wear, or even just going round corners on tarmac.

Sophsters1982

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If the previous owners name and address is showing on the V5, it might be worth sending them a polite letter.
Explain that you realise that it is now nothing to do with them, but you were wondering if they removed the propshaft and if so, do they by any chance still have it.


If they respond and say that they did remove it for some reason, you then have evidence that it was in that condition when sold to you.
It might also be worth checking the MOT history to see if there were any failures or advisories relating to this component.

Another update, so the dealer has said what we thought he would say, its over 6 months, they knew nothing about the prop not being there, so i told them ill be complaining formally via letter asking for a discount due to having bought a 4x4 that isnt a 4x4 and that we will be taking legal advice.

MOT history unfortunately shows nothing relating to the prop or transfer box.

Have also fired off a nice letter to the previous owner asking them if they removed the prop shaft or had bought it that way. We are looking for a prop shaft to fit so that we can then determine what else if anything is wrong i.e. transfer box etc and i will consider taking it further should there be a lot more repairs needed and not just the simple case of putting a prop back on

we bought the car for its space and look but the overall factor was the 4x4 capability which living in the highlands of scotland we hoped would help us in the harsh winters we can get, having only had the car 6 months we obviously havent tested that yet

AdrianC

Sophsters1982 wrote: »

but the overall factor was the 4x4 capability which living in the highlands of scotland we hoped would help us in the harsh winters we can get

Four driven wheels can get you INTO trouble in poor conditions. All the extra two driven wheels add is to get you moving in conditions where you wouldn't otherwise be moving. They don't help with changing direction or with slowing/stopping.

Proper mountain-and-snowflake winter tyres will help with all three, and will keep all three in proportion. The combination, 4wd and winter tyres, will be as good as you're likely to get in something road-usable, but do you really need to be out in those conditions?

having only had the car 6 months we obviously havent tested that yet

There's been no mud at all in the highlands this summer...?