Dealer refusing Rejection of Car purchased last week

TomOliver

I'm hoping someone can help with a challenge I'm having with a reputable car dealer I bought a 2008 Reg, 55000 mile, Volvo V50 from last Wednesday afternoon (24.02.16).


When I went to start it for the first time on Thursday morning it didn’t start first time (it just turned over trying to catch), but started the second. It did this again Thursday afternoon so I called the dealer Friday lunchtime to let them know. It was agreed I would bring it in after the weekend if it repeated this pattern again which it subsequently did on Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon. I recorded these last two events on my phone to help with diagnosis.


I dropped it with the dealer Tuesday afternoon (01.03) after work and as I hadn’t been called by this afternoon (Thursday 03.03) called them (there customer service has been below par throughout). They’d changed the fuel filter as it had been "funny" starting with them and said it was now running fine. I picked the keys up at 16:30 but when I went to the car it again didn’t start first time. At this point I lost confidence in both the car and the dealer and requested to reject the car under the Consumer Rights Act and be given a full refund.
Long story short the dealer refused. They stated they hadn’t been given enough time to find the fault (which hadn’t occurred for them since Tuesday). They asked for another 48 hours to look at it and provided a courtesy car in the interim.
I’m thoroughly dismayed with the customer service at this point and have lost confidence in the car so am trying to confirm if I am right and I am able to reject the car for being not being of satisfactory quality for it’s age, value, etc? And if I am do I need to allow the dealer any more time to try and resolve the issue first or can I simply reject it now?
Any insight anyone can provide would be appreciated. I will seek formal legal advice but am keen to validate my assumptions with this forum first.
Thanks. Tom

Marktheshark

Is it the 2.0 D ?
If it is it has a known issue with the plastic throttle body Volvo issued a service bulletin for it, the parts about £80 and takes an hour to fit with a pot of tea.

arcon5

petrol or diesel?

kev25v6

It's an 8 year old car, it's going to have faults. If the dealer is fixing them you can't reject it because it takes two attempts to start up. It could just be the starter motor sticking, the battery dieing off, blocked fuel filter, any number of basic fixes. If it was brand new id doubt that you could reject the car for something like this.

TomOliver

It is the 2.0D yes. I'd read about the throttle body online. Assuming that as this is a Volvo dealership they're up to speed on this though. Besides the customer service today was so poor, even before I asked to reject the car, I'm not feeling too inclined to off them any suggestions...

maddogb

TBH I would think you would have a hard time with a judge at county court level on the basis the car didn't start first time, if it refused to start at all maybe.
If it was me I would make sure you get a written report of any work done and if you really want to feel better get an expert to do a report on the vehicle.
Hopefully its only minor but check on the simple things yourself, when were the heater plugs last changed etc.

motorguy

maddogb wrote: »

TBH I would think you would have a hard time with a judge at county court level on the basis the car didn't start first time, if it refused to start at all maybe.
If it was me I would make sure you get a written report of any work done and if you really want to feel better get an expert to do a report on the vehicle.
Hopefully its only minor but check on the simple things yourself, when were the heater plugs last changed etc.

+1

I think you'd struggle to reject.

Marktheshark

I would not bet they are up to speed or they would have changed the throttle body not the fuel filter.
I would call and suggest they change the throttle body as this is the most likely cause, it sticks shut and refuses to start and gets worse and worse until it wont start at all.
Demand they investigate it and change the part, at trade rates it will be a £40 part to them and its two clips and 4 screws to change and easy access to it.

loskie

was it bought within the Volvo Selekt programme if so it can be exchanged within 30 days

bigjl

Would a car as old as a 2008 be part of the Volvo Select program?

stator

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question but my advice would be to make sure you get everything in writing. If you wish to reject and return it then write a letter and get proof of postage.