Dealer 'trying it on' with Failed MOT

thefiorano

Hi, I took my Honda Civic to my main dealer for a server and MOT.

Apparently it has failed on a lot of front suspension related issues and requires over £800 in order to pass. Firstly, I was shocked at this as to pass last years MOT the front shock absorbers needed replacing to pass the MOT. Now the bulk of the work required is 'both bump stops required' at nearly £500. :shocked: The rest are
clips/nuts missing from the mounts...


I have only done around 6k miles since last year and 7 months of that it has been only used for the 8 minute school run!!!

I took the car to a local garage who inspected the car and said there was no reason to fail. He actually said the rear brake light bulb needed doing which wasn't picked up. Also, the disk wear percentages were the wrong way around too!

The car is booked into another garage for the MOT test. Once the car passes - will I have any recourse with the Main Dealer as I have already paid for a failed MOT??

Any advice appreciated.

Fiorano

Herzlos

It's certainly worth a complaint to their head office asking for a refund of your MOT fee, as well are firing off a complaint to trading standards (via CAB) and watchdog.
Then never pay them to do anything with your car again.

tedted

bump stops are not part of the mot

thefiorano

Hi,

Thanks - will do. Was due to take Mrs Fiorano's Honda there on Thursday for its annual service and MOT - but not a chance after this!

millie

We always went to the same small independent garage and one year they said it had failed on numerous items, I cannot remember what they were but we agreed to let them fix it. he di d not show us a failure notice as he told us on the telephone. We since had reasons to question their honesty and have used another garage since. I have recently discovered this website https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ which show that the car in question has never failed an MOT test.
I did wonder if the site would show failures but I have checked several relatives cars that have failed and all of them have had all the failures recorded. Perhaps you could check yours.

arcon5

What does the mot failure sheet actually state?
Did you have a service at the same time?

thefiorano

arcon5 wrote: »

What does the mot failure sheet actually state?
Did you have a service at the same time?

Yes I did have a service at the same time.

List comprises of mainly :

1) Both front abs wiring retaining clips missing
2) Stud missing from one of the shock mounts - 1 missing also 1 incorrect
3) Both front suspension bump stops required


@Millie - yes its is listed as Failed on the .gov website

arcon5

I think they was picked up on as part of the service not the mot. Service inspections are more stringent than mot inspections.

Have you seen the actual failure sheet? Maybe search mot history on gov.uk website.

As those aren't necessarily failures... bump starts for example, mot booklet specifically states a missing bump stop alone does not constitute a failure.

ohreally

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/613555/complain-about-an-mot-vt17.pdf

thefiorano

Car Passed the MOT today with no issues at the 3rd garage. Have contacted the Honda dealership and asked for the Service Manager to call me back pronto!

Thanks for your advice all !

Fiorano

Carrot007

thefiorano wrote: »

I have only done around 6k miles since last year and 7 months of that it has been only used for the 8 minute school run!!!

Glad it passed at another garage but do you realise the above is considered bad usage for a car.

Lot's of motorway use is the good use.

I hope you changed the oil at six months (mini service).