van broke down within a week, small claim court?

Mr_kerr

I bought a van from a mechanic who run a garage two weeks ago. It actually broke down at my first day driving. The power steering suddenly lost. It was taken to garage to get fixed. The power steering pump and a metal pipe have been replaced. The bill is more than half grand. I also found the coolant leaking problem especially when driving at high gear on motorway.

I bought the van from a mechanic. The mechanic may buy the van from a commercial vehicle company. The company had the van from the previous owner at the beginner of 2018. The previous owner had the van from 2014. The van was first registered in 2007.

On the ad it said only one previous owner (actually not). I was told the van was driving well and there is no obvious problem with the van as far as he knew. After price negotiation I went to view. I was told basically he buy vehicle from others then sell it.

I checked the van. The van was parked outside his auto serving garage There is no coolant in the reservoir. I asked why. The mechanic said he didnt know. He topped the coolant above maxium then we had a test driving. Basically I let the mechanic drive. I only tested the gear for less than one minutes at very slow speed as I didnt have insurance on it. I thought the gear is slipping. The mechanic didnt think so. After test driving I checked the coolant level again. It seems the coolant get less. I questioned whether the coolant is leaking. The mechanic said no.

Next day I went to check the van again with another guy who drive a same van. he said the gear seems fine. After 3 to 5 mins driving including speed around 50 miles it seems the coolant level no change (still the seller drive).

I paid the deposit and went homw. I let the mechanic drive the van to my house and made the payment. I got the paperwork done one week later and started a practice driving. Within two hours the van broken down due to loss of power steering.

I tried to ontact the seller. In the beginning he didnt answer me. Later the van was taken to a garage nearby. The power steering pump and a metal pipe have been replaced with bill above half grand.

I tested the van by driving on motorway after power steering back. I did find the coolant leaking. Also I found the winscreen washing leaking which I should have tested it on the day viewing.

I am wondering whether I could claim the bill to fix the power steering back through small claim court and the bill to fix the coolant leaking.

I believe the seller who run a garage know the major problem of the van as a professional mechanic. It is really danger to sell a vehicle which could break down immediately on the rod as serious accident could happen.

Thanks

shaun_from_Africa

Just my opinion but that is you have got exactly what you deserve.

Mr_kerr wrote: »

I only tested the gear for less than one minutes at very slow speed as I didnt have insurance on it.

You knowingly drove on a road without insurance and it only takes a split second to have an accident and kill a totally innocent person.

KeithP

Did you give the seller an opportunity to offer a remedy before spending money elsewhere?

Mr_kerr

Honestly I only tested to start the van and check how long the clutch pedal travel until the van move at a parking position and whether the van move or stall if start from gear three. i dont think I have droven the van more than 10 meters. My test is in a safe parking place actually

KeithP

[STRIKE]Perhaps your inspection could've been more thorough.[/STRIKE]

Your inspection really should've been much more thorough than that.

Mr_kerr

The seller only responsed to my call/text one day after but he actually didn't care about it. He said it is me broke the van. The distance of his address to my home is 45 mins by driving

KeithP wrote: »

Did you give the seller an opportunity to offer a remedy before spending money elsewhere?

Mr_kerr

Indeed. I am actually a new driver, only passed test last december

KeithP wrote: »

[STRIKE]Perhaps your inspection could've been more thorough.[/STRIKE]

Your inspection really should've been much more thorough than that.

waamo

Mr_kerr wrote: »

The seller only responsed to my call/text one day after but he actually didn't care about it. He said it is me broke the van. The distance of his address to my home is 45 mins by driving

The distance is not his problem, you chose to purchase a vehicle that distance away. That said he should make sure the vehicle is in good order.

marcarm

Not mentioned yet but a van is normally a B2B purchase.

Can the OP perhaps clarify whether it was purchased as a consumer or business

Mr_kerr

waamo wrote: »

The distance is not his problem, you chose to purchase a vehicle that distance away. That said he should make sure the vehicle is in good order.

Thanks. I really believe he knew the big problem of the van when he got it from the trade company but he hide the information to me. This make the selling such a vehicle a really threat to life on road

Mr_kerr

marcarm wrote: »

Not mentioned yet but a van is normally a B2B purchase.

Can the OP perhaps clarify whether it was purchased as a consumer or business

I am a private buyer to buy the van for domestic usage.
The sellers name isn’t on the dvla document. Only the first two owners were listed on the documents.
there is paper shown the van was sold to a vehicle tade company at the beginning of this year. I believe the seller knew the problem when I get the vehicle from the trade company