Second hand car problem dealer not responding

Russywhite

I'll try to keep this short, we bought a second hand car from a non main dealer in Blackburn for £5k. On the first day when driving home it went into limp mode, after a restart it was okay and hasn't done it since, contacted dealer who said if it did it again to contact warranty company.

Fast forward a month and I noticed front tyres have both worn on the inside, accept this would probably be wear and tear so get them replaced but I do contact the dealer to say not impressed, nothing beck from dealer. While it's in the garage I ask them to check out the car, they spot a couple of things but haven't got time for full check so booked it in the following week. Contact dealer again.... Nothing beck.

Car goes in following week to garage and they find £900 worth of work needs doing, consists of bearings, exhaust mountings, engine mountings, contact dealer and give them seven days to respond, get email back saying their complaints department will come back to me in 24 hours....a week and half later I have heard nothing.

In the complaint email I gave them various options including getting their own opinion on the car but as we were 100 miles away they would need to come to us as we agree not happy about driving that distance, I also said that under consumer rights it was their responsibility to sort it out.

Has anyone got an opinion on what I should do next, I have contacted the CAB but they just told me to do everything I've already done?

undetterred

You'll need to drive it back, your choice to purchase from 100 miles away.

Russywhite

And then what?

sevenhills

Russywhite wrote: »

Fast forward a month and I noticed front tyres have both worn on the inside, accept this would probably be wear and tear so get them replaced but I do contact the dealer to say not impressed, nothing beck from dealer. While it's in the garage I ask them to check out the car, they spot a couple of things but haven't got time for full check so booked it in the following week. Contact dealer again.... Nothing beck.

Car goes in following week to garage and they find £900 worth of work needs doing, consists of bearings, exhaust mountings, engine mountings, contact dealer and give them seven days to respond, get email back saying their complaints department will come back to me in 24 hours....a week and half later I have heard nothing.

I also said that under consumer rights it was their responsibility to sort it out.

Why do you think its the garages responsibility to sort out your issues?
Does your warrenty state that tyres, bearing exhaust and engine mountings are gauranteed for xx miles/months?

AdrianC

...and then they have a legal obligation to repair the issues, assuming they aren't to be reasonably expected for a vehicle of that age, relative price, and apparent condition. The tyre wear could well be caused by your driving having knocked the tracking out, so that's not relevant.

Expectations for a £5k Merc S-class are obviously a lot lower than a £5k Hyundai i10.

If the issues had arisen in the first 28 days, then there would be a legal right to a refund, but you're outside that. The issue that arose within the 28 days was resolved to your satisfaction.

Russywhite

Thanks for the replies, it's more that the garage can't even be bothered to reply to me either way that annoys me, they seem to think that no communication is the best way to keep customers.

I admit I should have got someone to check the vehicle over before I purchased it but to have a car that we cannot drive very far because as the garage I took it into said the bearing could seize and the engine mounting is border line dangerous is a bit of an issue.

AdrianC

Russywhite wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, it's more that the garage can't even be bothered to reply to me either way that annoys me, they seem to think that no communication is the best way to keep customers.

You're 100 miles away - what's the likelihood you'll ever be a repeat customer?

I admit I should have got someone to check the vehicle over before I purchased it but to have a car that we cannot drive very far because as the garage I took it into said the bearing could seize and the engine mounting is border line dangerous is a bit of an issue.

And how do you know this garage isn't scaremongering? What "bearing" are we talking about, anyway?

Russywhite

It's the front left bearing and the rumbling is getting worse when we turn left then better when we turn right.

I'm no mechanic so I have to trust someone, we have used the local garage for years so we have no reason to not trust them.

It appears from your comments that as I'm a consumer your mistrust is with me, I thought the law was to protect consumers and it was up to the seller to prove that these issues were not there when you purchased the vehicle, for the first six months.

The biggest annoyance is the the selling garage cannot be bothered to make contact and it's not me being a repeat customer it's anyone else using them going forward.

In the end I will get it repaired and sink the costs then I'll be sure to plaster their name anywhere I feel like as a bad garage and someone not to trust.

As a consumer that is my right.

AdrianC

So it's a wheel bearing, then...? They virtually never, ever seize. A bit of rumble is a VERY long way from seizure.

Yes, the onus is on the garage to demonstrate that the issues weren't there at the time of purchase - yet this bearing wasn't audible at the time of purchase. What mileage has the car covered? As I said, they have a legal responsibility to repair - assuming the faults are reasonable and not perfectly normal wear and tear, which a wheel bearing may well be. That does not extend to them paying somebody else to repair.

motorguy

Russywhite wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, it's more that the garage can't even be bothered to reply to me either way that annoys me, they seem to think that no communication is the best way to keep customers.

I admit I should have got someone to check the vehicle over before I purchased it but to have a car that we cannot drive very far because as the garage I took it into said the bearing could seize and the engine mounting is border line dangerous is a bit of an issue.

As has been said by Adrian, the odds of you being a repeat customer are practically NIL. I used to motor trade and people just go for the cheapest car when they're ready to change. Very little dealer loyalty now.

And likewise if you were to take ANY car in to a mechanic hes going to find a days work in repairs + parts at it easily - its his job to. Oh and they usually put the "fear of god" in to you too about how the car needs all this done right now.

It sounds like an older car, do your wear and tear repairs as and when the car needs them, and if you want a perfect, wear and tear and fault free car you'll need to buy new (and even then you're taking your chances)

wgl2014

Get a second opinion on the faults. Parts wear out, it's unlikely that a wheel bearing will suddenly seize or an engine mount snap, both are likely to slowly deteriorate over time.

I would also suggest that firing off a complaint email telling them to come to you and look at the car (which is not their responsibility) and talking about your legal rights is not the best way to get them on side.