Rejecting Car less than 30 days advice

Drawer_full_of_socks

I bought a 2 year old car with less 10k miles from a car supermarket less than a week ago. Unfortunately the drive shaft has just snapped as I was turning in the road. I rang the garage I bought it from who advised me to ring the manufacturer, the manufacturer had the car recovered and has advised that they cant complete the repair for 2 weeks due to the workshop being busy. I'm concerned that I'm going to continue to have mechanical issues with the car and the nearest dealership is 50 miles away. Is it reasonable to ask the car supermarket for either my money back or to swap the car for a similar value vehicle, or any other ideas?

Grumpy_chap

All sorts of reasons why the car might be "fine" and all sorts of reason it may not.  Very unusual failure on such a new car.  For peace of mind, it is probably best to act quick and do the reject.  I am not familiar with the process, others may comment on that but in the mean time, the following may help:
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car
https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/rejecting-a-car/
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-rejecting-a-new-or-used-car-bought-from-a-dealer-aeziX3M7tYNw

Either way, expect the Dealer to put up some resistance and be prepared to know your position when they suggest swapping to another car as an alternative to money back.  If you had a trade in, it is likely that has gone so you'll only get the value instead (as per the paperwork in the deal).

Drawer_full_of_socks

Grumpy_chap said:

All sorts of reasons why the car might be "fine" and all sorts of reason it may not.  Very unusual failure on such a new car.  For peace of mind, it is probably best to act quick and do the reject.  I am not familiar with the process, others may comment on that but in the mean time, the following may help:
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car
https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/rejecting-a-car/
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-rejecting-a-new-or-used-car-bought-from-a-dealer-aeziX3M7tYNw

Either way, expect the Dealer to put up some resistance and be prepared to know your position when they suggest swapping to another car as an alternative to money back.  If you had a trade in, it is likely that has gone so you'll only get the value instead (as per the paperwork in the deal).

Thanks I've read those links. I'm just left unsure whether a broken drive shaft is sufficient reason to reject a car and I'd be more than happy to accept a trade to a similar value vehicle.

Grumpy_chap

It needs to be a significant fault, tempered to reasonable expectation for the age and mileage of the car.  Present or developing at purchase.

I'm no expert, but would say that a failed drive shaft rendering the vehicle undriveable within a week is significant tempered to expectations for a 2 yo 10k miles car.

Obviously, assume you did not go hardcore off roading and imposed unusual stresses on the car through your actions.

Drawer_full_of_socks

Grumpy_chap said:

It needs to be a significant fault, tempered to reasonable expectation for the age and mileage of the car.  Present or developing at purchase.

I'm no expert, but would say that a failed drive shaft rendering the vehicle undriveable within a week is significant tempered to expectations for a 2 yo 10k miles car.

Obviously, assume you did not go hardcore off roading and imposed unusual stresses on the car through your actions.

Haha, no, as much as my 2 toddlers would undoubtedly love me to take them offroading, I have only covered a couple of hundred miles on the motorway (driving them to alton towers.).

chrisw

A failed driveshaft is likely due to a manufacturing defect. It doesn't necessarily follow that the car will be beset by more mechanical problems, nor that an exchange vehicle will be problem free.

BOWFER

Up to 30 days, you can basically reject the car for anything unsatisfactory.
Clearly this is a very unsatisfactory problem and you should have no problem rejecting at all.
After 30 days and up to 6 months, they need to be given one attempt to fix the problem - that's it.

neilmcl

Don't even think about it just reject the car as is your right to do so.

Grumpy_chap

chrisw said:

A failed driveshaft is likely due to a manufacturing defect. It doesn't necessarily follow that the car will be beset by more mechanical problems, nor that an exchange vehicle will be problem free.

I agree, and should be covered under the vehicle warranty - either the original vehicle warranty or the warranty provided by the dealer as a used car warranty.  Assuming as a 2 yo 10k mile car, it would still be under manufacturer's warranty in most cases.

Unfortunately, the OP does not have the luxury of time.  30 day limit.  Had the car already 1 week, and the manufacturer wants 2 weeks.  If that slips at all then the OP will be out of time.  I would certainly say that a fault within a week that renders the car entirely unusable for 2 weeks is significant.

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

chrisw said:

A failed driveshaft is likely due to a manufacturing defect. It doesn't necessarily follow that the car will be beset by more mechanical problems, nor that an exchange vehicle will be problem free.

I agree, and should be covered under the vehicle warranty - either the original vehicle warranty or the warranty provided by the dealer as a used car warranty.  Assuming as a 2 yo 10k mile car, it would still be under manufacturer's warranty in most cases.

Unfortunately, the OP does not have the luxury of time.  30 day limit.  Had the car already 1 week, and the manufacturer wants 2 weeks.  If that slips at all then the OP will be out of time.  I would certainly say that a fault within a week that renders the car entirely unusable for 2 weeks is significant.

What 30 day limit?
There's no 'limit' to being able to reject a car, it just gets progressively more difficult.
Up to 30 days, very easy and you can reject for any fault and you don't have to give them an opportunity to fix it.
Over 30 days and up to 6 months, they can be given one opportunity to fix the problem.
Over 6 months, that bit more difficult again, but not impossible.
The fault occurred within 30 days, so the fact the car is in a dealer at this point is irrelevant.

Grumpy_chap

BOWFER said:

Grumpy_chap said:

chrisw said:

A failed driveshaft is likely due to a manufacturing defect. It doesn't necessarily follow that the car will be beset by more mechanical problems, nor that an exchange vehicle will be problem free.

I agree, and should be covered under the vehicle warranty - either the original vehicle warranty or the warranty provided by the dealer as a used car warranty.  Assuming as a 2 yo 10k mile car, it would still be under manufacturer's warranty in most cases.

Unfortunately, the OP does not have the luxury of time.  30 day limit.  Had the car already 1 week, and the manufacturer wants 2 weeks.  If that slips at all then the OP will be out of time.  I would certainly say that a fault within a week that renders the car entirely unusable for 2 weeks is significant.

What 30 day limit?
There's no 'limit' to being able to reject a car, it just gets progressively more difficult.
Up to 30 days, very easy and you can reject for any fault and you don't have to give them an opportunity to fix it.
Over 30 days and up to 6 months, they can be given one opportunity to fix the problem.
Over 6 months, that bit more difficult again, but not impossible.
The fault occurred within 30 days, so the fact the car is in a dealer at this point is irrelevant.

So, why allow the process to drag out and get more difficult when it can be resolved more swiftly and more easily to boot?
Added to which, if time draws on, the supplying dealer will likely and reasonably apply a deduction for the value of benefit gained by the OP.  Catastrophic failure in the first week means the OP gained negligible benefit from use of the vehicle.

I wonder whether the OP purchased as an all remote purchase, in which case rules for distance selling would apply and give the OP even more strength to reject in the first 14 days?