What are my rights when it comes to used vehicles facing potentially catastrophic failure?

danieljm

I purchased a car 4 months back from a large and seemingly reputable dealer for £11,300. It had 41k miles and I have put a further 3k on it.

Leaving work yesterday I had a coolant warning light appear on my way home and I checked it once I got back. There was a load of coolant missing, what was left had turned brown and murky, and there was sticky white gunk, "mayo" on the inside of the coolant cap. These problems are indicative of a potentially blown head gasket and an engine which may be facing imminent failure.

I spoke to the dealer (MOTOR RANGE LIVERPOOL) and got the spiel about how I'd had the car just over 4 months and that I didn't purchase an extended warranty and that for any repair, the onus is solely on myself. Things gotten pretty heated, I told them it wouldn't be happening, and that I would be dumping the car outside the doors later today and that it won't move until they sort it.

I really need some advice and to know where I stand, if anywhere.

user1977

There's certainly no implied warranty that nothing bad will happen to the car four months later. So if you do have any rights about your purchase, your first problem would be proving what condition the car was in four months ago. And you don't even know just now what, if anything, is actually wrong with it - don't you want to get that diagnosed first?

JJ_Egan

41k  plus 3K you put on .

No way a dealer would know a head gasket was going to blow 3 thousand miles later .

danieljm

JJ_Egan said:

41k  plus 3K you put on .

No way a dealer would know a head gasket was going to blow 3 thousand miles later .

So are we saying that when it comes to paying 11k for a relatively new used car, there is no 'reasonable expectation' that they should be of sufficient quality and reliability,  and not break after 4 months?

user1977

danieljm said:

JJ_Egan said:

41k  plus 3K you put on .

No way a dealer would know a head gasket was going to blow 3 thousand miles later .

So are we saying that when it comes to paying 11k for a relatively new used car, there is no 'reasonable expectation' that they should be of sufficient quality and reliability,  and not break after 4 months?

Nope. If it's second hand (of any age) they don't have to do more than not knowingly mislead you about its condition. Otherwise it's up to you to satisfy yourself about what state it's in - hence the third parties who will do that sort of inspection for you.

danieljm

user1977 said:

danieljm said:

JJ_Egan said:

41k  plus 3K you put on .

No way a dealer would know a head gasket was going to blow 3 thousand miles later .

So are we saying that when it comes to paying 11k for a relatively new used car, there is no 'reasonable expectation' that they should be of sufficient quality and reliability,  and not break after 4 months?

Nope. If it's second hand (of any age) they don't have to do more than not knowingly mislead you about its condition. Otherwise it's up to you to satisfy yourself about what state it's in - hence the third parties who will do that sort of inspection for you.

However what I am reading in the below link in the section titled 30 days-6 months would suggest otherwise. I don't understand. A fault, and a serious one at that, has come to light after not even having it 6 months.

https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/legal-rights

Keep_pedalling

How far did you drive with the warning light on?

danieljm

Keep_pedalling said:

How far did you drive with the warning light on?

3 miles. I had to get it home. Everything appeared OK and no overheating.

I refilled the coolant and the light is now out, but I'm still very suspicious, coolant has exited the system somewhere, as to whether that somewhere is the floor or the engine I don't yet know, either way it isn't good.

I have just called the finance company and lodged a complaint via themselves. It is a start.

Martin_the_Unjust

What car is it?

danieljm

Martin_the_Unjust said:

What car is it?

It is a 66 (2016) plate VW Polo Gti 1.8.

Aylesbury_Duck

You need to get it looked at, to diagnose the root cause.  You've issued an ultimatum way too early and unless you're going to follow through with it and dump the car on their doorstep, it's pretty toothless.

Get it to an independent garage (don't drive it, get it towed/transported there) and have it looked at.  Then you can decide if you have a case against the selling garage and what resolution you want.