Is there anything to be done?

Flopfluppet

Hello there, I'd appreciate your advice please. A friend bought a car from a dealer in 27/05/23. The mileage was 86,298 at the time and came with the usual 3 months warranty.  The car was 1st registered 11/10/13 so just shy of 10 years old. He took finance out to purchase it through the dealer.
Since then he has racked up quite some mileage as he drives from the South Coast to the Lake District x 2 per month to see his young daughter and the car is now 103k. On the way back last weekend he broke down on the way home and the AA said the timing belt has snapped. My step son runs a recovery/car repair business so he asked for a quote to inspect as I believe its an interference engine and quote for necessary repairs.
But I did say it was worth checking his consumer rights because the Ford data says the timing belt should be replaced every 10 years or 150k miles. So whilst I know the mileage at purchase was under, the years weren't and our friend had never heard of a timing belt and how vital it us to replace, so didn't know to check it had been done. Had he have known he would have asked for it to be done prior to doing a deal, we always do. 
So should the dealer not have done it before selling because it's part of vital service schedule? He did call the dealer who said had it have been within 6 months,  they would have repaired it. I know you do have 6 months but wanted to check before he foots the bill. 

pinkshoes

I'm afraid I'd say this is down to due diligence.

When buying an older/second hand car, it's a good idea to check what things will need changing (as with ANY car) then ask the dealer if it has been done, or negotiate it being done before purchase as part of the agreed price. It's the purchasers responsibility to do this. (A car dealer is not about to point out a service part that will cost them money!!).

He would have had to pay to get it changed anyway, so hopefully it didn't do too much damage when it snapped.

ArbitraryRandom

Yes - it's a recommendation rather than any regulatory requirement, so unless he asked/if any promotional material said all recommended services and maintenance had been done and been (incorrectly) told yes, there's not much he can do. 

cymruchris

Flopfluppet said:

Hello there, I'd appreciate your advice please. A friend bought a car from a dealer in 27/05/23. The mileage was 86,298 at the time and came with the usual 3 months warranty.  The car was 1st registered 11/10/13 so just shy of 10 years old. He took finance out to purchase it through the dealer.
Since then he has racked up quite some mileage as he drives from the South Coast to the Lake District x 2 per month to see his young daughter and the car is now 103k. On the way back last weekend he broke down on the way home and the AA said the timing belt has snapped. My step son runs a recovery/car repair business so he asked for a quote to inspect as I believe its an interference engine and quote for necessary repairs.
But I did say it was worth checking his consumer rights because the Ford data says the timing belt should be replaced every 10 years or 150k miles. So whilst I know the mileage at purchase was under, the years weren't and our friend had never heard of a timing belt and how vital it us to replace, so didn't know to check it had been done. Had he have known he would have asked for it to be done prior to doing a deal, we always do. 
So should the dealer not have done it before selling because it's part of vital service schedule? He did call the dealer who said had it have been within 6 months,  they would have repaired it. I know you do have 6 months but wanted to check before he foots the bill. 

Where a manufacturer gives a schedule it's still not a hard and fast guarantee that the item covered will last that long. In this case you say the schedule was 10 years or 150k miles - and it would be 'whichever comes first'.

As the car was registered on the 11th of October 2013, and we are now in February 2024 - they are over the 10 year schedule anyway - so can't see them having any kind of claim - even under a goodwill gesture. Where something needs to be changed by X years or Y miles whichever comes first, then it has to be done that way - so in this case if it was changed at 9.5 years and then snapped you might have a claim to make that you'd followed the schedule - but in this case your friend hasn't.

Just because someone hasn't heard of something, or doesn't know the importance of getting something done - that doesn't give them any extra consumer protection - when they (or anyone else) buys a car - they have to familiarise themselves with any servicing requirements, and can't just drive it until it breaks. It is a machine after all, and needs maintenance.

From what you've said, they have a bill to pay, and a crash course in understanding car maintenance schedules, a bit of an expensive lesson.

Tucosalamanca

Ignorance isn't an excuse. Your friend bought a car that was approaching it's scheduled belt replacement, then didn't get it changed when due.
The car was purchased in May, the belt was due in October, so less than ten years at the point of sale.
They're also doing high mileage, 17,000 since May. Has the car been serviced since they purchased it and if so, why didn't the servicing garage flag up that the belt might need changing?
I'm no fan of Ford and have experience of belts failing but on this occasion I'd say driver error, the dealer can't possibly be blamed for this.

Flopfluppet

Thank you for your replies.  I do realise ignorance doesn't give you extra consumer rights but just thought I'd ask on his behalf anyway.  My concern with any valid claim he might have would be the sheer number of miles he has done. But again, thank you.

bluelad1927

I'm not sure why you think the dealer should have done anything? If the mileage and age at time of sale was under the recommended then there was nothing for rhem to do.

Flopfluppet

Not trying to flog a dead horse, but the dealer told him had it have been within 6 months he would have paid for the repairs.  The consumer rights state that if a fault occurs in the next 6 months it is down to the buyer to prove the fault was there at the time of purchase. Just trying to understand that as I'm about to buy a used car myself!!

TadleyBaggie

It's a wear and tear item that needs regular replacement, so claiming it was faulty at the time of purchase doesn't really work I'm afraid.

Flopfluppet

OK, thank you, that helps me understand.