Potential issue with MOT repair

Nugz

I purchased a used car from a dealer yesterday and the first thing I done was remove the wheels to clean them off and noticed the lower control arm bush was torn. I checked the MOT and one thing that had to be fixed was "Offside Front Inner Suspension Arm". 

I'm unsure if "inner suspension arm" is the lower control arm aka wish bone? I did Google it but still a bit unsure which it refers to. I've looked at the bushes on both upper and lower control arms and neither appear to have been replaced with new ones bushes. I'm not really a technical person so wondering if anyone can shed some light on if I'm looking at the right things before speaking to the person I purchased the car from?

Nugz

Just to add, for the rear it stated "Rear Upper Suspension arm" needing a bush/pin replaced which again I couldn't see any evidence of anything new.

Mildly_Miffed

Were these fails, or just advisories/minors?

When was the MOT?

Barkin

These were advisories, yes?  Otherwise it wouldn't have passed the MOT test.

When was the test done, and was there an agreement with the dealer that they'd rectify any advisories?

Nugz

The MOT was done just before I purchased it. The new MOT was clean, the two issue above were listed under "Repair immediately (major defects)".

Barkin

The MOT wasn't "clean" if it has 2 major defects.

That's a failure.

Nugz

The MOT after the fail was clean, but no signs of replacement bushes

facade

Go back and speak to the dealer, who will either blame the garage or assure you that the whole suspension was replaced with quality second hand parts which subsequently passed the MOT, but you never know, he might get the work done!

If you want to make trouble for yourself:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-an-mot

It won't affect the pass, just cause you trouble as they likely won't do anything except put a black mark in the ledger against the MOT tester. (DVSA won't ever tell you if they took any real action in any case)

Also if they find it is not roadworthy when they inspect it, you will have to stop driving the car until it is fixed properly. (Obviously, if they declare it unroadworthy next week then it must be unroadworthy now anyway, but it will be official)

Mildly_Miffed

Nugz said:

The MOT was done just before I purchased it. The new MOT was clean, the two issue above were listed under "Repair immediately (major defects)".

So it had a previous MOT fail on those two bushes.
It was retested, and passed.

You're suggesting the bushes had not been replaced.

The test was within 14 days?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-an-mot

Barkin

Nugz said:

The MOT after the fail was clean, but no signs of replacement bushes

A couple of thoughts...

You say that you're not sure you're looking at the right items. Is it possible that the failed items have been rectified, and you're looking at something else?

Did you get or see an invoice from the dealer, detailing what was (allegedly) rectified?

Or it could be a bent MOT test...

Me, I'd be back to the dealer ASAP and see what he has to say.

Nugz

I have spoken to the dealer and they kept saying they'd get it looked at but so far they've not done anything other than given the wheels a shake and say they'll get it looked at but so far nothing. I'm just outside the 14 days for MOT complaints (it was done before I purchased it) but I don't really want to go making a massive fuss if I'm wrong so I think it might be worth letting an independent garage look and see what they say.

The other problem is that on the test drive I mentioned to the sales lady that there was shake in the clutch pedal and gear knob but she hadn't noticed it (so I assumed it must have been me needing to get used to a slightly different feeling of clutch). She said I could go back if there was any further problems or it didn't disappear. I went back, she drove it around the forecourt and said that she could tell what I meant by the shake but unfortunately due to the car being from 2007 with almost 100k miles there's nothing they can do as it is "reasonable wear and tear".

I get these things need to be changed at some point but the advert said it was is in good working order and it had been well maintained with full service history and a good MOT history (both you can see). It's in my opinion that should there be any potential mechanical problems with the car then it should have been noted in the advert. It feels slightly dodgy that my initial concern was dismissed then admitted after the sale. She put 3 months warranty on there "for added piece of mind".