Issues with new (used) car - what are my rights

powerful_Rogue

I'm confused, how many miles is the car actually showing? You seem to only be talking about mileage on previous MOTs rather then what the actual car is displaying.

Castledrobe

The car is displaying 63931. I noticed it two days after buying it and then thought to check the MOT. 

Castledrobe

I am leaning more towards trying to get a refund, even though I like the car. The reason for this is that the tyres which have an advisory, had exactly the same advisory a year ago.

So March 2024 MOT says:

• Offside Front tyre wearing bad
• Nearside Front tyre wearing on the edge's

February MOT is clear

November 2025 MOT says

• Nearside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
• Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

I think that this probably indicates something more suspect, with the suspension or something. 

So it's potentially not just getting a couple of new tyres, which I agree is not that big a deal

Grumpy_chap

Castledrobe said:

I think that this probably indicates something more suspect, with the suspension or something. 

Most likely the tracking.
Easy, cheap fix.
Easy to put the tracking out if hitting a bump or the kerb.

eskbanker

Castledrobe said:

I am leaning more towards trying to get a refund, even though I like the car. The reason for this is that the tyres which have an advisory, had exactly the same advisory a year ago.

So March 2024 MOT says:

• Offside Front tyre wearing bad
• Nearside Front tyre wearing on the edge's

February MOT is clear

November 2025 MOT says

• Nearside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
• Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

I think that this probably indicates something more suspect, with the suspension or something. 

So it's potentially not just getting a couple of new tyres, which I agree is not that big a deal

I think you're reading too much into this data - the MOT 5.2.3(e) coding simply denotes "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", and "worn close to legal limit/worn on edge" is a description covering multiple bases rather than specifically signifying uneven wear, if that's how you're choosing to interpret it?

Having said that, I'd have expected the same text to show last year, rather than "wearing bad" and "wearing on the edge's" - is that literally a copy/paste from the gov.uk MOT history page?

Uneven wear in itself wouldn't be a huge issue anyway (as above).

Castledrobe

It is copy/paste from the history page yes. Two different MOT centres. 

Grumpy_chap

I am struggling to understand why the tyre comments are an issue.

• March 2024 - front tyres worn
• Tyres presumably replaced
• February 2025 - OK
• November 2025 - front tyres worn.  

It is quite possible that the new tyres fitted (after March 2024) were worn and required replacement again by November 2025.  That is 18 months of use.

Is this thread really about the tyres or is this really about buyer's remorse and trying to find some excuse to reject the car?

I do not think that rejection will be possible on the tyres.  This is a 2018 car and the expectation has to be weighted to the general age / mileage / condition of the car purchased, not measured against a brand new tyre.  Additionally, any one purchasing the car has the opportunity to look at the tyre tread prior to agreeing the purchase.  Even if the garage were liable somehow for the tyres, the remedy would be new tyres not reject the vehicle.  At most, there might be a discussion about who pays for the tyres or any discount that is possible.

born_again

It could be possible that someone has fitted part worn tyres on if they knew they were getting rid of the car.
I would look at make of tyres, unless they are from the well known brands, they may just be fitting cheap rubbish brands that may not last as well.
6K in a month, could be dealer usage if they have been buying cars from auction. 

Castledrobe

It's definitely not buyers remorse, I really like the car, it's exactly what I wanted. 

I think the tyres are a red herring, but I wouldn't necessarily be considering going for a refund had they been transparent on them.  

born_again

Castledrobe said:

It's definitely not buyers remorse, I really like the car, it's exactly what I wanted. 

I think the tyres are a red herring, but I wouldn't necessarily be considering going for a refund had they been transparent on them.  

Have you actually spoken to them yet?

When you say main dealer who is it?