Car bought from dealership, can't fix fault, need help / advice

The_Phantom

Hello all,

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

I bought a car end of January 2026 (this year) second hand from a car dealer ship around 50 miles away. Cost just under £9000, bought via bank car loan, not a finance deal.

They did a 52 point inspection prior to me picking the car up and said the radio / infotainment unit had a fault which would not be a quick fix , they said they need to order a new unit which would take 2-3 weeks to arrive, but I could pick up the car now and bring it back when they had the new unit in stock and they would swap it.

I agreed and picked the car up, they said they would call me when the new unit had arrived.

This is when the problems started.

I had to chase them for info on the new unit. Eventually the sale rep who sold me the car said there was a misunderstanding and they didn't order a new unit. They intended to send the faulty one away for repair and I had to bring the car back for that. I would be without a car for around a week but they would provide a courtesy car.

When I drove back up to swap cars I was handed a 13 year old Ford Fiesta with around 200,000 miles on the clock, no working windscreen wash and what sounds front shock absorbers gone. It was filthy on the inside with food waste and rubbish strewn around in it.

As I had no other option I took the car as a courtesy one and was counting down the days I Could have my car back,.

It took just over a week when they said it was fixed and I could come and pick my car up.

So I drove back up and picked up my car.

The infotainment fix didn't even last until I drove the 50 miles back home. By the time I got home the unit was just displaying colourful lines. It flickered in and out of life, so I called them and send an e-mail with a picture of the console screen.

I didn't hear back and in the meantime the screen is totally gone now and just black, although the radio keeps playing.

I called them today again and they said they would call me back to book me back in (for anther 100 mile round trip), but haven't called back so far.

Would I be allowed to have the item looked at at a local main dealership and then bill the dealership I bought the car from ?

Is that allowed ?

Has anyone any similar experiences ?

eskbanker

Your statutory rights are with the retailer who sold you the car - if the attempted fix didn't work then you have the right to reject the car or you can insist on it being repaired, which would be by the selling dealer. You can try to negotiate a repair elsewhere but it's not something that you actually have a right to as such.

The_Phantom

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925355#Comment_81925355

That's interesting, I was told the dealership who sold the car only gets one attempt to fix a fault. After that one can get a repair elsewhere..

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925407#Comment_81925407

That quote doesn't say anything about having the right to get work done elsewhere and recharged to the retailer?

The_Phantom

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925412#Comment_81925412

As it is a 100 mile round trip the Impracticality would also come into play, maybe ?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925483#Comment_81925483

It says 'may' but is still ultimately AI - the point I'm making is that the legislation makes no mention of getting repairs done elsewhere and recharged, but, as said previously, you can ask, rather than demand.

Aylesbury_Duck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925483#Comment_81925483

I wouldn't think so. 50 miles isn't the "hundreds of miles" quoted there, and there's the argument that you elected to buy a car from a place 50 miles away.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925483#Comment_81925483

What about the last statement- get agreement in writing.
You can’t just ignore the bits you don’t like.

SiliconChip

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925557#Comment_81925557

Obviously as @eskbanker says it's AI rather than legislation, but the points listed appear to be alternatives rather than all required, in which case the OP would indeed be able to ignore the bits he doesn't like (or aren't relevant).

PTP123

I had it once where the dealer chose to refund rather than repair. I didn't want a refund, had it repaired elsewhere and tried to take them to court.

I lost

DeathByFluffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925407#Comment_81925407

You were 'told' this by AI - technology known for being incorrect and hallucinating.
Impracticality is also not a consideration; you chose to buy the car from 100 miles away.